Remarks

Inauguration of the water pump project

October 29th 2009

Ladies and Gentlemen, Members of the Municipal Preparation Team, members of the community and distinguished guests:

It is a great pleasure for me to participate in the opening of this water pump and chlorinator system for the village of Mogila. This is a huge step forward for the sixteen hundred people who will directly benefit from the availability of drinking water.

This is a significant step toward improvement of the quality of life in your village, progress that was made possible through the effort and engagement of the Municipal Preparation Team for Klokot-Vrbovac Municipality.

The realization of this project is only the beginning of what is possible with your new Municipality.  This pump and the water that it will provide is just one example of the public services that the Municipality of Klokot-Vrbovac will deliver to this community.

But there is much more to come -- the members of your Municipal Preparation Team have identified and already begun to implement projects that will bring further improvements to your community.

I have spoken before about the importance of education for the future of Kosovo’s youth, and later on today I will visit two school projects here in Mogila and in the village of Verbovac. And next week, five schools in this municipality will have new IT equipment installed which will give local schoolchildren a wonderful opportunity to develop important skills for the future.

The United States Government has worked with your community leaders to improve other essential services to enhance your daily lives.  The installation of an electrical transformer in Grncar Village and the establishment of garbage collection services will take place within the next couple of weeks.  These are essential services that can be best managed at the local level.

As you can see today, with your support the new Municipality of Klokot/Vrbovac will help you make this village a better place to live. 

I encourage you to get involved in the upcoming elections; consider the issues, get to know the candidates and vote.  Don’t just sit back and let things happen, but play an active role in creating the future you want for your community.

I strongly believe that, like governance, democracy can best be experienced at the local level, where people get a chance to choose the representatives that will work for them in their own communities.  I urge everyone to use this chance on November 15th and don’t allow others to make choices that concern you.   Choose for yourselves what is best for you and your families.

Know as you take this important step forward in local governance November 15, that the United States Government will continue to support you, standing with you to improve your communities and reinforcing a shared vision of your future here.

Before I finish I would like to once again commend the Municipal Preparation Team for Klokot-Vrbovac Municipality for undertaking this effort.

We believe that your new Municipality, through the implementation of projects such as this, has an opportunity to bring to life the vision we share of a positive future for everyone in Kosovo.  Strong local representation is essential for ultimate success in this endeavor, and that begins with your participation at the polls.  

Thank you.