2006 Press Releases

Ambassador to Visit Bosanski Petrovac, Vrtoce, Bihac and Drvar

02/15/06

U.S. Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina Douglas McElhaney will make a two day visit to Bosanski Petrovac, Vrtoce, Bihac and Drvar on Thursday, February 16 and Friday, February 17, 2006.

The following events will be open to the press:

Thursday, February 16, 2006

BOSANSKI PETROVAC

13:15  Bosanski Petrovac Secondary School: Opening of the reconstructed wing of the school

The Ambassador will officially open the reconstructed wing of the Secondary School. The school was reconstructed with funding from USAID’s Community Reintegration and Stabilization Program (CRSP) and the IT classroom was equipped with funds from the State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration.  Approximately 300 students, both Bosniak and Serb returnees, attend the school.  USAID also did an electrification project in the settlements of Ribici, Roginovac, Ogumaca, Okruglica and Krnja Jela.

OPEN TO PRESS – STATEMENTS DURING THE OPENING CEREMONY

VRTOCE VILLAGE (on the road Bosanski Petrovac-Bihac)

14:45  Vrtoce Cooperative: Walk-through

The Ambassador will meet with Vrtoce Cooperative representatives.  Vrtoce Cooperative received a small grant from USAID’s Linking Agricultural Markets and Producers (LAMP) program to purchase a drying chamber for making feed for chickens.  The equipment eliminated a bottleneck in the cooperative’s production process.  The cooperative was able to expand production from 34,000 chicks to 50,000 chicks per cycle.

PHOTO-OP DURING THE TOUR

BIHAC

16:45  Meeting with opinion makers in Bihac
          American Corner in Bihac

Friday, February 17, 2006

DRVAR

10:00  Drvar Municipality Building: One Stop Shop Opening

The Ambassador will officially open a new One Stop Shop (OSS) in Drvar. USAID and Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) financed remodeling of the OSS through their joint Governance Accountability Project (GAP).  The new OSS will enable the municipality of Drvar to provide services to citizens faster and more efficiently.

OPEN TO PRESS

13:30  Joint statements: Mayors of Drvar, Bosanski Petrovac, Bosansko Grahovo and U.S. Ambassador, Hotel Bastasica

OPEN TO PRESS

All interested media representatives are welcome to attend these events.

For additional information, please contact Naida Nakas from U.S. Embassy Office of Public Affairs (061-138-988) or Sanja Omanovic from USAID Press office (061-199-547).