NEC Artifact Exhibit: “Testimonies of the Past”

Ambassador Paul D. Wohlers Opening Remarks

January 30, 2013 

Good morning, dober den, miredita. It is my great pleasure to welcome all of you to the opening of the exhibit “Testimonies of the Past” here at the U.S. Embassy.  This exhibit is unique in that it displays various artifacts that were found here on Gradishte, at the very site where we stand today.  These artifacts were discovered in the pre-construction stages of the building of this new Embassy.  They are examples of the rich, historic tapestry that defines Macedonia and we are pleased to be able to display them here in the Embassy atrium. 

I am grateful to the director of the Museum of the City of Skopje, Ms. Ljubica Kondijanova, who regrettably was unable to be with us today, for her cooperation in allowing us to showcase these artifacts and for her team’s hard work on the set-up and opening of this exhibit.  The exhibit is an example not only of our partnership with the Museum of the City of Skopje, but also of our strong links with many Macedonian cultural institutions and our commitment to the preservation of local history and culture. 

I would like to take the opportunity to thank the curator of this exhibit, Ms. Dragica Zivkova, and Mr. Zoran Mladenovski, the Implementing Technician, who both displayed remarkable artistic talent in organizing this exhibition and arranging the artifacts in chronological order. 

I also would like to stress our excellent collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and other cultural institutions in Macedonia.  This partnership is manifested in many embassy programs throughout Macedonia.  For example, in cities and villages throughout Macedonia, people can visit eleven different cultural sites that have received grant funding from the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation, funding totaling over one million dollars that the Embassy has used to help preserve the cultural heritage of Macedonia.  We support festivals of dance, music, poetry, and film, and other contemporary cultural events.  And we fund cultural exchanges, sending Macedonian experts in the cultural field to the United States, and bringing American cultural experts to Macedonia. 

In these and many other ways, the U.S. is investing in the preservation and promotion of Macedonia’s varied history and culture. 

Macedonia is a country with a long history, strong traditions, cultural diversity, and an abundant archaeological heritage.  With this exhibit, we hope to provide our friends, guests, and Embassy visitors with a window through which to see a small part of that heritage.  We are honored to host the exhibit within the Embassy building and hope to display these artifacts for many years to come. 

Before we officially open this exhibit, I would like to invite Ms. Dragica Zivkova, to say a few words on behalf of Ms. Kondijanova. 

Thank you Ms. Zivkova.  I now officially declare open the exhibit “Testimonies of the Past.”  I invite all of you to view the historic artifacts that you can see displayed here, to take an informational brochure, and to learn something new about the rich heritage of this area.  It may be hard to remember this site before the Embassy buildings were built, but these artifacts serve as a reminder of the complex and deep history of the site where we are now standing.  We are proud of this beautiful new Embassy, and are very happy that we can use this space in the atrium for this historic exhibit.  Thank you.