Statement to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee

November 19, 2009

Madam Chair and Members of the Committee:

It is a privilege to appear before you today to discuss my nomination to be the next Ambassador to the Republic of Serbia. I am honored by the confidence placed in me by President Obama and Secretary Clinton. If confirmed, I will do my utmost to validate the Senate’s trust in me and will look forward to consulting with this Committee and your colleagues in Congress on how to advance our Nation’s interests and goals in Serbia.

I am delighted to be appearing before this Committee today with my husband, Jim, and we are very pleased to be joined by our son, Jason, and my mother-in-law, Rose Warlick. Along with our elder son, Jamie, and our daughter, Jordan, who were unable to be with us today, it has been a tremendous honor and privilege to serve our country’s diplomatic service for so many years as a Foreign Service family.

Since the election of a democratic, pro-European government in 2008, Serbia has quickened its progress in overcoming the consequences of the Milosevic era and moving toward its goal of full integration into Europe and European institutions. Under the leadership of President Boris Tadic and Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic, Serbia’s government has taken important steps to implement democratic reforms and strengthen the institutions that will solidify the rule of law. In addition, Serbia’s military services have instituted reforms that are transforming them into a modern, civilian-controlled structure, joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program, and established a robust cooperative relationship with the U.S. military, particularly with the Ohio National Guard through the State Partnership Program.

An economically prosperous Serbia will be critical to ensuring the long-term success and stability of the Western Balkans region. Serbia’s economy, like so many others around the world, has been hit hard by the global recession. Although Serbia has made real progress on economic reforms, a renewed commitment to these efforts will be needed to ensure long-term economic growth and European integration. Increased direct foreign investment, including by U.S. companies, has the potential to play an important role in Serbia’s economic recovery. For this to happen, however, more will need to be done to stamp out corruption and ensure that the privatization of state companies continues in a transparent fashion.

The current government has demonstrated a strong will to take the necessary steps to address war crimes, including through the arrest and extradition to The Hague of former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic in 2008. At the same time, Serbia needs to continue its efforts to capture and hand over to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) the remaining fugitives, former Bosnian Serb military leader Ratko Mladic and Croatian Serb leader Goran Hadzic. We should continue to support those efforts.

On Kosovo, the United States and Serbia have agreed to disagree, and the Administration has no realistic expectation that Serbia will recognize the Republic of Kosovo in the near future. However, we do share an interest with Serbia in improving the lives of Serbs living in Kosovo and, if confirmed, I look forward to supporting those efforts.

Vice President Biden’s visit to Belgrade in May offered a new opening for U.S.–Serbia relations and provided important momentum toward the goal of establishing a stronger and more cooperative relationship. The Vice President made clear that we want to move beyond the past and look to the future, with a prosperous and fully European-integrated Serbia as our partner in the region, working together on common concerns. U.S. assistance for Serbia remains an important tool in pursuing these objectives.

If confirmed, I will work proactively with the democratic government and the people of Serbia as they seek to overcome the challenges of their recent history, assume a constructive and responsible leadership role in the region, and complete Serbia’s integration into Europe and the Euro-Atlantic community of nations.

Thank you, once again, for granting me the opportunity to appear before this Committee today.

I look forward to answering your questions.