Press Releases
U.S. Official Visits USAID Projects in Croatia
For Immediate Release
September 16, 2005
ZAGREB, SEPTEMBER 16, 2005 - Ed Dickens, Team Leader for the United States Agency for International Development's (USAID) Office for Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Serbia and Montenegro will be in Croatia September 19-23 to visit USAID projects.
During his visit, Mr. Dickens will meet with the Mayor of Slatina, Ms. Ksenija Plantak and dedicate a sign celebrating the Slatina-U.S. partnership on September 19, 2005. Through the Local Government Reform Project, USAID has collaborated with the city in their efforts to be more transparent and accountable in local affairs and to address citizen's needs more effectively.
Mr. Dickens will also tour Croatia's Slavonia region. He will meet with local officials and visit USAID reconstruction projects in Pakrac. In addition, Mr. Dickens will meet with representatives of non-governmental organizations as well as tour a dairy farm near Osijek and a wood processing company in Novska that have received U.S government assistance through USAID.
USAID is the primary assistance organization of the United States Government. Since 1992, the United States has provided over $407 million to Croatia (much of it through USAID programs) to strengthen democratic institutions and assist in postwar reconstruction and the return of refugees, to support de-mining and economic development, and to provide educational and training opportunities. The U.S. has also provided guidance and support to the Croatian judicial and military sectors to further Croatia's integration in Euro-Atlantic institutions.