Press Releases
Sister City Charter for Dubrovnik and Monterey, California
EMBASSY OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Public Affairs Section
Zagreb, Croatia
SISTER CITY CHARTER FOR DUBROVNIK AND MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA
Zagreb, February 1, 2007 - Mayor Dubravka Šuica of Dubrovnik and Mayor Chuck Della Sala of Monterey, California will sign a Sister City Charter at a special session of the Dubrovnik City Council and as part of the City of Dubrovnik's St. Blaise celebrations. The signing will take place on February 2, at 11 a.m. at the Marin Držić Theatre in Dubrovnik. The signing ceremony will be witnessed by H.E. Stjepan Mesić, President of the Republic of Croatia and H.E. Robert Bradtke, U.S. Ambassador to Croatia.
The signing of the Sister City Charter between Dubrovnik and Monterey is the result of two years of cooperation between the two cities in areas such as public administration and economic development. The cities established partnerships between their universities, planned joint cultural events, conferences and conventions.
Through several exchanges in Croatia and in the United States, Dubrovnik and Monterey City officials had the opportunity to learn from each other and find solutions to common challenges. Dubrovnik is one of six Croatian cities paired with cities in the United States. This is part of the USAID's $16 million Local Government Reform Program that supports local governments throughout Croatia to improve services and adjust to new challenges stemming from decentralization.
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.