Ambassador Delawie’s Remarks at the Medical Support for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response Training, March 21, 2016

Mirëmëngjes.  Dobro jutro.  Good morning.

Dr. Gjocaj, representatives from the Kosovo Security Force , Emergency Management Agency, Kosovo Police, our military medical experts from the Defense Institute of Medical Operations, managers and directors of health clinics and regional medical centers, guests and friends.

Thank you all very much for participating in this training program, which has been organized by the U.S. Embassy’s Office of Defense Cooperation.  I have to say that I want to say a particular thank you to the very impressive team of military medical professionals that we have with us today.  I read their bios, fascinating experience in aspects of medicine, medical management and other things.  Thank you all for joining us with our program here in Pristina, I really appreciate it.

As the United States discovered after September 11, our country – like every country – needs capable and professional responders for a disaster and humanitarian initiative.  Two key components in such a response are medical consequence management and emergency medical intervention.  These are the focus of our course this week.

The knowledge you all will gain here, as healthcare leaders, and to look for opportunities to improve the Government of Kosovo’s humanitarian assistance and disaster response support will be extremely important.

Our Embassy and the US military’s European Command are dedicated to helping to improve the healthcare in Kosovo.

And if you all find this training useful, as I’m sure you will, then you’ll be pleased to know that the Defense Institute of Medical Operations team will be back in Kosovo in 2017.  They are already planning ahead.  At that time, they will conduct training in “Health System Development and Best Practices“.  I am confident it will be as informative and helpful as this week’s event.

Please take the critical lessons you learn this week and use them in your office, agency, or Ministry.  Also, during the week, we ask that you help us understand what additional training and assistance will be most useful for Kosovo’s healthcare sector.

On behalf of the U.S. Embassy, I wish you a productive and informative seminar.  We wish you much continued success!

Thank you very much!  Faleminderit shumë!  Hvala.