Ambassador Robertson addresses the guests of Independence Day reception

Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Friends,

Antoinette and I are pleased to welcome you all to this celebration of the 231st anniversary of the independence of the United States of America.  This is a particularly happy occasion for us, as so many of our friends and colleagues from the three years of our time in Slovenia are gathered here.  The moment is also bittersweet as it will also be our last time to celebrate the Fourth of July with you.

It has been an incredible three years here in Slovenia.  Along with the highlights in our bilateral relationship, many of our most enduring memories will be from meeting Slovenians while exploring this beautiful country.

As many of you know, I have been steadily walking my way across Slovenia over the E6 European Walking Route.  Recognizing how fortunate Slovenians are to have such stunning countryside unblemished by the scars of war so evident in the Balkans, recently I decided to use my walk across the E6 to raise funds for Slovenia’s International Trust Fund for Demining of the Balkans, and I hope you will help, too..

Since independence in 1991, Slovenes have great reason for pride in their achievements:  Now, Slovenia has a mountain standing ahead - the EU Presidency.  The Presidency is by all counts a formidable climb, but one that Slovenia can scale with vision and leadership.  The United States looks forward to your leadership and to standing beside you as a friend and ally.

We will have a fantastic evening tonight for which I would like to thank our generous sponsors.  Their names are recognized both on your programs and on the sponsor boards.  Eva Hren and LynnMarie Rink just sang our national anthems and the Big Band RTV and LynnMarie and the Boxhounds will treat us to an evening of folk, jazz and swing music with a Slovene spin.  I would like to thank all the musicians for their generous participation.

I would like to thank a number of Embassy colleagues who are leaving this summer for their service to our Embassy and to the strengthening of friendship between our countries.  We will miss them.  They are Colleen Hyland, Bob Post, Keith and Tina Harrington, Phil Beekman, and Jarilyne Zodrow.  Please say hello (and goodbye) to them when you see them tonight.

Antoinette and I must also depart this summer, and it will be very difficult for us to leave. One of Slovenia’s greatest poets, Simon Gregorcic, recognized the beauty of Slovenia eloquently in his writing.  I only hope that we will have opportunities in the future to join his call, “Nazaj v planinski raj” and return many times to this little slice of heaven. Thank you, farewell, and enjoy the evening