Remarks by Brcko Supervisor Susan R. Johnson at the Central Ceremony of the Brcko District 6th Anniversary Celebration

8 March 2006

Dear Guests, Friends and Brcaci,

Why are anniversaries important?

Anniversaries bring us together to remember those events to which we give importance – the birth of a person, an institution, a nation, or in this case – the District Brcko.

Do you remember what Brcko looked like at the end of the war?

Look at it now! Life has returned to Brcko.  This was abundantly evident at the wonderful Children’s Festival “Dje~ja Ma{ta Mo`e Sva{ta” held in this same hall on Sunday evening. 

There is a universal saying, expressed in many ways, but always with the same meaning:  “we get what we give”.

You the people of Brcko have given a lot.  We can see the results around us.   I am sure that you have more to give — and I urge you to keep on giving.

My predecessor, Ambassador Henry Clarke, is here with us today and I would like to publicly recognize him as the architect of the District’s unique and successful privatization program.

I also would like to read from a message of greetings from the first Supervisor, Ambassador Farrand, who was not able to be here today, but who says:

“Let me extend warmest greetings and congratulations to the good citizens of the Brcko District and to its government on this happy occasion.

Six years ago on this date I had the honor to declare the Brcko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina to be a reality under the Dayton Peace Accords and its subsidiary document, the Final Award of the Arbitral Tribunal for Brcko.

It was a moment to be remembered….

The most important participants that day, however, were you, the good people of Brcko.  By your courage and commitment you showed you were willing to take a chance on the Final Award and its promise for a better life for your children.”

Today I too believe this.

The peoples of the Balkans must live together, just as all of us in the world – Muslim, Christian, Jew, atheist, Buddhist and others — on this beautiful “planet earth.”

We must build the world that we live in, whether at the local, regional, State or global level.  We build our future by what we do now.

Today, March 8, I would like to recognize the special contribution and constructive activism of the women of Brcko, of all nationalities.

They were the first to open their hearts and reach out to each other after the war.  If they are centrally involved, the District will fulfil its potential. 

I would also like to recognize entrepreneurs and business people who are the “engines” of economic revitalization. We here in the District believe it is they who will create new jobs. 

They are the ones who contribute the revenue that creates Brcko’s fiscal self-sustainability.   Government just needs to create the right conditions – business people will do the rest.

Brcko District is still very young, but it can be an example and an inspiration.  It needs acceptance, understanding and support to prosper.