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American University Leadership And Community Service Orientation

Remarks by Ambassador Michael Klosson
Fulbright Center, June 30, 2003

First off, let me congratulate you on being selected for this very important educational program – it’s the fourth year we have undertaken this initiative.

I’m pleased to join you today as you prepare for your trip to Washington.  It’s an exciting time to be going to the United States.  But it’s also an exciting time to be in Cyprus – important things are happening and we hope there’s more to come.  And it’s an exciting time to be in Europe, as the European Union takes in new members and moves to transform its institutional setup. 

The United States is working actively to promote a comprehensive settlement on the island.  That effort takes many forms.   On the diplomatic front, we are working hard to encourage all parties to demonstrate the political will required for UN talks on the Annan Plan to recommence, so a reunified Cyprus could join the EU in May 2004.  But there are lots of other ways the United States seeks to contribute as well.  We have long considered it important to create opportunities for Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots to meet one another, to get to know one another after decades of separation, and to work in parallel or together in common professional fields.  Hence, we have provided substantial support for bicommunal programs across many fields.  That is the thinking behind the Embassy’s University Student Program.

As university students and as leaders of tomorrow, you can play an important role shaping the future of Cyprus in whatever profession you choose.  We hope your three weeks in Washington will help you develop new skills and understanding to do just that.  With this in mind, you were selected both for your academic strengths as well as your leadership skills and interests in community service. 

In Washington, as you heard earlier this morning, you will have a formal program of learning together.  You will also have many opportunities to get to know each other informally -- at work, at play, and relaxing.  We hope that this overall approach will help you establish relationships, even friendships, that will serve you and Cyprus when you return to the island.  We hope the time you spend together will reinforce mutual respect and expand your horizons, both on Cyprus’ past but, equally important, on its future.  There are no preconceived outcomes – what you get out of the program will be up to each of you and your interaction with your fellow students.  As a country that cares about Cyprus, we hope simply to create opportunities through such initiatives for Cyprus to move to a better tomorrow.   That future, however, is in your hands.

As you heard, the theme for this year’s program is Community Service and Leadership.  We chose this theme because one of the great American traditions is our culture of volunteerism, aimed at helping others in need.  There are many examples in our history of leaders who helped others throughout their lives.  The rapidly expanding grassroots community service movement led to the passage of the National & Community Service Act of 1990.  This legislation, signed by former President Bush, created both a private, nonprofit organization (the Points of Light Foundation), and a new independent federal agency, the Commission on National and Community Service. Through grants and national coordination, the Commission supported four streams of service: service-learning programs for school-aged youth, higher-education service programs, youth corps, and national service demonstration models.  You will see first-hand explanations of each of these models of service.  I hope that you will be inspired by the stories you hear from community service leaders you’ll meet in the Washington, D.C. area. There may well be lessons applicable to similar community service projects in Cyprus.

Your program will take place at American University, and you will live in the dormitories there.  The university has a history dating back to America’s founding fathers.  George Washington conceived the idea for a great “national university” to be established in the nation’s capital city.  In 1893, his dream was finally realized when American University was chartered by an Act of Congress.  Since this time, American University has continued to prosper in Washington by hosting a great variety of international programs.  This track record in international training makes AU an ideal place for Cypriot students to spend three weeks. 

In your applications and interviews, all of you professed that you want to understand and influence how the world works.  You were selected for your commitment to help build  -- with your own hands -- a better kind of community.  We admire this drive and commitment in each of you; the aim of this program is to help you fulfill it. 

Now, let me offer some free advice about your stay in the U.S.  First, don’t be surprised  if some Americans you meet have never heard of Cyprus.  That presents an opportunity for you to educate them about this beautiful island with its difficult past but great potential for the future.

Second, Washington, D.C. is my home town.  It is a beautiful city with wonderful museums and beautiful monuments.  You’ll have many opportunities to sample the American way of life.  I encourage you to walk along the Potomac River, enjoy a baseball game in nearby Baltimore, try the great local cuisine - such as Maryland crab cakes -- or have a snack at one of the many restaurants near Capitol Hill.

The Embassy staff and I look forward to hearing about your experiences upon your return to Cyprus.  We are eager to see what community service ideas each of you can identify and begin to work on during the upcoming school year.   Judging from alumni I have met from past programs, you’ll have a great time and learn a lot.   Thank you.