Embassy Marks US Elections with 12-Hour Event, as Obama Declared Winner

Remarks by Ambassador Vincent Obsitnik

November 5, 2008

As we begin to evaluate the results of yesterday’s election, let me note that this was an historic first for my country, a country I am very proud to represent.

I think it’s clear that U.S. voters focused intensely on domestic issues such as the economy, taxes, health care, and education.  Energy was also obviously a big issue. 

But you, as foreign observers, probably want to know what the election will mean for relations between the United States and Slovakia, or at least Europe as a whole.

With the exception of Iraq, the candidates’ positions on foreign policy issues were surprisingly similar, emphasizing the continuity of American foreign policy.

Our new president-elect has stated unequivocally that he intends to pursue policies aimed at the strengthening of the Transatlantic Alliance and our relations with Europe: 

President-elect Obama has said:  “In this new century, Americans and Europeans alike will be required to do more - not less. Partnership and cooperation among nations is not a choice; it is the one way, the only way, to protect our common security and advance our common humanity.”

On the importance of success in Afghanistan, on stability in the Balkans, on countering nuclear proliferation threats, on combating poverty and disease, and on working in tandem with Europe to mitigate the effects of the international financial crisis, our president-elect understands that the U.S. cannot achieve results in isolation. 

And our new president-elect has stated clearly that the U.S. must take strong, decisive steps to ensure that the planet we pass on to our children and grandchildren is healthy and that we need to address the risks of global warming.  That climate change was not a big issue in the campaign was not because Americans don’t care, but rather because the two candidates had remarkably similar positions.

The bottom line is that our next president is committed to further strengthening relations between the U.S. and Europe so that, together, we can deal effectively with 21st century challenges.