Unger Croatia Center Founder Receives USAID Award

Cleveland, January 24, 2004 - American Paul Unger received a United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Outstanding Citizen Achievement Award for his contribution to the improvement of public administration in Croatia at a ceremony at Cleveland State University today.

Unger was awarded for his work in the professional training and education of and technical assistance to state, county and local officials in Croatia as well as for his contribution to Croatian democratic transition.

The USAID award was given to Unger by Dr. Kent R. Hill, USAID Assistant Administrator for Europe and Eurasia, in the presence of Ambassador of Republic of Croatia to the United States Ivan Grdesic, who was personally involved in Unger’s project in Croatia in the 1990’s. Present were also Croatia’s Rijeka University Rector Daniel Rukavina and Michael Schwartz, President of Cleveland State University.

A total of 22 Croatian officials have been included in JFK School of Government at Harvard University’s summer school as well as in Cleveland State University program over the years, said Unger, who established Unger Croatia Center in Croatia recently. Croatian officials included ministers and their assistants, Croatian National bank governors, chairmen of Croatian parliamentary committees and ambassadors.

In order to offer similar support to Croatian local officials, in 2001 Paul Unger launched a program for mayors, city councilors and other local officials at Cleveland State University's Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs Unger Croatia Center for Local Government. The success of Cleveland programs prompted Unger to establish cooperation between the Cleveland State University and Rijeka University in 2002.

Unger plans to introduce new post-graduate studies in public administration and public health administration this spring and eventually to roll-out the program to other Universities in Croatia.

Attending the award-giving ceremony, among others, was Senator George Voinovich, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who praised Unger as tireless advocate of freedom and democracy in Croatia. Senator Voinovich also voiced his support to Croatia's efforts to join the EU and NATO and promised his support in U.S. Senate for a resolution that would support Croatia entering NATO.

Unger first came in contact with Croatia in 1945, when he was head of a Croat refugee camp in Egypt. Working as appointed manager of the UN humanitarian assistance program for the former Yugoslavia, he met and married a Croat, Sonja Franz.

USAID's Outstanding Citizen Achievement Award recognizes volunteerism in international development. Recipients of this award are recognized for achievements that have contributed to the realization of USAID's mission to provide economic, development and humanitarian assistance around the world.