#ACYPLMacedonia in Florida -- Meeting with Ambassador Christopher Hill

I was honored to be the State Host of the delegation of Macedonian political leaders for the American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL) in December, organizing a 6-day visit in December. 

We kicked off our program in Florida by visiting Ambassador Chris Hill and his wife Julie.


Ambassador Hill was the first Ambassador to the Republic of Macedonia (1996-1999) and Special Envoy to Kosovo (1998-1999). Hill received the U.S. State Department’s Distinguished Service Award for his contributions as a member of the U.S. negotiating team in the Bosnia peace settlement, and was a recipient of the Robert S. Frasure Award for Peace Negotiations for his work on the Kosovo crisis.




We enjoyed a lively and thought-provoking discussion about foreign affairs.

For me, the highlight of this visit was when one of the delegates, now the Deputy Minister of Science and Education in the Republic of Macedonia, presented the Ambassador with pictures from when the Ambassador visited his school, many years ago.  Some pictures of those pictures are included, below.

literally popping the champagne to toast to the arrival of the Macedonian delegation

presenting Ambassador Hill with a bottle of Macedonian Vranec

One of the delegates was able to return with an inscribed copy of Ambassador Hill's book,, Outpost: Life on the Frontlines of American Democracy

For more about ACYPL, see their website: http://acypl.org/