[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 32, Number 22 (Monday, June 3, 1996)]
[Page 958]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on the Appointment of the Special Assistant for Civilian 
Implementation in Bosnia

May 29, 1996

    I am pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Richard Sklar as 
Special Representative of the President and the Secretary of State for 
Civilian Implementation in Bosnia. This appointment underscores that, 
with success in meeting the principal military tasks under the Dayton 
Accords, we must give high priority now to making the peace irreversible 
by accelerating efforts to rebuild the political and economic fabric of 
Bosnian society.
    Mr. Sklar will be the senior U.S. official resident in Bosnia 
responsible for coordinating the work of all U.S. civilian agencies 
involved in the reconstruction effort, under the authority of the U.S. 
Ambassador to Bosnia. His responsibilities will encompass humanitarian 
assistance, economic revitalization and reconstruction, the resettlement 
of refugees, the conduct of elections, and strengthening of public 
security. He will also serve as liaison to his counterparts from other 
countries and the heads and staffs of all the international institutions 
engaged in civilian implementation activities.
    I can think of no one more qualified to spearhead this critically 
important endeavor than Richard Sklar. Mr. Sklar has had a distinguished 
35 year career in private and public sector management. Prior to 
accepting this appointment, he has served as president and chief 
operating officer of O'Brien-Kreizberg Inc. (OK), the oldest and largest 
``pure'' project and construction management firm in the United States. 
OK is now managing over 100 major construction projects in the United 
States and abroad, from airports and rail systems to facilities for the 
Atlanta Olympics. Mr. Sklar served on the administration's transition 
team for the Agency for International Development during the 
administration's first 3 months, and then became a member of the Board 
of Directors of the Russian-American Enterprise Fund. He has continued 
to serve as an adviser to AID Administrator Brian Atwood and to Richard 
Morningstar, coordinator for assistance to the New Independent States. 
Mr. Sklar has built and led two businesses, both world leaders in the 
construction industry. In addition, he served in major public management 
roles for the city of San Francisco. Mr. Sklar was an officer in the 
U.S. Army artillery following his graduation as a mechanical engineer 
from Cornell University in 1956.
    I am deeply grateful that Mr. Sklar has accepted this appointment, 
and for his willingness to serve our Nation in helping to build an 
enduring peace in Bosnia.