Ambassador Goldberg Inaugurates U.S. Virtual Presence Post in Santa Cruz

January 31, 2008.  U.S. Ambassador Philip S. Goldberg inaugurated the Virtual Presence Post website in Santa Cruz.  During the ceremony, Ambassador Goldberg introduced the members of the Santa Cruz City Team and highlighted programs of:

• the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which helps promote health, education, economic development, and environmental projects in the Department of Santa Cruz;
• the Narcotics Affairs Section which operates in coordination with the Government of Bolivia to promote a drug-free Bolivian society;
• the Embassy's Public Affairs Section, which administers educational exchange programs, as well as book donations to municipal libraries, English scholarships, and cultural events;
• and the Peace Corps, whose volunteers work with the government and private organizations on projects in agriculture, natural resource management, integrated education, micro-enterprise and small business development, community tourism development, and water and sanitation projects.

Representatives from the U.S. Mission explained their programs to the 380 Santa Cruz guests and media who attended the inauguration.  Santa Cruz Prefect Rubén Costas, Mayor Percy Fernandez, and Municipal Council President Enrique Landívar expressed their belief that the new website would further strengthen the friendship between the people of Santa Cruz and the people of the United States.