U.S. Ambassador to Croatia Julieta Valls Noyes took part in the grand opening of the Rijeka, Croatia American Corner, March 29.

Noyes toured the new facility alongside USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) leadership and community relations participants.

Quote:

"The ambassador came to Rijeka today to kick off the American Corner initiative in Rijeka, which is a language and cultural exchange."
- USS Mount Whitney Commanding Officer Capt. Kavon Hakimzadeh

"I am delighted to be here to reopen the American Corner in Rijeka in a new and fantastic location. We know this will be the destination of choice for people who want to learn more about America and learn English."
- U.S. Ambassador to Croatia Julieta Valls Noyes

Quick Facts:

*The event was held in a newly-established and yet to be officially opened American Corner library. American Corner is a U.S. State Department initiative designed to place American books, periodicals and media in libraries around the world. Its purpose is to promote the English language and to expose library-goers to American culture.

*Ambassador Noyes saw the culmination of a six-week community relations (COMREL) project held by Mount Whitney Sailors.
*The COMREL was one of four hour-long language exchanges that took place during February where Croatians learning English engaged in conversation with native speakers provided by Mount Whitney.

*Mount Whitney, forward-deployed to Gaeta, Italy, operates with a combined crew of U.S. Navy Sailors and Military Sealift Command civil service mariners. The civil service mariners perform navigation, deck, engineering and supply service operations, while military personnel support communications, weapons systems and security. It is one of only two seaborne joint command platforms in the U.S. Navy, both of which are forward deployed.

*Mount Whitney entered drydock in Rijeka, Croatia, Dec. 19, 2016, for its 2017 shipyard period. Vital systems and a hospitality upgrades will be installed during the shipyard period.

*U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests, and security and stability in Europe and Africa.

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For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/.