CIRSD President Vuk Jeremić met yesterday in Chicago with Mayor Rahm Emanuel, formerly Chief of Staff to U.S. President Barack Obama as well as a founding member and Co-Chair of the Congressional Serbian Caucus.
Emanuel, who is currently campaigning for re-election as Mayor, spoke to Jeremić about his administration’s priorities, as well as those of significance for the city’s Serbian diaspora.
In his Chicago Serbian Radio interview, Jeremić strongly endorsed Rahm Emanuel’s campaign to be re-elected Mayor of Chicago, underscoring that “it’s good for our diaspora, as well as for the citizens of Serbia, that a proven friend retains such an important post.”
“I’m not voicing Serbia’s official position—this is my personal view—but I honestly hope that Rahm Emanuel will be re-elected Mayor of Chicago, because we don’t have a lot of friends like him around the world, and especially in America. I truly think that it would be very important for Serbia-U.S. relations, as well as for Chicago Serbs, for Emanuel to remain at the helm of one of America’s largest cities, because he’s someone who can influence the Administration, particularly the White House,” Jeremić said.
During their meeting, Jeremić also spoke to Emanuel about CIRSD’s programs and projects, particularly those related to sustainable development, underscoring the importance of a forthcoming summit on sustainable cities that will be held in Chicago in May 2015.
During his visit to Chicago, Jeremić also gave a lecture at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.
