Embassy Events 2007 

Ambassador Ashe Visits Podkarpackie

22 October 2007 

Przemysl - view from the Castle Hill (more photos)

U.S. Ambassador to Poland Victor Ashe met with the Mayor of Jaroslaw, Andrzej Wyczawski, on Monday, October 22, at the beginning for a three day visit to the Podkarpackie region of Poland.  Following a brief visit, Ambassador Ashe continued on to Przemysl where he met with Mayor Robert Choma and participated in a radio interview at City Hall for Radio Rzeszow (the local station affiliated with Poland's national public radio).  In the late morning, Ambassador Ashe was in Lipa where he met with the school director and visited an historical church currently being renovated by UPS.  He then went on to Sanok and was accompanied by Krakow Consul General Anne Hall, where they both met with Jerzy Ginalski, the Sanok Museum of Wooden Architecture Director.  They continued on to Srednia Wies and met with Mayor of Ustrzyki Dolne Henryk Suluja.

The Ambassador continued his outreach visit in Podkarpackie with a Tuesday mid-day stop at Magurski National Park in Krempna, and a meeting with Park Director Jan Szafranski.  Together they visited the international World War II cemetary.  Said the Ambassador, "Director Szafranski is doing a fantastic job of maintaining this important protected area."  Ambassador Ashe continued on to Gorlice, on the way stopping in Sekowa to meet Mayor Malgorzata Maluch at Sekowa's wooden church portrayed by many famous Polish painters, such as Wyspianski and Mehoffer, and on the UNESCO World Heritage list.  He met with Mayor of Gorlice Kazimierz Sterkowicz before traveling on to Jaslo where he was greeted by Mayor Maria Kurowska.  Krosno was the last stop of the day, where Ambassador Ashe met with Mayor Piotr Przytocki, who also hosted the Ambassador for dinner.

Ambassador Ashe completed his outreach visit to Podkarpackie on Wednesday, October 24 with a morning visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site listed wooden churches in Haczow and Blizne.  He then traveled on to Strzyzow and met with Mayor Mark Sliwinski.  About the Podkarpackie region, the Ambassador said, "This is one of the least visited but most beautiful parts of Poland, blessed with very rich natural and cultural heritage.  I look forward to a return trip soon."