United States Ambassador Victor Ashe Issues Statement to Thank Poles for Service in Iraq
The United States expresses our sincerest appreciation to the thousands of Polish men and women who have served in Iraq since the beginning of Coalition operations. We thank them for their courage and sacrifice, which brought about invaluable contributions to Iraqi recovery and global security. (more) |
Polish forces in Iraq transferred security responsibility in the province of Qadisiya to Provincial Iraqi Control today. This successful transition occurred because Polish troops significantly improved security in Qadisiya, and effectively trained the Iraqi Army’s 8th Division, as well as thousands of border guards and police. Throughout the transition to Iraqi control, the Polish Government has coordinated closely with Coalition partners. 
U.S. Ambassador to Poland Victor Ashe met with former president Lech Walesa while visiting Gdansk July 17. Ambassador Ashe and President Walesa discussed issues affecting Polish-U.S. relations, important regional developments, and President Walesa's historical legacy on the 25th anniversary of his receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. The Ambassador presented President Walesa with greetings from President George W. Bush, former President George H. W. Bush, and Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Dan Fried. Ambassador Ashe was visiting the Tri-Cities region to open the new American Corner at the Joseph Conrad Public Library in Gdansk at ulica Targ Rakowy 5/6. 
U.S. Ambassador to Poland Victor Ashe and Pomorskie Voivodeship
Vice-marshal Wieslaw Byczkowski cut the ribbon to officially open the
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On 13-14 July, Ambassador Victor Ashe visited the Farnborough Air Show in the United Kingdom. Ambassador Ashe joined Opening Ceremonies in the U.S. Pavillion and met with several U.S. Government officials and Defense Industry representatives during his visit in London. The Opening ceremony at the U.S. Pavillion was presided over by Senator Richard Shelby, U.S. Senator, Alabama, and Ambassador Robert H. Tuttle, U.S. Ambassador, UK. 
On July 16, President Bush signed an agreement between the United States of America and Poland on social security. The agreement now goes to the Congress for approval during the next 60 legislative days. Upon learning of the President's approval, Ambassador Ashe said, "I am pleased that President Bush signed the agreement which permits it to be sent to the Congress." The expanded Federal Benefits Unit at the Embassy, with a staff of six Polish employees, will provide assistance to the 7,000 - 13,000 Poles claiming benefits under the agreement, which we expect to become effective in 2009. 
Former First Lady Nancy Reagan has sent Mayor Rafal Dutkiewicz a letter expressing her “deepest gratitude to the people of Wroclaw” for naming a street for her late husband, President Ronald Reagan.
American honky-tonk style country music singer 
The San Francisco group LISS FAIN DANCE concluded its return to Poland with an outdoor performance in Warsaw’s Royal Lazienki Park in the evening of July 11 – thanks to a break in the rain and help from the audience, announced Cultural Attaché James Wolfe. The concert in Lazienki’s Amphitheater on the lake, open to the general public, was nearly canceled due to rain at 18:00. When the rain stopped, several members of the audience stepped forward to say that they would help dry the stage if the dancers would still perform. In the end, members of the audience joined representatives of the Embassy, Liss Fain Dance, the Warsaw Ballet School, and Royal Lazienki Park in mopping the stage. The dancers performed for an appreciative audience (and several peacocks). 
The California-based Transversal Theater Company returns to Poland for its third tour in four years, announced Cultural Attaché James Wolfe. The company is returning with its new musical, Lumping in Fargo, written by Bryan Reynolds and composer Michael Hooker, which will be performed at Tetar Rozrywki in Chorzow on July 30 and the Gdańsk International Shakespeare Festival on August 8 and 9 at the Teatr Wybrzeże Malarnia. In 2005, they brought their production of Reynolds’ play Woof, Daddy to Rampa-Teatr Na Targówku in Warsaw, Teatr Polski-Malarnia in Poznan, and Teatr Kana in Szczecin. Last year they performed Blue Shade, also written by resident playwright Reynolds, at Teatr Lalek in Wrocław, Teatr Modjeska in Legnica, and Teatr 77 in Łódź. 
On July 11, U.S. Ambassador Victor Ashe and Colonel Stan Prusinski, Chief, Office of Defense Cooperation, jointly presided over a ceremony in the Office of Defense Cooperation to welcome new ODC officers and present awards to current and departing ODC team members. The Ambassador officially welcomed new ODC chief Colonel Timothy Burke and his family to Poland, along with Lieutenant Marek Strosin, the new Naval Affairs Officer in ODC. Three departing ODC officers were recognized for their outstanding service and presented with the Defense Meritorious Service Medal: Lieutenant Commander Mark Seelbach, Lieutenant Colonel Gary Foster and Lieutenant Colonel Ray Wojcik. Ambassador Ashe lauded the ODC's hard work, commitment and achievements in furthering bilateral relations between the U.S. and the Republic of Poland. 
American researchers, U.S. Army Master Sergeant Cory Damm and U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer John Gray, of the Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) will be conducting investigations at various locations in Poland from July 7-31 on nine cases related to missing U.S. servicemen from World War II. DPMO is one of several Department of Defense agencies responsible for the research, investigation, analysis, recovery, and identification of remains of U.S. servicemen who died on a foreign battlefield and never returned home. The researchers hope to find documentary evidence or witness testimony that will lead to the recovery of these individuals. 
U.S. Ambassador to Poland Victor Ashe hosted a retirement ceremony and farewell reception for Colonel Stanley J. Prusinski, Chief of the Office of Defense Cooperation, who will be departing the U.S. Embassy, Warsaw, and retiring from the U.S. Army after over 32 years in uniform. Ambassador Ashe highlighted aspects of Colonel Prusinski’s career as an Air Defense, Military Intelligence and, now, a Foreign Area Officer and underscored the great impact that Colonel Prusinski has made on the transformation and modernization of Poland’s Armed Forces. "Colonel Prusinski has been a tremendous asset to the Embassy and has done tremendous work to expand the U.S.-Polish relationship. He will be sorely missed in the Embassy. We wish him great success in his future endeavors," said Ambassador Ashe. 
Press Statement
The 6th KINO.LATO film festival at 
U.S. Ambassador to Poland Victor Ashe met with the City Manager from Oak Ridge, Tennessee, Mr. James O'Connor, and his family on July 8 at the U.S. Embassy. Mr. O'Connor is vacationing in Warsaw with his wife Sherry, his son Shawn and his daughter-in-law Youngran. Oak Ridge is located just 30 miles from Knoxville, where Ambassador Ashe was Mayor for 16 years. 
U.S. Ambassador to Poland Victor Ashe attended the opening of Vivat Pulaski Day in Warka Sunday, July 6. The event is one of two annual events the town honoring the life of Kazimierz Pulaski, the Polish hero who assisted the United States during the Revolutionary War. The Pulaski Museum in the town of Warka honors Pulaski and Polish-American friendship. The Vivat Pulaski Day event is also a symbolic celebration of American Independence Day. 
Subject: 4th of July Greeting 
U.S. Ambassador to Poland Victor Ashe and Mrs. Joan Ashe hosted an entertaining and exciting American Independence Day celebration at the Ambassador's Residence in Warsaw on July 3. More than 2,200 people attended to celebrate the 232nd Anniversary of Independence of the United States of America. Ambassador Ashe addressed the guests made up of Cabinet Ministers, government officials, leaders of public and religious life in Poland, and many others and stated that "Just as Americans cherish the fundamental rights set forth in our Declaration of Independence, so too, you in Poland have a special appreciation of liberty." 
With the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar near historic lows compared to the Zloty and Euro, travel to the United States is a great bargain for Poles. The price of hotel rooms, airfares and entertainment is now much less expensive and most merchandise is bargain priced, thus making shopping in the United States a great deal. In addition, the United States does not have a value added tax system, so most goods are typically lower in price than their European equivalent. Now the favorable currency exchange rates make them even more attractive. 
Private First Class Dawid Pietrek, originally from Police, Poland, was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, on July 1. PFC Pietrek was killed in Afghanistan on June 14 while serving as an infantryman with the Golf Company 2nd Battalion Marines out of 29 Palms, California. Three other marines were killed by the same roadside bomb. He joined the Marines in June, 2007, and was awarded posthumously the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, and U.S. Citizenship. 
While celebrating U.S. Independence Day ceremonies in Krakow, Ambassador Ashe took some time to visit Babia Gora, one of Poland's most beautiful National Parks. Ambassador Ashe was hosted by Dr. Tomasz Pasierbek, Director, Touring and Education Team; and Ranger Maciek Mazul, Park Ranger, both from Babiogorski National Park. The Ambassador hiked for several hours in the Park taking in incredible vistas of the Beskidy Mountain area which included beautiful views of Poland and Slovakia. 
Krakow Mayor Jacek Majchrowski joined Ambassador Victor Ashe, Consul General Anne Hall and US Consulate staff for the celebration of America’s 232nd birthday at the Sheraton in Krakow on July 1. The Governor and Marshal of Malopolskie and officials from Dolnoslaska, Slasksie and Podkarpackie also attended, along with Polish and European Parliamentarians, rectors, artists and local business representatives. In his speech, Ambassador Ashe noted the long-standing Polish-American friendship and our mutual respect for liberty. Consul General Hall spoke about the excellent relationship between the US Consulate and the city of Krakow. Ms. Bozena Dluciak sang the Polish national anthem, and special guest Scott Warwick, a firefighter from Ambassador Ashe’s home of Knoxville, Tennessee, sang the American anthem. The crowd enjoyed American folk and jazz tunes from the US Army Europe Dixieland band. 
U.S. Ambassador to Poland Victor Ashe and U.S. Embassy staff hosted an American Independence Day celebration at Biedermann Palace in Lodz on June 30, in celebration of 232 years of U.S. independence. More than 200 Polish leaders of public and religious life, representatives of business and educational institutions and other members of the public attended the event. 
American organist Norah Duncan IV will perform a recital of organ works written by American composers Thursday July 10 at 19:30 in Warsaw’s Holy Cross Basilica, ul. Krakowskie Przedmieście 3, announced Cultural Attaché, James Wolfe. The concert is free of charge. The all-American program features organ music written in the United States of America during its entire 232-year history, starting with William Selby, a composer dating from the American Revolutionary War (Fugue in D Major) and reaching to contemporary composer Ralph Simpson (Jacob’s Ladder). Among the many composers included in the program is one of Polish-American descent: the late Thomas M. Kuras of Detroit, who will be represented by his chorale prelude on the Sicilian Marian hymn, O Sanctissima. 
The Office of Agricultural Affairs, U.S. Embassy, Warsaw, Poland, is pleased to announce the 2008 Norman E. Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellows Program for Poland. Under this program, two selected Polish candidates will be offered a short-term (four to six weeks) scientific training and collaborative research fellowship at a participating U.S. land-grant university, government research facility, other nonprofit institution or private company in the United States. 
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