U.S. President George W. Bush met with Polish Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski during a meeting with U.S. Vice President Richard Cheney on September 13 in the Roosevelt Room at the White House. The leaders discussed energy issues, Afghanistan, the Middle East and other matters of mutual interest to the U.S. and Poland. During his visit to the United States, Prime Minister Kaczynski also met with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman, Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez, and Speaker of the House of Representatives Dennis Hastert. The Prime Minister also attended the roll-out of the Polish F-16 fighter jet in Fort Worth, Texas. more

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice hosted a welcome luncheon for Polish Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski on September 13 in the Benjamin Franklin Room at the Department of State in Washington, DC. Secretary Rice stated, “I would like very much to welcome the Prime Minister of Poland. Prime Minister Kaczynski it's a great pleasure to have you here. Poland and the United States are the best of friends. We share values. We share a long history. Poland has been a fierce fighter in the defense of freedom, both in the past and now in the present as you have made it Poland's commitment to help others who are seeking freedom and democracy. Thank you for your friendship and thank you for joining me here in Washington.” more

On behalf of the American people and President Bush I wish to express my gratitude to the citizens of Poland for their continued support of the American people on the recent 5th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11.
I am moved to learn of numerous activities and events that occurred throughout Poland to commemorate the anniversary of that terrible tragedy. Cities and towns throughout Poland observed the anniversary in various ways and at their own initiative. I personally attended a solemn wreath laying ceremony in Skaryszewski Park and the opening of a photographic exhibit at the Palace of Culture and Science here in Warsaw. Senior Polish officials, including the acting mayor of Warsaw, joined me at both events, in a touching sign of solidarity with the United States. In addition, several members of my staff participated at similar engagements throughout Poland. Many Poles even visited the embassy to light a votive candle, leave flowers, or pause in prayer as a sign of their support. more

The Director of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Robert S. Mueller, III, visited Poland on September 20 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the presence of an FBI office at the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw. While in Poland, Director Mueller met with high-level officials within the Polish government, including the Head of the Polish National Police, Marek Bienkowski. “Director Mueller’s visit on this occasion was a sign of respect to the Polish government for the exceptional cooperation between U.S. and Polish law enforcement authorities,” stated U.S. Ambassador to Poland Victor Ashe. more

Ceremonies were held on September 15 at Lockheed Martin production facilities in Fort Worth, Texas, to commemorate the roll-out of the first Polish F-16 fighter jet produced through the Polish F-16 Peace Sky program. Polish dignitaries attending the ceremony included Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski, Minister of Foreign Affairs Anna Fotyga, Minister of Defense Radoslaw Sikorski, and Commander of the Polish Air Force Lt. Gen. Stanislaw Targosz. U.S. Ambassador to Poland Victor Ashe, Gen. T. Michael Moseley, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, and Bruce Lemkin, Deputy Undersecretary of the U.S. Air Force for International Affairs represented the United States. “Poland is delighted to be taking delivery of an aircraft that will not only transform our capabilities in the air but also those of our ground troops and the Navy,” said Minister of Defense Sikorski, who himself flew in an F-16 on September 14. more

At an event hosted by the President of Lodz, Jerzy Kropiwnicki, and witnessed by Polish Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski in the Poznanski Palace in Lodz, Poland, Dell Corporate Vice President Sean Corkery and Polish Minister of Economy Piotr Wozniak signed a document to inaugurate the establishment of a new factory to produce computers in Lodz, Poland. According to Dell Vice President Corkery, excavation at the site has already begun and they expect to start hiring in December and producing their first product in October 2007. This new factory is potentially a 200 million Euro investment with job creation of up to 3,000. "This shows how well Poland is thought of in terms of American investment. This is a really major decision with positive far reaching impact for Lodz and Poland," said U.S. Ambassador to Poland Victor Ashe. "I congratulate all involved."
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U.S.-based Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Polish aircraft maker PZL Mielec to negotiate agreements that would establish the company as the assembly center for International Black Hawk helicopters and key helicopter components, announced the company on September 20 at a signing ceremony in Warsaw. Sikorsky Aircraft is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation, of Hartford, Connecticut. Under the MOU, Sikorsky's strategic investment in PZL Mielec will provide funding for factory improvements and tooling to support assembly of the International Black Hawk helicopter and other helicopter component production. In his remarks at the ceremony, U.S. Ambassador to Poland Victor Ashe said, “This is yet another new major U.S. investment in Poland announced in recent days that clearly demonstrates the strong commercial ties between the U.S. and Poland. Several offices of the U.S. Embassy have worked very hard to assist Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation and PZL Mielec to reach this MOU. I congratulate all involved.”  more

On September 27, in celebration of the 67th Anniversary of the Founding of the Polish Underground Army, U.S. Ambassador to Poland Victor Ashe hosted a reception at his residence in honor of Poland’s World War II veterans. In addressing the more than 500 guests, Ambassador Ashe stated, “The Polish veterans of World War II gathered here today are members of what I call Poland’s ‘Greatest Generation.’ Your generation’s accomplishments did not only serve Poland. Like your predecessors, you fought for the freedom of others. Today, a new generation of Poles is following in your footsteps. I speak for all Americans when I give you and your colleagues our deepest thanks for your service and your sacrifices. I want you to know that we, our children, and indeed the World, will never forget what you did for Poland and for the liberty of all mankind. We are honored to be in your presence.” In addition to the numerous veterans present, the event was also attended by the Bishop of the Polish Armed Forces Tadeusz Ploski, Senator Franciszek Adamczyk, Chairman of the Polish Senate Defense Committee, Lieutenant General Lech Majewski, Deputy Commander of the Polish Air Force, Australian Ambassador to Poland Ian Forsyth and British Ambassador to Poland Charles Crawford.
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On September 21, Ambassador Ashe held a reception at his residence for Polish swimmers and rowers to celebrate their recent successes. Ashe congratulated the twenty-eight swimmers for their recent success at the European Championships where they won five gold medals, two silver, and one bronze, and the eleven Polish swimmers who participated in the First World Youth Swimming Championship in Rio de Janiero, Brazil winning three gold medals and one silver. He also acknowledged the Polish rowing team of four that won a gold medal and the team of eight that won a bronze in the recent World Championships in Eton, England. Olympic champion Otylia Jedrzejczak and European Champions Pawel Korzeniowski and Slawomir Kuczko attended the reception as well as representatives from the Polish Ministry of Sport and Polish Olympic Committee. more

Daniel Fried, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs and former U.S. Ambassador to Poland, visited Warsaw September 7 and 8 for a series of meetings with the Polish President, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, government officials and opposition leaders. Mr. Fried discussed the strategic partnership between Poland and the United States, along with common bilateral interests and issues of mutual concern. Mr. Fried served as the U.S. Ambassador to Poland from November 1997 until May 2000, and has been Assistant Secretary since May 5, 2005. more

In late September, U.S. Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues J. Christian Kennedy visited Poland to discuss Holocaust Education, Anti-Semitism, and property restitution issues. He met with Jewish and Catholic church leaders, researchers, and parliamentarians, as well as visited the offices of the Museum of the History of Polish Jews and the Jewish Historical Institute. Mr. Kennedy also paid a visit to the Nazi Extermination Camp at Treblinka, and is shown here speaking with Museum Director Edward Kopowka and Regional Museum Assistant Director Slawomir Kordaczuk about the site and its history. more

On September 22, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution recognizing December 13, 2006, as a Day of Remembrance for the 25th anniversary of the imposition of martial law by the Communist government in Poland. The Day of Remembrance honors the sacrifices of the Polish people who risked their lives in the struggle against Communist rule to restore liberty and democracy in Poland, and calls on the people of the United States to acknowledge the important role their struggle played in the fall of communism and the end of the Cold War. more

On September 20, Representative Daniel Lipinski of Illinois made a statement on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives honoring the contributions of Poland in Afghanistan and Iraq. “Poland has been a steadfast ally of the United States, and I thank the Polish people and government for their friendship,” said Representative Lipinski. more

On September 22, U.S. Ambassador to Poland Victor Ashe officially opened the newest office of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) at the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw, Poland. “The opening of a DEA office in Poland enhances the already strong cooperation between U.S. and Polish law enforcement authorities in combating international drug trafficking,” said Ambassador Ashe. DEA personnel look forward to expanding the cooperation and positive working relationship with the Polish National Police and the Polish National Prosecutor’s Office. This DEA office replaces an office formerly located at the U.S. Embassy in Berlin, Germany. The DEA has over 50 offices in foreign countries. more

Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski announced on September 4 that the United States would be the “Lead Nation” for the 2007 International Defense Trade Show (MSPO). Ambassador Ashe and 14 other U.S. representatives attended the recent 2006 Trade Show Opening Ceremony in Kielce, Poland and the Ambassador was proud to hear the announcement saying that it is a wonderful opportunity for even closer cooperation with Poland. The designation of “Lead Nation” is an honor for the United States which sent an initial planning team to the 2006 show. The planning team included the U.S. Embassy’s Office of Defense Cooperation and U.S. Commercial Service office; U.S. European Command; the U.S. Army’s Security Assistance Command; the U.S. Army’s Program Executive Office for “Simulation Training and Instrumentation,” and the U.S. Army’s Program Executive Office “Soldier,” and the U.S. Army's Research Development and Engineering (RDE) Command. The MSPO is the largest Defense Trade Show in the region with several hundred exhibitors and over 10,000 annual visitors. more

On September 18, U.S. Ambassador to Poland Victor Ashe and Consul General in Krakow Anne Hall visited Podkarpackie Province. In Rzeszow, they met with Bishop Kazimierz Gorny, head of the Rzeszow diocese, and Mr. Robert Godek, Vice Governor of Podkarpackie. Both the bishop and the vice governor advocated strongly for a direct transatlantic connection with the rapidly developing Rzeszow Airport at Jasionka. Podkarpackie contributed greatly to the 19th and 20th centuries’ Polish emigration to the United States and thousands of its former inhabitants and their ancestors now live in America. more

On September 8, Ambassador Victor Ashe hosted a reception at his residence for U.S. Embassy Wardens. The Wardens assist the Embassy in communicating with the American community of Poland, especially in the case of an emergency. During the event, the Ambassador introduced Chip McElhattan, the Embassy’s new Regional Security Officer who briefed the Wardens on security issues. There was also a voter registration presentation by Consular Section staff along with representatives of the Republicans and Democrats Abroad organizations. more

The U.S.-Poland training workshop titled “Countering the Psychology of Terrorism” opened on September 11 in Warsaw. The one-week long training is provided by the U.S. Defense Institute for Medical Operations in collaboration with the Polish Military Institute of Health Services. Fifty mental health professionals from the Polish Armed Forces, Police, Fire Service, and Border Guards will participate. U.S. Ambassador to Poland Victor Ashe attended the opening and also toured a Polish military hospital that treats soldiers wounded in Iraq. more

From September 4-6 U.S. Ambassador to Poland Victor Ashe was travelling in southern Poland. His stops included Kielce, Opatow, Sandomierz, Stalowa Wola, and Tarnobrzeg. Highlights of the trip included a wreath laying ceremony in honor of the victims of the Kielce Pogrom, the Kielce trade show, a tour of the palace "Baranow Sandomierski", and a visit to Bory Tucholskie National Park. Ambassador Ashe also met with the Mayor of Kielce, Wojciech Lubawski; the Governor of the Kielce province, Grzegorz Banas; the Mayor of Opatow, Krystyna Kielisz; the Mayor of Sandomierz, Jerzy Borowski; the Mayor of Tarnobrzeg, Jan Dziubinski; and the Mayor of Stalowa Wola, Andrzej Szlezak. more

A U.S. delegation led by U.S. Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Julie Finley and U.S. Ambassador Steven Pifer will join some 900 international experts, government representatives and human rights activists in Warsaw October 2-13 for the 2006 session of Europe's largest human rights and democratization conference, the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting sponsored by the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. The two-week meeting will review the progress made by the OSCE's 56 participating States in implementing their commitments in the field of human rights and democratization, including respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms such as freedom of expression and religion, conduct of democratic elections and prevention of torture. Special topics for discussion will include trafficking in human beings, access to justice and promotion of tolerance, non-discrimination and mutual respect and understanding.
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