Minna Zielonka-Packer will present her documentary “Back to Gombin” and talk about her work on the feature film “The Lilliput,” which she is filming in Poland, announced Cultural Attaché James Wolfe.  The filmmaker, a child of Holocaust survivors, chronicles the tragic history of the Jews of the town of Gombin (Gabin), a small town in central Poland and the birthplace of her father. She is currently in Poland as a Fulbright scholar. Her current scheduled appearances will take place in Lodz (May 14), Warsaw (May 15), and Krakow (May 27-28). See below for full details. Her appearances have been arranged by the American Embassy, American Consulate General in Krakow, and the American Corner in Lodz.  (more)

Four additional F-16 multi-role fighters landed at Krzesiny Air Base outside of Poznan on May 8.  These aircraft are intended for fielding with the 10th Tactical Air Squadron at Lask Air Base outside of Lodz.  Currently, 41 F-16C/D fighters have been successfully delivered; all fighters will arrive by the end of this year.  Poland purchased 48 Block 52-level F-16s along with precision-guided munitions, pilot and mechanic training, simulators, and several years of support.  The F-16 program has served as a catalyst for transformation of the Polish Air Force.  (more)

A group of recently promoted Brigadier Generals and Rear Admirals from the U.S. Military will visit Poland from May 10 to 14.  The officers are participating in the regional travel portion of the CAPSTONE Military Leadership Program.  CAPSTONE is a joint service professional military education course conducted by the National Defense University at Fort Lesley J. McNair in Washington, DC.  The course objective is to ensure senior military leaders understand how military forces and other elements of national power are integrated and used to support national military strategies, and how joint, interagency, and multinational operations support strategic national objectives.  While in Poland the group will visit Krakow and Warsaw and meet with senior Polish leaders from the military, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Sejm.  (more)

Andrew Nagorski, senior editor of Newsweek International and the first editor-in-chief of Newsweek Polska, will visit Warsaw May 14-18 for the publication of the Polish edition of his latest book “The Greatest Battle: Stalin, Hitler, and the Desperate Struggle for Moscow That Changed the Course of World War II”. While in town, he will also speak for Polish audiences at the Ambassador’s Residence and Warsaw University students on May 15 at 18:00 at the Polish Academy of Sciences (Pałac Staszica, ul. Nowy Świat 72) (more). Nagorski played a big role in launching Newsweek Russia in 2004 and Newsweek Polska in 2001. He has served as Newsweek bureau chief in Warsaw, Moscow, Bonn, and Rome. Nagorski continues to write reviews and commentaries for Newsweek International. He has been honored three times by the Overseas Press Club for his reporting. (Biography)

Ambassador Speaks to Young Traveler’s Club in Warsaw

U.S. Ambassador to Poland Victor Ashe met with the Young Traveler’s Club, a group of students at Middle-school No. 116 in the Wilanow District of Warsaw on April 30. The Young Traveler’s Club is a student association initially formed by an English teacher, gathering together young enthusiasts of culture, politics, economy and history from different countries in the world.  The students develop their interests in the world through a variety of cultural and educational projects in school or from traveling to the countries of their interest and learning about the culture, history and society of the place through first-hand experience.  Ambassador Ashe responded to an invitation to speak to the Club on the history and politics of the United States. (more)

Translations: Multi-disciplinary exhibition of art and music by foreign artists living in Warsaw 

May 2008 will see the first-ever multi-disciplinary art and music exhibition presented by American and other foreign artists living in Warsaw who have formed an ex-pat artistic group “Translations”. The combined spaces of Komuna Otwock theatre and Pracownia Wschodnia gallery on Lubelska Street 30/32 will host the exhibition May 8-31, Thursdays to Sundays between 15:00-21:00 as well as show accompanying special events featuring American artists. The “Translations” project is another proof of the ongoing American contribution to cultural and artistic life in Poland, bringing American art and culture closer to Polish public through interactive artistic events and exhibits. (more)

U.S. Ambassador to Poland Victor Ashe honored Sergeant Elzbieta Grodzka, Staff Nurse, 2nd Field Hospital, Polish Land Forces, as Poland's nomination for the Secretary of State’s 2008 Award for International Women of Courage.  Sergeant Grodzka joins a small group of women worldwide nominated for their leadership and courage.  She voluntarily deployed four times to war-torn Iraq to not only serve her own country, but also to assist the Iraqi people on their journey to freedom and democracy.  Serving as a Staff Nurse with the 2nd Field Hospital, Sergeant Grodzka repeatedly demonstrated exceptional courage while serving in Iraq defending freedom and democracy from the threat of terrorism.  (more)

Polish Aerial Photographer Mariusz Adamski visited Waco, Texas where 5 C130Es are being prepared for the Polish Air Force and took photos of the aircraft for Skrzydlata Polska (Wings of Poland) magazine.   The aircraft are being provided by the U.S. Government to fulfill a promise by President Bush to provide a heavy airlift capability to Poland.  The first C-130E will arrive in Poland this fall.  Adamski’s article can be found in this month’s Skrzydlata Polska (Wings of Poland) magazine.  A pdf copy of the story is provided here.  The U.S. Embassy in Warsaw's Office of Defense Cooperation helped arrange the visit to the L-3 plant.  (more)

U.S. Ambassador to Poland Victor Ashe made an introductory call on Poland's Minister of Health, Ewa Kopacz, on Monday, May 5.  During the meeting, they discussed access to innovative medicines for Poles and protection of intellectual property rights in the health care sector.  They also discussed ways to increase cooperation between the U.S. and Polish governments as they work to address health-care issues facing both countries. (more)

U.S. Representative Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) was awarded the Officer's Cross of Merit of the Republic of Poland during Polish national celebrations on May 3.  Presidential Ministers Michal Kaminski and Robert Draba gave the Cross of Merit to Rep. Emanuel in a ceremony in the Polish Consulate in Chicagol.  Rep. Emanuel stated: "This is an honour to me. Poland is a first-class friend and I will continue my fight in Congress that Poles from Chicago are never treated as second-class citizens. I hope for a continuing dialogue and partnership to tighten the cultural and economic ties between our countries."  The Cross of Merit is awarded to foreigners and Poles living abroad for their contributions to international cooperation and to strenghtening ties with Poland.  U.S. Ambassador to Poland Victor Ashe said, "I congratulate Rep. Emanuel on the work he has done for the Polish community in the United States, and look forward to working with him in the future on promoting a stronger U.S.-Polish relationship." (more)

General Franciszek Gagor, Chief of the Polish General Staff, will visit the United States at the invitation of Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the week of May 19.  While in the United States, General Gagor will visit several U.S. military installations, including Fort Greely Alaska and Fort Lewis Washington, and will be hosted for official activities by Admiral Mullen in Washington, DC.  General Gagor also will visit the U.S. Strategic Command and the U.S. Central Command during his time in the United States. (more)

Ambassador Hosts Irena Sendler Award Winners and Nominees at Reception

Ambassador Victor Ashe congratulated the winners of this year’s Irena Sendler Award for teachers of Holocaust and tolerance issues at reception April 30.  The winners were announced to the public today at a ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ambassador’s reception was held to honor the winners: Anna Janina Kloza of Poland and Andrew Beiter of the United States. Anna Klozais a Polish teacher in High School No. 6 in Bialystock, who not only teaches her students about the Holocaust and tolerance but trains other teachers how to do so.  She has also been the target of a hate Internet site because of the work she is doing. American winner Andrew Beiter, is from Springville Middle School, near Buffalo, New York. He is a social studies teacher and an example of someone who makes a difference. He develops creative and innovative methods of education and has held summer institutes dealing with Darfur, Holocaust studies, and other genocides. (more) 

Polish Sergeant Honored for Language Achievement

Sergeant Andrzej Kozera of the Polish Air Force was honored as the Distinguished Graduate of the Defense Language Institute’s English-language Training Course at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas on April 29.  Sergeant Kozera received the Air Education and Training Command’s “Commander’s Award for Superior Academic Achievement.”  Sergeant Kozera will proceed to Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, to continue his studies as a C-130 Flight Engineer.  Upon his return to Poland, he will work at Powidz Air Base. (more) 

Ambassador Participates in Kuklinski Ceremony

U.S. Ambassador to Poland Victor Ashe participated in a ceremony honoring the late Col. Ryszard Kuklinski and his widow Joanna on Wednesday April 30 at the World Union of Home Army Veterans.  Col. Ryszard Jerzy Kukliński was chief of a planning division of the Polish army and a liaison between the Polish army and the Soviet military.  Kukliński’s father was a member of the resistance during World War II who died in the Sachsenhausen German concentration camp. (more)

Polish Military Officers Meet with Secretary of Defense

U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates visited with senior Polish leaders at Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery Alabama.  The Polish officers participated in a Distinguished Visitor Orientation Tour (DVOT) which included visits to several military bases and institutions across the United States.  Poland’s DVOT was led by General Janusz Bojarski, Director, Personnel Department, Ministry of Defense and escorted by Lieutenant Colonel Ray Wojcik, Deputy Chief, Office of Defense Cooperation, U.S. Embassy and Miss Julie Patygula, U.S. National Defense University. (more)

Deputy Prime Minister Pawlak Visits United States

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Waldemar Pawlak made his first visit to the United States as Deputy Prime Minister the week of April 28. In Washington he called on Secretary of Commerce Gutierrez to continue the Economic/Commercial Dialogue that Poland and the United States have engaged in for the past several years, and he met with Secretary of Energy Bodman to discuss energy security. Minister Pawlak also visited Stanford University in California and met with U.S. companies in the hi-tech field. Finally, he spent some time in Chicago meeting with prominent community members in Polonia. (more) 

Embassy Official Speaks at High Schools in Przedborz, Radomsko

Deputy Press Attache Chris Snipes spoke to high school students in Przedborz and Radomsko in Lodzkie Province about U.S. culture values and how they are frequently reflected in American films on April 28.  After his first presentation, Mr. Snipes spent a full hour answering questions about U.S. culture in Przedborz, where the 15 students' English language skills are very high.  They asked questions about the U.S. education system, when teenagers learn to drive, what the most popular music is in the United States, as well as whether Americans learn European history and geography, and what their attitude is toward learning foreign languages. (more)  

USAF Secretary Visits Poland

U.S. Secretary of the Air Force Michael Wynne visited Poland April 28 for meetings with Polish air force counterparts and senior Ministry of Defense officials.  The Secretary’s schedule included a visit to Krysina AirBase to observe F16 flight operations. Ambassador Victor Ashe highlighted the visit, saying “Secretary Wynne’s visit shows the close cooperation between the U.S. and Polish armed services.” (more) 

American Veterans Participate in Krakow Marathon

U.S. Consul General Anne Hall announced that a group of five wounded American veterans represented the Achilles Track Club Freedom Team in the Krakow Marathon Sunday, May 4.  The Freedom Team was founded in 2004 to introduce recently wounded soldiers of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars to athletic competition.  On May 5, the Freedom Team representatives and their colleague from the New York Fire Department met with students at an integrated middle school in Nowa Huta to share their experiences in overcoming challenges and discuss the benefits of volunteerism. (more)

Ambassador Reannounces 2008/2009 Borlaug Fellows Program 

U.S. Ambassador to Poland Victor Ashe reannounced this week the 2008/2009 Norman E. Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellows Program for Poland, through which 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. (more)