Ambassador Visits Mazowieckie and Lubelskie

28 February 2008

Ambassador Ashe, accompanied by Commercial Counselor John McCaslin, visited Avon's second largest factory in the world, just outside Garwolin, south of Warsaw.  Avon has been extremely successful in establishing its direct selling method for a complete range of cosmetics and other personal care products.  Its modern facility in Garwolin, established in 1997 and now with 3000 employees, provides product for all of Europe and beyond and also features a distribution center and research and development center.  According to Avon officials, this facility is ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 18001 certified, which means that it meets the highest quality, environmental and safety standards, respectively.

U.S. Ambassador to Poland Victor Ashe traveled to Lublin on Thursday, February 28, along the way paying calls on local officials in several towns.  In the morning, he visited with Mayor of Otwock Zbigniew Szczepaniak and Mayor of Garwolin Tadeusz Mikulski.  While in Garwolin, the Ambassador visited the Avon Operations factory where he was hosted by Mr. Jerzy Glinkowski, President of Avon Operations in Poland.  Avon is a large U.S. firm that has been growing in Poland.  "Avon is an iconic company in the United States, and it is a pleasure to see the positive effects of U.S.-Polish economic cooperation first hand," said Ambassador Ashe.  In the afternoon, he met with Stanisław Włodarczyk, Mayor of Dęblin, and then visited the Polish Air Force Academy, where he was hosted by Col. Marek Bylinka, Deputy Rector-Commander of the Academy.  The Ambassador completed the day with a call upon the Mayor of Lubartów, Jerzy Zwoliński.

Ambassador Ashe continued his visit on Friday with a morning meeting with Genowefa Tokarska, Voivode of Lubelskie Province.  He then called on Adam Wasilewski, Mayor of Lublin, before departing for Chełm, which is a sister city to Knoxville, TN, where Ambassador Ashe served four terms as mayor from 1988 to 2004.  In Chełm, he met with Mayor Agata Fisz.  In the afternoon, the Ambassador stopped in Kozienice to meet with Mayor Tomasz Śmietanka, before returning to Warsaw.