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Ambassador Victor Ashe
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Several hundred people packed a hotel ballroom in downtown Warsaw November 3 to watch the U.S. election results come in and celebrate American democracy in action. The U.S. Embassy and American Chamber of Commerce co-sponsored an elections breakfast scheduled for the hours when the bulk of the returns were coming in.
"One winner is the democratic process in the United States in that it appears the voter turnout will exceed 120 million votes, which is the largest voter turnout in the 228-year history of the United States," Ambassador Victor Ashe told the crowd. "I think we can say that the election in the U.S. was a celebration of democracy."
Two giant-screen televsions were the focus of attention most of the morning as network anchors declared the electoral votes in one state after another as favoring either President George W. Bush or Senator John Kerry.
Radio and television networks broadcast live from the breakfast, with many of them interviewing Ambassador Ashe and other Polish and American officials and commentators.
"It's a very exciting event for both Americans and Poles," said Press Attaché Jim Bond. "I don't think most Americans realize how seriously countries like Poland regard the American elections. Many see the results that come out of this race as setting the tone in global relations for the next four years."
Ambassador Ashe said that no matter who wins, some things won't change. "In regard to Polish-American relations, they have always been on a high plane. They will continue to be. Polish-American solidarity and friendship remain strong, and I and Embassy Warsaw will continue to work in that direction. [There are] issues that we mutually can work together to resolve, and [we will] continue the strong friendship that goes back to our American Revolution when Polish citizens came to the United States and helped us achieve our freedom, just as we have been there to help Poles achieve their freedom here in more recent times."
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