Senior Diplomat Previews U.S.-Europe Relations for 2007
Although their cooperation is not discussed widely in the media, the United States and Europe will continue to work together closely to advance freedom, security and democracy in diverse regions, a senior U.S. diplomat says, looking ahead at U.S.-European relations for 2007. Daniel Fried, assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs, discusses trans-Atlantic cooperation in Afghanistan and Iraq, the status of the Kosovo province of Serbia, U.S. relations with Russia and other topics.(more)

Consular Section Recognized for Meeting International Quality Management Standards
Consul General Lisa Piascik announced that on December 4, 2006 Embassy Warsaw’s Consular Section, along with the Consular Agency in Poznan, received full ISO 9001:2001 certification. The ISO 9000 family of standards represents an international consensus on good management practices, including customer focus, full involvement of personnel, a systematic approach to organizational procedures, and an effort to continually improve. Embassy Warsaw’s certification covers all units of the Consular Section, including American Citizen, Immigrant Visa, and Non-Immigrant Visa Services as well as Public Liaison and Fraud Prevention. This represents the first time that any consular section at any U.S. Embassy in the world has received full ISO 9000 certification. “We are proud that we have been internationally recognized as having processing systems that comply with ISO 9001 standards and which encourage us to focus on providing excellent customer service,” said Consul General Piascik.(more)

Poland Joins Methane to Markets Partnership
Poland became the 19th country to join the Methane to Markets partnership, the international initiative that promotes the recovery and use of methane as a source of clean energy. The partnership extended membership to Poland during its steering committee meeting in Rome on December 15. "The Bush Administration is meeting unparalleled financial, international and domestic commitments to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Voluntary programs, like the Methane to Markets Partnership, are delivering environmental and economic results by turning methane waste into wealth," said U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. "By working with Poland to promote advances in clean energy technology, we are transforming important economic partners into good global neighbors."(more)

Polish Defense Leaders Visit Joint U.S.-Polish Military Training Exercise
On December 14, Polish Minister of Defense Radoslaw Sikorski and Commander of Polish Land Forces Lieutenant General Waldemar Skrzypczak attended a Polish battalion training exercise at the U.S. Joint Multinational Readiness Center at Hohenfels, Germany. The training event was a bilateral U.S. and Polish effort designed to augment the Polish 18th Air Assault Battalion's pre-deployment training for its upcoming deployment to Afghanistan in early 2007. U.S. Embassy Warsaw’s Defense Attaché Office participated in the coordination of the exercise and accompanied the distinguished Polish visitors to Germany.(more)

Four More F-16s Arrive in Poland
Four more F-16s arrived in Poland on December 14 as part of a second wave of deliveries under the Poland Peace Sky Program. The first four aircraft delivered under the program arrived in Poland on November 9. Deliveries will take place until December 2008, reaching a total of 48 F-16s. The Polish F-16s are the most advanced fighter aircraft in NATO. The F-16s were produced by Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, Texas using Pratt and Whitney engines built in Poland.(more)

U.S. Senator Honored by Polish American Congress
The Polish American Congress, a U.S.-based private organization that represents at least 10 million Americans of Polish descent, recently recognized United States Senator Barbara Mikulski of Maryland with an award of appreciation for her support of Polish-related legislation in the U.S. Congress. "I am honored to accept this award from the Polish American Congress. I remain committed to strengthening ties between the United States and a free, democratic Poland," said Senator Mikulski. "The United States is blessed with few allies as stalwart as Poland."(more)

U.S. Observes Day of Remembrance for the 25th Anniversary of the Imposition of Martial Law by the Communist Government in Poland
On December 13, 2006, the United States officially observed 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. "The American people have great respect for the Poles who risked their lives to restore liberty and democracy in Poland during the difficult time under martial law. It is fitting that we honor their courage and bravery with a Day of Remembrance," said U.S. Ambassador to Poland Victor Ashe.(more)

U.S. Embassy Announces the 2007 Norman E. Borlaug Fellows Program
The U.S. Embassy’s Office of Agricultural Affairs is pleased to announce the Norman E. Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellows Program for 2007 for Poland. Under this program, selected Polish candidates will be offered short-term (four to six weeks) scientific training and collaborative research fellowships at participating U.S. land-grant universities, government research facilities, other nonprofit institutions or private companies in the United States.(more)

Ambassador Ashe Travels Around Poland
U.S. Ambassador to Poland Victor Ashe traveled to the cities of Śrem, Jarocin, Gostyń, Leszno, Śmigiel, Kościan, and Luboń on December 11. His appointments included meetings with the mayor or president of each city. The trip was part of Ambassador Ashe’s regular travels to represent America in cities and towns outside the capital city of Warsaw. “I have often pointed out that I am not merely the U.S. Ambassador to Warsaw, but to all of Poland,” Ambassador Ashe notes. “Such travels also enable me to learn firsthand the viewpoints of Polish citizens residing in areas outside the capital.” In his two and a half year tour as ambassador to Poland, Ambassador Ashe has already visited all sixteen Polish provinces and more than 130 municipalities outside the capital.(more)

President Bush Announces Intention to Seek Modifications to Visa Waiver Program
U.S. President George W. Bush announced in Tallinn, Estonia, on November 28 that he intends to seek modifications to the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP) that would strengthen the security of VWP travel and allow the U.S. to accelerate the entry of new countries into the program. To read President Bush’s full remarks, click here. “The issue of visa-free travel to the United States has been a matter of great interest here in Poland, and so I would like to inform you further about our thinking,” said U.S. Ambassador to Poland Victor Ashe. To read the Ambassador’s full remarks click here.(more)