September 2012 - Embassy of the Republic of Poland in
Transcription
September 2012 - Embassy of the Republic of Poland in
THE EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF POLAND NEWSLETTER WASHINGTON, DC | SEPTEMBER 2012 FROM THE AMBASSADOR Dear Friends, My name is Ryszard Schnepf, and I am Poland’s new Ambassador to the United States. I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself to you and tell you about my vision for my time here in Washington, DC. I hold a PhD in history from the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw, and an MA from Warsaw University – also in history. My specializations are modern and contemporary history, as well as international relations. Following my schooling in Poland, I studied at the Polish Studies Center at Indiana University in Bloomington. I also took part in the USAID Research Program at various U.S. universities – including Georgetown, Stanford, San Diego, and Rice. My most recent posting was as Ambassador to Poland to Spain from 2008 to 2012. Other previous postings include my service as Undersecretary of State in Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Secretary of State for Foreign Relations and Security in the Chancellery of Poland’s Prime Minister, and Ambassador of Poland in Uruguay and Paraguay, as well as Ambassador of Poland to various Central American countries. #19 in the fields of science, industry, research, culture – and also the very important matter of security. And indeed, these are the key elements of my mission to the U.S.: security, democracy, economy, people-to-people contacts and ongoing cooperation with the Polish-American community. In the upcoming months, I will further share with you my priorities for my time here in Washington, DC in this newsletter, as well as on our website. I would like to close with some words about Poland, the country I represent. Poland’s last decade has been an especially exciting one, filled with development and change. The Poland of today is a vibrant, blossoming nation, and one that I heartily invite you to visit. Explore the beauty of Poland’s nature – including green forests and the wonderfully pristine Mazury Lake District. Poland’s history is a palpable part of Polish cities like Warsaw, Gdańsk, Kraków, Wrocław. If you’re looking for business opportunities – you will find the perfect atmosphere for good business in Poland, combined with an openness and procedural ease. And for those of us who love good food, Poland delights with its rich culinary traditions of natural, tasteful dishes. All of that, combined with world-famous Polish hospitality, makes today’s Poland a wonderful place to visit, work with, explore. In the meantime, I invite you to stay in touch with our Embassy during our numerous public events, and on our social media sites. And now here I am with you. Kind regards, The history of U.S.-Polish relations is extensive – from Polish generals Tadeusz Kościuszko and Kazimierz Pulaski helping your nascent nation win its own fight for independence during the American Revolution to today’s strategic partnership with a well-developed dialogue and cooperation Ambassador Ryszard Schnepf IN THIS ISSUE American Polish Advisory Council 2012 Conference 5 Euro Night 2012 8 6 Chatting Józef Pilsudski with the Author of “Unvanquished” 9 3 U.S. National Archives Releases Newly Declassified Materials on the 1940 Katyń Massacre 4 U.S.-Central Europe Strategy Forum 7 From the Ambassador 1 Poland’s Delegation at the 67th Annual UN General Assembly 2 High State Awards for U.S. Polonia Cardinal Dolan Awarded Officer’s Cross of Merit Poland’s Diplomats Decorated for Work in Syria Poland’s President Meets Young Polonia Poland’s President at West Point 5 Science & Technology Policy Conference 8 Outside the Beltway – News from our Consulates 10 Introducing Poland’s Honorary Consulate in Las Vegas 11 To Listen + Book Giveaway + Did You Know 12 Embassy of Poland Newsletter September 2012 POLAND’S DELEGATION AT THE 67TH ANNUAL UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY Poland’s President Bronisław Komorowski led a delegation to the 67th UN General Assembly, held in New York at the end of September. The opening of the UNGA’s new session is the most important date in the UN calendar, and constitutes an opportunity for world leaders to present their views on current issues that are on the UN’s agenda. The Polish delegation included First Lady Anna Komorowska and Poland’s Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski. “We pledge our readiness to stand with others in pursuit of ideals that lead to a more secure world,” the President said in his UN address on Sept. 26, 2012. He recalled Poland’s Solidarity movement and the 1989 Round Table Talks, which ultimately brought about profound social change and freedom to Poland. The President said that Poland has experience in democratic transitions and stands ready to share those experiences, although they cannot be used in a “copy and paste manner.” “I speak for a country that went from a totalitarian regime to democratic stability within the last 20 years,” the President said. Today, Poland is a “free country that can develop without limitations.” It’s also a country that offers development and humanitarian aid around the world (see the Polish Aid website for details and information on projects). The President also spoke of the global economic crisis, Syria, Afghanistan and the death of U.S. Ambassador to Libya J. Christopher Stevens. He stressed the role of compromise in resolving international conflicts, and decried civilian – especially child – victims of those conflicts. In addition to his UN address, the President met with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and held bilateral talks with the Presidents of Afghanistan, Georgia and Moldova. Poland’s Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski held talks with his counterparts from the Republic of Korea, Libya, Columbia and Senegal. One of the Minister’s primary goals during the UN General Assembly was the promotion of Poland’s candidacy for nonpermanent membership in the UN Security Council. He also took part in meetings of the Group of Friends of Europe and of the EU Ministers of Foreign Affairs, where he discussed the Eastern Partnership with NATO member state Foreign Ministers and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Minister Sikorski took part in an informal ministerial debate on the Middle East at the International Peace Institute. He also met with former Secretary of State, U.S. National Security Advisor and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Henry Kissinger in a meeting attended by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, author and columnist Peggy Noonan, and foreign policy experts and journalists. Poland’s delegation to New York also included Ministry of Foreign Affairs Under-Secretaries Grażyna Bernatowicz, Bogusław Winid and Maciej Szpunar. WATCH The President’s UN Address PHOTOS 1, 2, 3. President Bronisław Komorowski speaks at the UN General Assembly in New York on Sept. 26, 2012. 4. First Lady Anna Komorowska and Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski listen to President Komorowski’s UNGA address. 2 September 2012 Embassy of Poland Newsletter On Sept. 26, 2012, the Consulate General of Poland in New York hosted a ceremony during which President Bronisław Komorowski and the First Lady honored Polish-Americans with high Polish state awards. HIGH STATE AWARDS FOR U.S. POLONIA Ohio Congresswoman MARCY KAPTUR was awarded the Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit for outstanding achievements in the development of Polish-American cooperation and for promoting the dissemination of historical knowledge about the Katyń Massacre. Read about the declassification of U.S. documents on the Massacre on page 6 of this newsletter. Polish-U.S. translator BILL JOHNSTON and Polish Scout leader MARIA BIELSKA were awarded the Officer’s Cross of the Order of Merit. A prolific and talented translator, Mr. Johnston’s most recent literary award was the PEN Translation Award for Wiesław Myśliwski’s Stone Upon Stone. He has also translated the works of such Polish authors as Stanislaw Lem, Juliusz Słowacki, Stefan Żeromski, Tadeusz Różewicz, Witold Gombrowicz and Magdalena Tuli. Ms. Bielska is a long-time leader in the Polish-American Scouting Organization, and received her award for outstanding achievements in Polish community activities and for the development of the scouting organization in the U.S. ROBERT L. BILLINGSLEY, ANDRZEJ ROJEK and WANDA URBANSKA received the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Merit. As part of the Jan Karski U.S. Centennial Campaign Steering Committee, the trio was instrumental in the successful campaign for the awarding of Jan Karski’s posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom. The Knight’s Cross was awarded for their outstanding contributions to the promotion of historical knowledge about Poland, and for advocating increased understanding between Poles and Americans. MARTHA EGGERTH received the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Merit for her achievements in the artistic world, and her social and charitable activities. A singer and actress, she has appeared in more than 40 films in 5 languages, and performed numerous concerts, operettas and recitals around the world. She married famous Polish tenor Jan Kiepura in 1936 and the couple, known as Europe’s liebespaar (love pair) was famously popular for decades. Ms. Eggerth celebrated her 100th birthday in April – sto lat! JACK GOLDFARB received the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Merit for his outstanding advocacy in promoting Polish-Jewish relations. Read about one of his projects – a tablet in Staszów, Poland that honors 23 Poles that helped the Jews of Staszów during WWII. The late HELENA BOGUNIEWICZ, a Polish Scout leader, was also awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Merit for her exceptional contributions to the promotion of the Polish culture and national traditions, and to the development of the Polish-American Scouting Organization. WŁODZIMIERZ ILNICKI, ZDZISŁAW KAPEK, KRZYSZTOF RUTKOWSKI, ANDRZEJ SĘKOWSKI, and MAREK EUGENIUSZ KOŃKA were awarded the Cross of Freedom and Solidarity in recognition of activities leading to Polish sovereignty, and the respect of human rights in the People’s Republic of Poland. BETSEY BLAKESLEE was decorated with the Gold Cross of Merit for her work in promoting historical knowledge about Poland and for working towards better understanding between Poles and Americans. Ms. Blakeslee’s efforts were instrumental to the renovation of the garden established at West Point Academy by Tadeusz Kościuszko and is a staunch promoter of his legacy. Poland’s Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski awarded the Bene Merito medal to Honorary Consul of Poland in Boston MAREK LEŚNIEWSKI-LASS and CZESLAW CZAPLINSKI – photographer, journalist and documentary filmmaker – whose wife accepted the medal on his behalf. Upon completion of the medal ceremony, Poland’s President lauded the individuals decorated that evening, and invited all to join him, his wife, the Foreign Minister and other Polish government officials to the Consulate’s salons for a reception. PHOTOS Clockwise from top left: 1. Bill Johnston, Rep. Marcy Kaptur with Poland’s President 2. Pres. Komorowski with Martha Eggerth 3. The President with Polish-American Scouting leaders 4. A full house at the Consulate 5. Pres. Komorowski shakes hands with Rep. Marcy Kaptur 6. The awards. Photographer: Piotr Molecki / Chancellery of the President of Poland 3 September 2012 Embassy of Poland Newsletter Cardinal Dolan said the award has particular value to him because it comes from Poland, and Poland is the homeland of Pope John II, the person closest to his own heart. A close collaborator of Pope John Paul II’s, Cardinal Dolan maintains a cordial relationship with the hierarchy of Poland’s Roman Catholic Church. This July, he hosted the Archbishop of Kraków – Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz – with whom he has a longlasting friendship. Together, the Cardinals wrote the preface and foreword to a unique collection, “The Saint for Shalom,” which includes the texts of all John Paul II’s speeches and documents devoted to Judaism, Israel and Jewish-related topics. Cardinal Dolan supported the creation of the Chapel of Our Lady of Częstochowa in St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue. Each May for the past seven years, Cardinal Dolan has helped to organize a commemorative concert dedicated to John Paul II. CARDINAL DOLAN AWARDED OFFICER’S CROSS OF MERIT Archbishop of New York TIMOTHY DOLAN was honored in a ceremony held at the Consulate General of Poland in New York on Sept. 25, 2012 hosted by Poland’s President Bronisław Komorowski. The President decorated Cardinal Dolan with the Officer’s Cross of Merit in the presence of PolishAmerican clergy, Polonia representatives and media. Poland’s President Bronisław Komorowski met with representatives from PolishAmerican Chambers of Commerce, Polish companies active in the U.S. market, as well as U.S. investors who support internships for Polish POLAND’S PRESIDENT MEETS WITH BUSINESS LEADERS ACTIVE IN POLISH AND U.S. MARKETS students on Sept. 27, 2012 at Poland’s Consulate General in New York. During the meeting, the attendees presented the initiatives undertaken by the Chambers of Commerce and business councils that are key to strengthening bilateral economic relations. The meeting also included a presentation of an initiative from Poland’s Ministry of Economy, which will accelerate the entrance of new Polish technology companies into the U.S. market. This initiative has received support from President Komorowski’s Chancellery. The President highlighted two business events that took part in the first half of 2012 and gave impetus to cooperation between Polish and U.S. companies. The first, an annual economic workshop that took place in Chicago in May, produced a Joint Program Declaration. The second event – the Polish-American Economic Summit – was held this June in Warsaw. PHOTO Poland’s President Bronisław Komorowski addresses Polish and U.S. business leaders at the Polish Consulate General in New York; courtesy of the Trade & Investment Section of Poland’s Embassy in the U.S. Following the award ceremony, guests took part in a cocktail reception at the Consulate, attended also by Polish school staff, many of whom conduct their activities in cooperation with Polish parishes. PHOTOS by Piotr Molecki / Chancellery of the President of Poland The Consulate of Poland in New York hosted a meeting of Poland’s President Bronisław Komorowski with representatives of Polonia’s younger generations on Sept. 27, 2012. Poland’s First Lady Anna Komorowska also took part, and Consul General Ewa JunczykZiomecka moderated the event. Attendees included Polish and Polish-American students and university alumni, Polonia activists and young professionals. POLAND’S PRESIDENT MEETS YOUNG POLISHAMERICANS Jolanta Caytas of Columbia Univ. welcomed the President on behalf of the Polish-American community and presented the issues facing that community today. Other speakers included President of the Harvard Club of Poland Krzysztof Daniewski, writer and journalist Zuzanna Głowacka, architect Piotr Szałęga, and President of the Polish Student Organization Karolina Leszczewicz. President Komorowski shared the democratic and economic progress that Poland has made, and said that after its political transformation the country has either caught up with the West or surpassed it – as in its distinction of being the fastest growing economy in the EU. In response to a question about what the Polish community can do for Poland, the President replied that Poland is no longer threatened existentially as it was in the last century. But a challenge remains – the building of the image of Poland as a modern country with well-educated citizens who are successful in various aspects of life. And in this vein, the President encouraged those gathered to focus on their own careers, as experience and skill can be as valuable as financial capital. The President said he believes that the participants’ success and achievements will reflect positively on Poland, and encouraged all to work hard and to represent modern Poland, its culture and values proudly. 4 September 2012 Embassy of Poland Newsletter President Bronisław Komorowski visited POLAND’S West Point Military Academy on Sept. 25, 2012. Famed Polish general Tadeusz PRESIDENT Kościuszko is one of the academy’s most AT WEST prominent icons: A brilliant engineer, Kościuszko was tasked by George POINT Washington to fortify the stronghold at West Point during the American Revolutionary War. The President said that Kościuszko was a true soldier who fought for “our freedom and yours.” The President met with Dean of Academics at West Point, Brig. Gen. Timothy Trainor, and Commandant of Cadets, Brig. Gen. Ted Martin, and laid a wreath at the foot of the academy’s Kościuszko Monument. During his visit, the President also met with a group of PolishAmericans who have worked for years to preserve Kościuszko’s legacy at West Point. PHOTOS Courtesy of U.S. Military Academy Public Affairs: 1. + 2.: The President at West Point’s Kościuszko Monument 3. The President with West Point cadets 4. At the foot of West Point’s Kościuszko Monument, Cadet First Captain James Whittington presents President Komorowski with a cadet saber 5. The President with Polish-Americans. AMERICAN POLISH ADVISORY COUNCIL 2012 CONFERENCE On Sept. 29, 2012 the American Polish Advisory Council (APAC) held its first conference. The conference comprised panel discussions on changing community demographics, Polish-U.S. political engagement, trade and economic cooperation between the U.S. and Poland, as well as the PolishAmerican community’s participation in the November elections. The event gathered around 200 Polish-Americans, representatives from the U.S. administration and Congress. Poland’s Ambassador to the U.S. Ryszard Schnepf presented the priorities of his mission to the United States. In his speech, he pointed to the special relationship that bonds Poland and the U.S. – a relationship based on friendship, cooperation, strategic alliance, and also history – as in the joint efforts that led to Poland’s joining NATO. Ambassador Schnepf focused on security, democracy promotion, the economy, people-to-people contacts – including the addition of Poland into the Visa Waiver Program, and cooperation with the Polish-American community with regard to his ongoing and future work. The American Polish Advisory Council (APAC) was incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation in the District of Columbia on Jan. 21, 2003. The main goal of the organization is to encourage Polish-American involvement in politics and government at all levels. 5 September 2012 Embassy of Poland Newsletter U.S. NATIONAL ARCHIVES RELEASES NEWLY DECLASSIFIED MATERIALS ON THE 1940 KATYŃ MASSACRE On Sept. 10, 2012, the U.S. National Archives released newly declassified U.S. materials on the 1940 Katyń Massacre. The occasion was marked at the U.S. Capitol with a formal opening attended by Polish diplomats, U.S. government officials, and Polish-Americans – both WII veterans and Katyń victims’ families. Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, who played an instrumental role in bringing about the declassification of the documents, said that this was a day long awaited, a day “to help make history whole.” She opened the event with a moment of silence for the victims, and then gave a historical overview of the massacre. Katyń Forest, where the Soviet Secret Police murdered more than 4,000 Polish prisoners-of-war in 1940, is one of multiple grave sites containing 22,000+ Polish high-ranking officers, policemen, and civil servants – murdered in the spring of 1940 by the Soviet Secret Police. of U.S. documents relating to the Katyń Massacre are now publicly available. The graves were discovered in 1943 by the German Nazi army, which by that point had broken its alliance with Soviet Russia and invaded its territories, inadvertently discovering mass graves. Once the Soviets recovered the territory, they did their best to blame the massacre on the German Nazis. Only in 1990 did Mikhail Gorbachev publicly admit Soviet culpability. Krystyna Piórkowska, representing the Katyń Families Federation in Warsaw, read a letter from the organization’s president, Izabella Saryusz-Skapska. A team from the U.S. National Archives presented its methodology and findings during the Sept. 10 event, and was followed by an NGO panel that gave a technical assessment of the declassification effort. “The victims were our brothers, fathers, grandfathers,” Ms. Piórkowska said. Rep. Marcy Kaptur and Rep. Daniel Lipinski sent a joint letter to U.S. President Barack Obama on Aug. 19, 2011 requesting the issuance of an executive order to make all U.S. government documents on the massacre available. This request was taken on by the U.S. National Archives as a special project. Allen Paul, author of Katyń, Stalin’s Massacre and the Triumph of Truth, focused on the importance of shared archives to document the attitudes of successive U.S. administrations towards the massacre. Mark Kramer, Director of Harvard University’s Cold War Studies Program, said that the documents “enrich, enhance past knowledge on Katyń.” “Such research projects do not come up very often,” according to The Katyń Forest Massacre booklet released by the National Declassification Center. “We needed to understand the setting in which the events occurred: not only that thousands of Polish prisoners of war were transported to Kozielsk, Ostashkov and Starobelsk, but also the historical relationship between Poland and Russia, and the networks of alliances,” the booklet continues. “We needed to identify the person involved... And we needed to know the legacy of Katyń: its impact on international relations, on public perception, and on national consciousness.” Barbara Andersen, President of the Polish American Congress DC Office, presented the history and consequences of the Katyń Massacre. In 1951-52, the U.S. Congress Select Committee on the Katyń Forest Massacre named the perpetrators and helped to educate the world about what happened in 1940 to so many of Poland’s best and brightest. More recently, Poland cooperated with the U.S. Congress on the conference “Katyń Forest: Massacre, Politics, Morality,” hosted by the U.S. Library of Congress in 2010. These, combined with numerous actions by institutions and individuals – including Polish-Americans – have helped keep the search for truth about the Massacre alive throug the years. Poland’s Chargé d’Affaires Maciej Pisarski read a letter from Poland’s Minister of Affairs Radosław Sikorski (see sidebar). “I would like to thank the Honorable Marcy Kaptur and PolishAmericans for their continuous effort of bringing the truth about the Katyń Massacre to the public attention,” Mr. Pisarski added. “I would also like to express my gratitude to the U.S. National Archives for the meticulous work culminating in today’s release of source documents on the Katyń Massacre.” The declassified U.S. documents include dispatches, telegrams, maps, photos, letters, surveys, memos, diplomatic notes, and videos, among others. The newly declassified 1,000 pages is now available on the U.S. National Archives website along with a previously declassified 1,000 pages. That means that 2,000 pages “This ceremony has special meaning for me,” Ms. Andersen said. “Among the 22,000 victims was my grandfather.” She credited Polonia around the world for its commitment to this matter. “Polish-American communities around the world do not forget their heroes,” she said. Rep. Dan Lipinski concluded the event, expressing satisfaction with the declassification effort. “Only by knowing the truth can we prevent this sort of thing from happening again,” he said. LEARN MORE The U.S. National Archives page on Katyń READ A joint statement by Rep. Marcy Kaptur and the Embassy of Poland PHOTOS Clockwise from top left: Event poster; Rep. Marcy Kaptur; Event attendees – WWII veterans & victims’ families; Poland’s Chargé d’Affaires M. Pisarski. Poland’s Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski sent Rep. Marcy Kaptur a letter on Sept. 10, 2012 thanking her for her role in declassifying U.S. documents on the 1940 Katyń Massacre. POLAND’S FOREIGN MINISTER THANKS U.S. REP. MARCY KAPTUR “I thank you and the United States National Archives for your hard work over these past months, and for making sure that these documents have finally seen the light of day,” Minister Sikorski wrote. “Congresswoman Kaptur, your perseverance and that of your colleagues has been instrumental in allowing future generations to better understand the traumatic experiences of the Polish nation during World War II.” READ The Minister’s letter to Rep. Marcy Kaptur 6 September 2012 Embassy of Poland Newsletter The Visegrad Group has a rotating presidency, currently held by Poland, and Mr. Pisarski outlined the highlights of Poland’s presidency program, “V4 for integration and cohesion.” During the first panel of the day, Poland’s Deputy Foreign Minister Bogusław Winid, Director of Warsaw Office of the German Marshall Found Andrew Michta and President of the Polish-American Business Council Eric Stewart discussed the contemporary Polish-U.S. relationship, focusing both on its political dimension as well as cooperation in the strategic fields of energy and defense. Minister Winid underlined prospects for strengthening the region’s military and industrial ties with the U.S. through the possible development of joint projects such as the missile defense system, transfer of new technologies and a common presence in third countries markets. On Sept. 21, 2012, the Embassy hosted Day U.S.-CENTRAL 2 of the annual U.S.-Central Europe Strategy Forum, organized by the Center for EUROPE European Policy Analysis (CEPA). The STRATEGY event gathered more than 100 FORUM representatives of the U.S. administration, WASHINGTON, DC DC’s diplomatic and academic SEPT. 20-21 communities, as well as journalists and analysts from Central European and U.S. think-tanks and foreign policy institutes. In his welcoming remarks, Poland’s Chargé d’Affaires Maciej Pisarski highlighted the importance of the Visegrad Group (V4) as the only regional cooperation structure created in Eastern Europe after the fall of communism, and one that continues to grow and set ever more ambitious tasks for itself. The Visegrad Group is an informal, regional form of cooperation of four Central-European countries – Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary – which share not only a neighborhood and similar geopolitical conditions, but also common history, tradition, culture and values. POLAND’S DIPLOMATS DECORATED FOR WORK IN SYRIA The day’s second panel concentrated on the prospects and challenges of the V4 and regional cooperation in Central Europe. Analysts and researchers representing the V4 countries (István Balogh, Junior Research Fellow, Hungarian Institute of International Affairs; Dominik Jankowski, Expert Analyst, National Security Bureau of the Republic of Poland; Robert Kron, Research Analyst, CEPA; Lucia Najšlová, Editor-inChief, Slovak Foreign Policy Association) exchanged views on a range of shared regional priorities, including initiatives in energy, the Eastern neighborhood and defense. The event was followed with a working lunch with Dr. Zbigniew Brzeziński, former National Security Advisor, who delivered personal remarks on U.S. foreign policy, PolishRussian reconciliation and global perspectives. PHOTOS Column 1: Poland’s Chargé d’Affaires M. Pisarski welcomes guests; A. Wess Mitchell, CEPA President; Z. Brzezinski; J. J. Grygiel, SAIS; Column 2: A. Michta; E. Stewart; Min. B. Winid; Column 3: Z. Brzezinski; Audience question. The Polish diplomats who helped set up and run the U.S. Interests Section at Poland’s Embassy in Damascus, Syria were decorated by U.S. Ambassador to Poland Lee Feinstein on Sept. 14, 2012 in a ceremony held in Warsaw, Poland. The U.S. State Department asked Poland’s government to serve as U.S. protecting power in Syria in February 2012, taking Poland’s special standing in the Middle East into account. An agreement establishing a U.S. Interests Section as part of Poland’s Embassy in Damascus was signed Feb. 5, 2012. The next day, the U.S. government closed its mission in Syria. Poland’s diplomats provided consular assistance to U.S. nationals, intervened on behalf of detainees and dealt with security issues. They also supervised all administrative and financial matters related to U.S. Embassy property. A notable achievement was the work of Poland’s diplomats to help recover the body of U.S. journalist Marie Colvin from the embattled city of Homs and the organization of the return of her remains to the United States. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton publicly thanked Poland’s diplomatic service for these efforts. The U.S. Interests Section in Poland’s Embassy in Damascus operated until July 27, 2012, when Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski decreed that the Embassy was to temporarily suspend its activities. PHOTOS Clockwise from top left: 1. The ceremony took place in the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw; 2. Adam Kułach, Plenipotentiary of the Minister of Foreign Affairs for North Africa and Director of Africa and ME Dept.; 3. U.S. Ambassador to Poland Lee Feinstein; Ambassador Adam Kułach; Minister Jerzy Pomianowski. 4. Jerzy Pomianowski, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Under Secretary. 7 Embassy of Poland Newsletter GORDON CONFERENCE: “SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY POLICY IN GLOBAL CONTEXT” September 2012 Gordon Research Conferences organized an international meeting titled “Science and Technology Policy in Global Context” in Waterville, New Hampshire Aug. 5-10, 2012. The meeting’s aim was the oversight of social sciences and R&D important for U.S. policy and economy. The conference gathered 120 participants from academic centers, governmental and non-governmental institutions from the U.S., Europe, China, India and South America. The conference focused on international trends in science policy and the role of major stakeholders in the global research and innovation market. The conference confirmed the prominent and increasing role of science policy as an instrument of the current U.S. administration’s foreign policy. The conference also attested to ongoing U.S. interest in collaboration with Central and Eastern Europe, including the countries invited to the EU Eastern Partnership Program. Embassy representatives presented a poster on the prospects of transatlantic collaboration within the framework of the Program. CLICK on the poster for a full-size version. EURO NIGHT 2012 We joined Washington, DC’s other EU Embassies on Sept. 28, 2012 for Euro Night 2012 – the largest annual festival of culture held in the U.S. capital. The French Embassy hosted, and each of the embassies prepared a table with food and drinks, as well as information on their country. We presented a wide array of booklets and pamphlets on Poland – from tourist attractions to Poland’s health spas and national parks. We served bigos – a traditional Polish hunter’s stew prepared by our Embassy chef – as well as Polish cheesecake and Delicje cookies, two types of Polish beer and Polish bison grass vodka with apple juice. Thanks to the many, many visitors who stopped by our table! Hope to see you again next year. 8 September 2012 Embassy of Poland Newsletter CHATTING PIŁSUDSKI WITH THE AUTHOR OF “UNVANQUISHED: JÓZEF PIŁSUDSKI, RESURRECTED POLAND, AND THE STRUGGLE FOR EASTERN EUROPE” The author of a new biography on famed Polish statesman Józef Piłsudski is neither a Pole nor a writer by trade – he’s an geologist who visited Poland for the first time while researching his book, “Unvanquished: Józef Piłsudski, Resurrected Poland, and the Struggle for Eastern Europe.” We spoke with Mr. Hetherington on Sept. 26, 2012 before a book event hosted by the Embassy. to understand Poland. Unless you put all those pieces together and understand the relationship between the Kresy and the Ukrainians and the Russians and the Latvians and the whole mix – you begin to really appreciate that part of the world and how WWII evolved. The history’s rich and it’s a big missing hole for most Americans. The Economist today published an interview with Halik Kochanski, who’s just written the book “The Eagle Unbowed: The Polish People & the Second World War” that deals with why Poland’s wartime story is not well-known in the West. Norman Davies has written tremendously about it, and it’s there, but it’s not very well read. There are reasons why both the East and How does one set out to write a definitive biography West tried to minimize Poland, which is a of Piłsudski? complex, long story. And I’m speaking as an In fits and starts. The project evolved. My first American – Americans on several occasions attempt was to read a good biography of Józef because of hard-boiled realism more or less Piłsudski, and there were several out there. But abandoned Poland because they needed the I thought they were not very objective for Soviet Union to finish off the Nazis and for various reasons. I was surprised that someone Japan. But the history of abandoned Poland who’s such an important historical figure did goes back quite a ways. What struck me about not have a nice biography. I could describe it as Poland is that it’s the story of freedom and a hobby gone haywire: For liberty. That’s why Poles are the first two years, all that I “WHAT STRUCK ME so important in the American did is research. I read as Revolution. Americans today ABOUT POLAND IS THAT much as I could about complain if they have to wait IT’S THE STORY OF Poland, about Piłsudski. in line at Starbucks. Poles And then I embarked upon FREEDOM AND LIBERTY.” were willing to die for their writing this biography. At freedom and I don’t think first I didn’t know how to type – the very first Americans appreciate that. pages were handwritten. So I had to learn how How did you go about tackling Polish history, which to type. I hadn’t written anything since I was a is so complex? That’s a feeling I have about why the sophomore in high school. I had to develop my story hasn’t made it out to Western audiences. If you own writing style. I wrote a 300-page history of look at nearly every era of Polish history – including Poland as a warm-up. There are plenty of good the era when Piłsudski lived: there’s no Poland. histories of Poland but I wanted to do that to make sure I understood the Polish history. Then, there is Poland. Then, there are factions within Poland. There are so many different layers. I’m a full time geologist, geophysicist, so I How did you go about researching, understanding, would come into work an hour early, I would and then making it palpable to Western audiences? work on it at night. I gave up TV, which turned Poland was a protean country –always out to be a good thing. I ended up reading 200 changing. You use the world layers. As a books on Eastern Europe and Poland. We went geologist, what I do is look at complex to Poland twice. I made contact with Polish situations, at all sorts of data, and it’s not friends. The first edition was kind of testing the connected. And then I make connections, I put waters. I sent it out to some professors and got it into a coherent, consistent interpretation some great feedback. One in particular at the where there’s a premium for being correct. I University of Kansas – Anna Cienciala – used the same methodology with the history. I worked on it virtually every day for six months. had to put together all the pieces and then She went over it page by page, went over all connect them. History is making connections. my references, gave me a whole new list – she Then you have to understand everything that treated me like a PhD student. When the dust was done in context. If you just take out a piece cleared, the second edition is I think a very of history – for instance, early in his life, credible biography. And I hope it’s objective. Piłsudski was a train robber. Well, [some say] he was a criminal. No. He had these different Had you had contact with Poland before the book? roles he assumed depending on the perspective. This was my first time. I didn’t have any intention to write a Polish history, I didn’t It was hard. It took a lot of time. There’s no grow up in a Polish community. I was stunned shortcuts. But I hope that my book presents this about everything I didn’t know. I thought I was information in a palatable form, that it’s pretty well read. But I didn’t understand about conversational, and it’s also tailored for Poland, Eastern Europe. To understand Americans, because I put it in the context [of] Eastern Europe you have to understand events that were occurring in Western Europe Poland, and to understand Piłsudski you have at the time, and America. Piłsudski is such an icon for Poles; a myth. Many of the book reviews cite that you’ve really brought him to life. Did you do that intentionally, and if so how? I wanted to give the human story. That was the problem when I read these other biographies. There were, I’ll call them Soviet-influenced biographies that were very negative, and then there were biographies that were written at the time of his life or by his wife, and they were heliographic hero worship to a certain extent. I realize that every human has their foibles, as well as their good points. Going into the project, I didn’t know if Piłsudski was a hero or a villain, because the aspects of the coup and some of the things he did were definitely negative. I went into it with an open mind. I didn’t have a dog in the fight – I’m not Polish. At the end of the project, I’m convinced that he is firmly on the side of being a great man, a hero. What he did was overwhelmingly positive. Everything he did was for a greater cause. He never took money, he lived a very simple lifestyle, so he wasn’t doing this for personal aggrandizement. His goal from beginning to end was Polish independence – that’s what I’ve determined. How would you have introduced the figure of Piłsudski to readers before writing the book? How would you introduce him now? From the little snippets that is afforded in most textbooks, I would have said he was a petty dictator. Now, I would say he was a prescient statesman and a freedom fighter that was a great asset for the Polish people. So, my perspective changed quite a bit. — Justine Jablonska, the Embassy’s Press Advisor, spoke with Mr. Hetherington. PHOTOS 1. Peter Hetherington gives his presentation 2. Piłsudski on a mural at our Embassy by Jan Henryk Rosen; we wrote about the mural in our July 2011 newsletter 3. The event audience. 9 Outside the Beltway – News from our Consulates QUO VADIS CONFERENCE IN CHICAGO Quo Vadis – an annual conference for students and young professionals of Polish descent – took place in Chicago on Aug. 2426, 2012, bringing together delegates from the U.S., Canada and Europe for a series of workshops, panel discussions and networking events. The conference emphasized the values of the Polish heritage, and facilitated formal and informal exchanges between the participants in an effort to build and strengthen their own PolishAmerican communities. The conference theme, “Modern Leaders: Own Your Identity,” was geared to encourage the highly-educated generation of young PolishAmericans to explore the answers to Quo Vadis – Where are we going? The participants explored what identity they wish to present as a Polish-American community and what steps to take to promote that community. The conference was attended by ~100 young professionals of Polish descent. Speakers included LAURA SCHWARTZ, chief of President Bill Clinton’s protocol; TADEUSZ RADZIŁOWSKI, Piast Institute president; KAREN MAJEWSKI, mayor of Hamtramck, MI; AURELIA PUCINSKI, former Justice of the Cook County Court; WESLEY ADAMCZYK, author of “When God Looked the Other Way,” WANDA URBANSKA, Jan Karski U.S. Centennial Campaign president. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary JANUSZ CISEK, KRZYSZTOF KASPRZYK, Counselor-Minister at the Polish Diaspora Department of Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Undersecretary of State at the Chancellery of Poland’s President MACIEJ KLIMCZAK also attended the conference. The conference was organized by a committee headed by AGNES PTASZNIK and JOANNA KOSON. The conference received considerable support from Poland’s Consulate General in Chicago. PROFESSOR ZAWODNY’S LAST FAREWELL Prof. JANUSZ KAZIMIERZ ZAWODNY was wellknown to every Pole in the U.S. A great educator and researcher of Poland’s history, political scientist, WWII soldier and Resistance fighter, he wrote one of the earliest and best works on the 1940 Katyń Massacre, “Death in the Forest,” which helped educate the world about that terrible event. Prof. Zawodny passed away earlier this year, and did not have a chance to see the documents related to the Katyń Massacre declassified by the U.S. National Archives in September. His burial ceremony, coordinated by his family, the Office for War Veterans and Victims of Oppression as well as the Consulate General of Poland in Los Angeles, was held July 31, 2012 at Powązki Cemetery in Warsaw. His last farewell gathered numerous officials, including representatives of Poland’s government, military forces and the Catholic Church. PHOTO Courtesy of the Office for War Veterans and Victims of Oppression September 2012 BAY AREA DONORS FOR THE MUSEUM OF THE HISTORY OF POLISH JEWS WALDERMAR DĄBROWSKI, recently appointed Polish government Plenipotentiary for the opening of the Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw, met with 60+ Bay Area donors on Sept. 5, 2012 at the home of Ann and Gordon Getty in San Francisco. The meeting was organized under the auspices of THADDEUS TAUBE, Honorary Consul of Poland in San Francisco. Mr. Dąbrowski briefed the gathered guests on the Museum’s ongoing construction, the progress of its core exhibit as well as the programming planned for the grand opening on Oct. 20, 2013. Thanks to Mr. Taube’s vital dedication through the Koret Foundation and the Taube Foundation for Jewish Life and Culture, where he serves as President and Chair respectively, $16 million was raised and donated to the Museum. PHOTO Consul J. Kozińska-Frybes; Waldemar Dąbrowski, Shana Penn, Honorary Consul Tad Taube, Aleksandra Kurzak WATCH “Museum of the History of Polish Jews” on Taube Philanthropies’ YouTubeChannel POLISH OPERA SINGERS ON WEST COAST STAGES Polish opera singers ALEKSANDRA KURZAK and MARIUSZ KWIECIEŃ were guests at major opera events on the West Coast this summer and fall. Ms. Kurzak sang the role of Gilda on opening night of Verdi’s Rigoletto at the San Francisco Opera in early September. The opera celebrated its 90th season opening that evening, and Ms. Kurzak – a soprano who performed in Los Angeles in 2011 – garnered extraordinary reviews. Mr. Kwiecień was one of the major stars of the Santa Fe Opera Festival, held annually in JulyAugust. He played the role of King Roger in the opera by Polish composer Karol Szymanowski under the same title. The opera was sung in Polish and beautifully produced and performed. The only native Polish singer, Mr. Kwiecień was received with well-deserved admiration. Following Piotr Beczała’s April Los Angeles performances, the presence of Polish opera singers on the West Coast seems well confirmed. PHOTO “King Roger” – Photo by Ken Howard, courtesy of The Santa Fe Opera AWARD CEREMONY IN CHICAGO During a networking reception for Quo Vadis conference participants at the Consulate General in Chicago, Undersecretary of State Janusz Cisek awarded ROBERT OGRODNIK, Honorary Consul in St. Louis, with the Bene Merito medal, an honorary distinction conferred upon those whose activities enhance Poland’s position on the international arena. Undersecretary of State at the Chancellery of the President Maciej Klimczak bestowed the Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland to Polish WW2 veteran WŁODZIMIERZ KLONOWSKI; the Cavalier’s Cross of the Order of Merit to veteran HENRYK KOŁODYŃSKI, and the Cavalier’s Cross of the Order of Merit to engineer MIROSŁAW NIEDZIŃSKI. 10 September 2012 Outside the Beltway – News from our Consulates Poland has 18 Honorary Consulates throughout the U.S. In this issue, we’re starting a new tradition of presenting one of these Consulates and its work. What better place to start than the vibrant city of Las Vegas? Our Honorary Consul John Petkus brings us the following report. HONORARY CONSULATE OF THE REPUBLIC OF POLAND IN LAS VEGAS Spanning 15 western states in the U.S., the Consulate General of Poland in Los Angeles’ consular territory is the largest in area in the U.S. Our Honorary Consulate in Las Vegas reports directly to and receives great support from the Consul General’s office and Consul General Joanna Kozińska-Frybes. Las Vegas is a young city by the standards of the world, in existence for 107 years; it has experienced amazing growth during that time as well as gathered a large and active Polish community. About 12,000 Poles call Las Vegas home, and the city is home to ~50,000 Americans of Polish descent. Our Polonia founded the John Paul II Polish School six years ago, and expanded it since. Many activities are organized by the Polish American Social Club of Las Vegas and the local chapter of the Polish National Alliance. The Polish community in Las Vegas is also served by three Polish speaking priests at the Catholic parish, Our Lady of Las Vegas. The largest Synagogue in Las Vegas, Temple Beth Shalom, has built an amazing Memorial Garden and structure out of material from the Warsaw Ghetto, honoring those who lived and died there. Each year we sponsor numerous events spotlighting Polish culture, education and business throughout Las Vegas and Nevada along with supporting our local Polish clubs and groups. One of our signature events over the past several years has been our sponsorship of a Polish youth football (soccer) team to come to Las Vegas and participate in the Las Vegas Mayors Cup International Football Tournament in February. Teams from more than 15 countries come to Las Vegas (nearly 400 teams in 2013) to participate in the tournament. Two years ago, the U19 (under 19) team from Wisła Krakow came and won the tournament. Last year, the U19 team from Legia Warszawa visited and came in third. We are proud to announce that for the 2013 tournament, we will not only have the boys’ U19 team from Legia back, we will also have the Polish National Girls U19 team here to participate. Poland’s participation in the Las Vegas tournament draws not only our local Polonia for support, but numerous others who travel here from southern California, Arizona and Utah. Las Vegas is also home to the triplets Alizma – Aleksandra, Izabela and Monika Okapiec, originally from Poland. Alizma entertain around the world; the women play violins and sing, and took part in America’s Got Talent a few years ago. We are always happy when they take time from their busy schedule to take part in our cultural events. You may think that Las Vegas is only casinos, but you will find that we also have a great range of cultural, recreation and educational opportunities available too and above all, a great Polish community that calls Las Vegas home. —John Petkus, Honorary Consul, Consulate of the Republic of Poland in Las Vegas STAY IN TOUCH: • Consulate of the Republic of Poland in Las Vegas • Polish American Social Club of Las Vegas • Polish School John Paul II of Las Vegas WHAT’S AN HONORARY CONSULATE? On any particular day, Poland’s diplomatic corps of Ambassadors, Consul General, Consuls, Trade, Educational and Military Representatives provide important and vital services in the promotion of Poland and services to its citizens while they are abroad. Augmenting Poland’s professional diplomatic corps is Poland’s corps of Honorary Consuls, which are accredited by a sending nation and also by the receiving nation to represent a country and the interests of its government and people in a prescribed Consular district. An Honorary Consul represents Poland in its Consular district (typically a state) in matters that best serve Poland. Duties include the promotion of cultural, trade, education and business endeavors. Honorary Consuls coordinate with the local Consular Corps and local, state and federal institutions in matters of mutual interest, provide aid to Polish citizens who may run into legal or other issues and support the local Polish Diaspora. POLAND’S HONORARY CONSULATES IN THE U.S. + HONORARY CONSULS: Anchorage, AL: Stanislaw Borucki Fountain Hills, AZ: Bogumil N. Horchem Belmont, CA: Thaddeus Taube San Francisco, CA: Christopher Kerosky Denver, CO: Tomasz Skotnicki Miami, FL: Blanka Rosenstiel Atlanta, GA: Lawrence Ashe Honolulu, HI: Bozena Jamot Sun Valley, ID: Susan Passovoy Boston, MA: Marek Lesniewski-Laas Saint Louis, MS: Robert Ogrodnik Las Vegas, NV: John Petkus Raleigh, NC: Dr. Alvin Marcus Fountain II Oxford, OH: Marek Dollar Philadelphia, PA: Deborah Majka Pittsburgh, PA: Dr. Jan Napoleon Saykiewicz Knoxville, TN: Dr. Marek M. Pienkowski Houston, TX: Zbigniew Wojciechowski Nassau, Bahamas: Edith Rebecca Powell San Juan, Puerto Rico: Bogdan Rogowski 11 September 2012 Embassy of Poland Newsletter We've been listening to Katy Carr's new single, Kommander’s Car, and find it wonderful – take a listen! The song is inspired by Kazimierz Piechowski – who escaped from Auschwitz in 1942. TO LISTEN: “KOMMANDER'S CAR” BY KATY CARR The British-Polish singer released her newest album the week of September 17 in Poland. Inspired by Poland's WWII experiences, the album is dedicated to the “brave Polish people who fought for an Independent Poland,” she writes on her website. September 17 was chosen specifically because it’s the day Soviet Russia invaded Poland in 1939; Nazi Germany had invaded on September 1, heralding the onset of World War II. LISTEN WATCH VISIT to the single the video Katy Carr’s website A Polish legend tells of a fierce, fire-breathing dragon that lived deep below the Wawel Castle in Kraków. Recently, a large reptile that lived millions of years ago in the Silesia region was given the moniker “Wawel Dragon” by the paleontologists who found its bones in Poland’s Silesia region in 2008. DID YOU KNOW: POLAND’S DRAGON The paleontologists – Grzegorz Niedźwiedzki, Tomasz Sulej and Jerzy Dzik – made the discovery in an old brickyard in Lisowice. Their find – bones that comprised the skeleton of a previously unknown reptile – was confirmed in the latest issue of Acta Polonica Paleontologica. And since naming rights go along with the discovery, the Polish team gave the bones the genus Smok (Dragon) and the species wawelski (of Wawel Castle). This Smok waweski lived in the Triassic period – about 200-205 million years ago. 16-19 feet (5-6 meters) in length, it was the largest predator in Central Europe at the time. The discovery team also found remains of dicynodonts – common herbivorous reptiles – at the Lisowice site, which could have fallen prey to the Smok’s 8centimeter long teeth. It is still unclear if later predatory dinosaurs evolved from the Smok, as some features of its bones indicate it could belong to the group Rauisuchia, from which all today’s crocodiles stem. We gave away numerous copies of About Polska, a booklet on Poland prepared for the Polish Presidency of the EU Council, BOOK GIVEAWAY: “ABOUT POLSKA” at Euro Night 2012. If you weren’t able to join us at Euro Night but would like to receive a copy of the book, email us at washington.press@ msz.gov.pl with your mailing address, and we’ll send copies to the first 10 folks who do so. About Polska is filled with travel and tourist information, wonderful photos, city guides and sections written by locals on what their favorite sights and sounds are. Whether you’re planning a visit to Poland for the first time or are a seasoned traveler, this publication is a great guide – we highly recommend it! The region where the Smok was discovered is an extremely fertile location for fossil collectors, who have found skeletons of marine reptiles and frogs as well as mammoth tusks. The Museum of Paleontology in Lisowice is a great visit for dinosaur lovers, and features – among others – a full-sized model of the Smok. In May 2012, the museum’s collection was enriched by a reconstructed skeleton of the Smok, prepared by a Warsaw arts workshop in consultation with scientists. Could this be the legendary dragon that appears in a famous Polish legend? According to local lore, a dragon fed on the Kraków population many centuries ago. Its bloody reign was brought to an end when it fed on a sheep stuffed with sulphur and exploded. Two versions of the legend give credit for the sheep idea to either the two sons of King Krakus, or a young cobbler named Skuba. In a gentler version of the story, the dragon becomes a fairytale character. Today, a dragon monument stands just outside Wawel Castle. PHOTOS of scientists courtesy of Poland.gov.pl; photo of Wawel Dragon by Artico2 Thanks to Poland.gov.pl for this very interesting content! MORE EMBASSY NEWS + INFORMATION FACEBOOK: Embassy of Poland, DC TWITTER: @PolishEmbassyUS YOUTUBE: PolishEmbassyDC EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF POLAND 2640 16th St NW Washington DC washington.mfa.gov.pl/en TO SUBSCRIBE GIVE FEEDBACK OFFER COMMENTS Justine Jablonska: newsletter editor-in-chief PREVIOUS NEWSLETTERS 12 8