Wojewodztwo Świętokrzyskie Becomes Part of Krakow Consular District
November 6, 2009

The United States Embassy in Warsaw and the Consulate General in Krakow are pleased to announce a change to their consular districts.  To facilitate provision of consular services to residents of Wojewodztwo Świętokrzyskie, as of November 15, 2009, Wojewodztwo Świętokrzyskie will be part of the consular district of the Consulate General in Krakow.  Accordingly, starting on November 15, American citizens in Świętokrzyskie who require services should contact the Consulate General in Krakow.  Also as of that date, non-immigrant visa applicants residing in Świętokrzyskie should apply at the Consulate General in Krakow.  For information about visa services, please consult the Krakow Consulate General website at http://krakow.usconsulate.gov/consular2.html.

Immigrant visa services are still provided in Warsaw for all applicants from Poland.  For information on these matters, please see our website at http://krakow.usconsulate.gov/citizen_services.html  (more)

Consulate Participates in Exhibition of Pinhole Photography
November 12th 2009

Benjamin Ousley, Press and Culture Officer, participated in an opening of the exhibition "American Metaphors" in the Upper Silesian Hall of Culture in Katowice on Thursday, November 12. The exhibition features eight renowned American pinhole photographers: Craig Barber, Martha Casanave, Walter Crump, Jesseca Ferguson, Sarah Van Keuren, Scott McMahon, Eric Renner, and Nancy Spencer, whose works are exhibited in Galeria Pusta and Galeria Sektor of the Hall of Culture. The exhibition in Katowice continues an artistic exchange between Polish and American pinhole photographers. In 2007 in Boston and New Bedford the works of the leading Polish artists were shown for the first time. In his speech at the opening of the exhibition Ben Ousley stressed the importance of artistic dialogue which adds not only to the better knowledge about each other's achievements, but also to the development and popularization of this interesting kind of photography. The organizers scheduled practical workshops for general public on Friday and Saturday conducted by the American photographers. (more)  (more photos)

Anti-Corruption School for Ukrainian Local Leaders
November 15, 2009

Public Affairs Officer Ben Ousley together with Wroclaw Deputy Mayor Wojciech Adamski inaugurated a week long course filled with lectures, practical workshops and visits at local government offices. The US Consulate in Krakow was a sponsor and main partner for The Jan Nowak-Jezioranski Eastern European College in Wroclaw which organized the school with the assistance from the Association of Leaders of Local Civic Groups and the Batory Foundation. Within the framework of the "Anti-Corruption School" fifteen young leaders from across Ukraine were invited for a week in Wroclaw to study ways and methods of fighting corruption and to get exposure to the Polish transformation experience and lessons learned in this field.

Consulate Honorary Patronage for the Tolerance Program
November 5, 2009

Consulate General in Krakow is an honorary patron of the "Why Do We Need Tolerance?" education program for high school teachers and students. The program is organized by the Auschwitz Jewish Center. To read more about the program, click on the link: http://ajcf.org/coming-soon/19877-Why-Do-We-Need-Tolerance-from-2-1-

Vice President Biden meets with Polish Afghan War Veteransf

Vice President Biden's Trip to Poland
21 October 2009

Vice President Biden began his three-nation trip to Central Europe in Warsaw, where he met with Prime Minister Tusk and President Kaczynski. The Vice President welcomed the Polish government's support for President Obama's missile defense program and Poland's readiness to host SM-3 missiles. "We appreciate that Poland's government agrees with us that there is now a better way - with new technology and new information - to defend against the emerging ballistic missile threats," the Vice President said. The Vice President said that the new phased adaptive approach "strengthens missile defense for Europe, it strengthens Article 5, and it strengthens the alliance's deterrent capability.  Simply put, our missile plan is better security for NATO, and it is better security for Poland and, ultimately, better security for the United States of America."  (more)

Planting Czeslaw Milosz Oak in the Znak Publishing House Garden
October 23, 2009

At the inauguration event of the Czeslaw Milosz Literary Festival Consul General Allen Greenberg alongside with Nobel prize winners Wislawa Szymborska and Seamus Heaney as well as other poets from various countries planted an oak in honor of the late Czeslaw Milosz, initiator of poetry meetings in Krakow and close friend to many poets in the world. The 1st Milosz Festival in Krakow focused on the topic of "The Captive Mind" by Czeslaw Milosz and many participants were poets dissidents of their own countries.

Opening of American West Photo exhibition in Krosno
October 13, 2009

The exhibition presenting the best of American National Parks photographed by a Polish-American photographer Wieslaw Pikul was opened on Oct.13 at the Regional Center for Borderland Culture in Krosno. Consul for Press and Culture Ben Ousley, Mayor of Krosno Piotr Przytocki, the Center Director Dorota Cząstka and the photographer himself had opening speeches followed by a very interesting video presentation of the US national parks prepared by Wieslaw Pikul  for this ceremony. Around 100 people including school students, teachers and general public attended the event in the Center's new and spacious venue.

Ambassador Feinstein Presents Credentials to President Kaczyński
21 October 2009

On October 20, 2009, Lee A. Feinstein, the new U.S. Ambassador to Poland, presented his credentials to the President of Poland, Lech Kaczyński, during an official ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw. As part of the credentialing ceremony, Ambassador Feinstein laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Warsaw. Ambassador Feinstein is the 25th U.S. Ambassador to Poland.  Upon arrival, he said, "It is an honor to represent America in Poland, one of our closest allies and a country with whom we share both vital interests and common values."  Ambassador Feinstein arrived ahead of two significant visits from the United States: a delegation of the High Level Defense Group led by Assistant Secretary of Defense Alexander Vershbow, and a visit by Vice President Joe Biden.  Ambassador Feinstein was nominated by President Obama on July 20, 2009 and was confirmed by unanimous consent by the U.S. Senate on September 22, 2009.  He was sworn in on September 28, 2009. The text of his Senate testimony can be accessed here. The video of his testimony can be accessed here.  Upon his confirmation, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said, "I worked closely with Lee Feinstein during my years in government and expect that he will make a superb ambassador to our close allies in Warsaw.  Ambassador Feinstein is deeply knowledgeable about European affairs, strongly committed to the Trans-Atlantic partnership, and highly-respected by leaders on both sides of the Atlantic." (more)

"American Dream" Closing Ceremony at National Museum in Krakow
October 4,2009

The first Sunday in October saw a series of workshops and events culminating in an afternoon discussion with Consul General Allen Greenberg, National Museum Director Zofia Golubiew, curator Magdalena Czubinska and other organizers from the Museum and US Consulate General.  The audience gathered for the event had numerous questions and comments about the content of the exhibit, the way it was presented and the effect it had upon visitors.  Many praised the idea and shared their American experiences, while others offered recommendations for future exhibitions. By all accounts, the "America, America" exhibit was an overwhelming success.  Announced by the huge "America, America..."  banner hung on the National Museum building  at one of the busiest Krakow crossroads for over three months, the "American Dream" exhibition had a record number of viewers.  It was visited by over 30,000 people, mostly young Poles coming from not only Krakow but such distant cities as Gdynia, Olsztyn and Szczecin among others.  Many foreign groups of students visited the exhibition asking whether it will perhaps be moved to other European cities.  Everyone expressed sadness that the "American Dream" exhibition with its installations and American iconic images had to come to an end.

Press Conference at the Peak of Kasprowy Wierch
September 28, 2009

Consul General Allen Greenberg, Director of Tatra National Park (TPN) Paweł Skawiński and a team from Rocky Mountains National Park (RMNP), working with their counterparts on a staff exchange program, responded to questions at a press conference organized in front of Meteorological Observatory on top of Kasprowy Wierch at 1987 meters above sea level. Journalists from several local and national media outlets asked about partnership between the Polish and American national parks, differences and similarities in tourism management and nature protection. Director Skawiński singled out the volunteerism program, introduced in TPN in 2007, as fruit of effective cooperation with RMNP. Consul General Allen Greenberg expressed satisfaction that the sister parks work so closely together. Jim Cheatham of RMNP said that RMNP is proud to have Tatra National Park as their sister park. After the press conference Polish and American rangers went down the Goryczkowa valley to study the impact of skiing on nature.

Closing Helena Modrzejewska Exhibition at Krakow Historical Museum
September 18, 2009

Consul General Allen Greenberg addressed an audience of about 100 people who came to the Historical Museum in Krakow to see the "Helena Modrzejewska ( 1840-1909)"  exhibition one last time and watch the Polish premier of a full-length documentary "Modjeska - Woman Triumphant" by a California filmmaker Basia Myszynska.  The film, like the exhibit, celebrates the incredible life of bi-national star -  Helena Modrzejewska in a year that marks the 100th anniversary of her death.  Before the address to the audience Consul Greenberg together with the Museum Director Michal Niezabitowski cut the cake prepared for guests of that special night in Krakow.

90 Years of Diplomatic Relations between the U.S. and Poland

January 29 marks exactly 90 years to the day since the U.S. government established formal diplomatic ties with Poland.  The United States was the first country to recognize the newly independent Poland, a country and its people severely damaged by war. On January 29, 1919, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson extended full recognition to the new Polish Government under the Premiership of Ignacy Paderewski in an official telegram.  He wrote: “It is my privilege to extend to you at this time my personal greetings and officially assure you that it will be a source of gratification to enter into official relations with you at the earliest opportunity, and to render to your country such aid as is possible at this time as it enters upon a new cycle of independent life.” According to the New York Times, a leading U.S. daily, the Polish population in the United States “gave itself over to general rejoicing over the action taken by the President.” Throughout the year 2009, the American Embassy in Warsaw and American Consulate General in Krakow will be joining with the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and institutions throughout Poland to celebrate 90 years of Polish-American Diplomatic relations. (more)