By Kay Scrimger
September 27, 2004

Conference President Akron Mayor Donald L. Plusquellic, Advisory Board Chair Dearborn Mayor Michael A. Guido, and Executive Director Tom Cochran traveled to Poland September 10-11.

The delegation met with U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Poland Victor Ashe. Ashe served 16 years as mayor of Knoxville (1987-2003) and was President of the Conference of Mayors in 1994-1995.

In addition to briefings from Ashe and his Embassy staff, the Conference of Mayors delegation met with the American Chamber of Commerce in Poland, paid their respects to those who perished in the Warsaw Uprising by laying wreaths at the two commemorative memorials of that event, and met with the mayor of Warsaw Lech Kaczynski.

Plusquellic said, "On behalf of the Conference of Mayors, I would like to express our deepest appreciation to Ambassador Ashe for the gracious welcome he extended to us during our visit to Warsaw. Ambassador Ashe made every effort to ensure that we had a highly productive visit and that we learned as much as possible about Warsaw's history and about the economic and political revitalization the city has experienced since 1990 when its democratic elections were held.

"We are confident that our friend Ambassador Ashe will be one of the best ambassadors ever and look forward to continuing to be in close contact with him on the issues we discussed while we were in Poland."

American Chamber of Commerce of Poland

Mayors Plusquellic and Guido, Cochran, Ashe, and Director of the Mayors Business Council Geri Powell met September 10 with Mac Raczkiewicz, President of the American Chamber of Commerce of Poland, Executive Director Dorota Dabrowska, Edgar D. Fulton, Commercial Advisor of the U.S. Commercial Service, and a number of other AmCham board members to discuss business and trade opportunities between U.S. and Polish firms. See related article on page 9.

Visit to the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw

The Conference delegation had several opportunities to meet with Ashe during their visit to Warsaw. Ashe briefed the Conference of Mayors delegation about the political and economic situation in Poland, including the role of mayors and cities, and the changes in that nation over the past 14 years since democratic elections there in 1990.

The delegation attended an evening reception September 9 at the residence of the U.S. Embassy. In addition to the Conference of Mayors delegation, Ambassador and Mrs. Ashe, the reception honored recipients of a writing contest for young Polish journalists. Local government representatives, including several mayors, also attended the reception. Wpost, a Polish publication similar to Newsweek, and the U.S. Embassy sponsored the competition.

In a meeting and tour of the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw September 10, the delegation also had the opportunity to view the process by which the Embassy determines which citizens will be granted a visa for travel to the United States.

Conference Delegation Pays Respects to Heroes of the Warsaw Uprising of 1944

Following the visit to the U.S. Embassy, Plusquellic, Guido, and Cochran laid a wreath at the monument to the heroes of the 1944 Warsaw Uprising, which began on August 1, 1944. Unveiled in 1989, the monument commemorates one of the most important events in modern Polish historyÑthe general civilian revolt of Warsaw citizens against the Nazis. During the two-month battle, more than 220,000 civilians and 20,000 insurgent solders were killed. Warsaw was ultimately evacuated and Nazi demolition teams dynamited what was left of the city.

In addition to the monument to the 1944 Warsaw Uprising, Plusquellic, Guido, and Cochran also laid a wreath at a smaller monument of a small boy, entitled "The "Little Insurgent" in memory of the many children who fought and died in the 1944 Warsaw Uprising.

A museum to the Warsaw Uprising is also being completed and is scheduled to open next year. The Deputy Director of the Warsaw Uprising Museum accompanied the mayors during their visit to each monument and briefed them on the Warsaw Uprising.

A few weeks earlier, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley visited Warsaw for the 60th Anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising on August 1. Daley was part of a Presidential delegation designated by President George W. Bush to travel to Warsaw to honor and commemorate the anniversary. U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell led the delegation, which also included Ashe.

Conference Delegation Meets with Warsaw Mayor Lech Kaczynski

Warsaw Mayor Lech Kaczynski received the Conference of Mayors delegation, accompanied by Ashe, at city September 10. Kaczynski briefed the mayors on political and economic changes in Warsaw, including its economic revitalization achievements. He also discussed the Warsaw Uprising Museum and introduced several of the architects of economic development, arts and cultural programs, and other programs in his city.

Ashe noted that Kaczynski's leadership has "led to the establishment of the Warsaw Museum." "This mayor is very active, energetic, and progressive, and Warsaw has benefited from his leadership," Ashe said.

To Kaczynski, Plusquellic said, "In the short time we have been here for our visit, we have been impressed with the vitality and activity in Warsaw. We are heartened by the sight of so much progress after all the difficult years in Warsaw's history.