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The ambassador’s address Moïen, After a long absence, I welcome you to this Newsletter. To close the year I invite you to have a glance on the events and facts that have marked the life of our embassy and of the Luxembourgish community in the USA in 2010. My wife Louise and I also take this opportunity for conveying our Season’s Greetings, wishing you all the best in the hope to see you soon in 2011.
Schéi Chrëschtdeeg An
E gudd neit Joër
Jean-Paul Senninger, Ambassador, and Mrs. Louise Åkerblom
The Life at the Embassy and the Tribulations of
Ambassador Jean-Paul Senninger in 2010 What happened at the embassy this year? The month of May opened with the Annual ALFI* reception. *The Association of the Luxembourg Fund Industry is at the heart of the promotion of the Luxembourg Investment Center which makes of Luxembourg the second market after the USA. At such an occasion the Embassy is the meeting and connecting point between the two largest markets in the world where experts can get the opportunity of extra brainstorming and networking. May the 9th was the European Union Day and at such an occasion the Embassy opens its door every year for everyone to discover Luxembourg, which no one will forget had a front role as one of the founding fathers of the European Economic Community and signatory of the Treaty of Rome. Another European landmark date is June the 14th. The embassy was proud to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the Schengen Agreement that eliminated all internal borders within 22 European countries, creating the Schengen area. Once more Luxembourg was the central stage gathering the signatory countries in its village of Schengen. Such an occasion saw the happy reunion of the 22 Consuls of the Schengen States in Washington, D.C., presided by our Consul Mario Wiesen.
June the 23rd is a special day for Luxembourg when each year the Luxembourgers celebrate the birthday of the Chief of State, H.R.H. the Grand Duke Henri. Every year the National Day is the never missed occasion of a merry reception at the Embassy which this year was topped by a special moment when awarding the two front figures of the LACS* for their exceptional achievement in keeping the Memory of the Luxembourg Immigration alive in the USA. Mr. Michael Ansay and Mr. Kevin Wester received from the Ambassador on behalf of H.R.H. Grand Duke Henri, the Ordre de la Couronne de Chêne. *Luxembourg American Cultural Society.
Ambassador Jean-Paul Senninger and Louise Åkerblom welcoming guests
Ambassador Jean-Paul Senninger knighting Mike Ansay and Kevin Wester
October is traditionally a busy month for the embassy and DC in general when the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund are hosting their annual meeting which for us means the visit of the delegation of our Prime Minister, H.E. Jean-Claude Juncker in his quality of President of the Euro Group and the Minister of Finances, H.E. Luc Frieden. At such an occasion a concert featuring the US based Luxembourgish pianist Michel Reis, an accomplished Jazz virtuoso and composer gathered representatives of the Hill and the diplomatic community in a relaxed sphere. On a more intimate note, October closed with an impromptu poetic soirée introducing Jean Portante, Luxembourgish Writer, Poet, Professor and Journalist who uses one of the three languages of Luxembourg, French, as a migration vehicle. The gathering of George Washington University Professors of French Literature, their students and representatives of the Francophonie and the Luxembourgish community gave way to a petulant and rich intercultural exchange.
To close this eventful year at the embassy, a special pièce de résistance had been served from December 2 through December 4.
Indeed, H.E. Jean-Paul Senninger and Mrs. Louise
Åkerblom were the honored hosts of Mrs. Perle Mesta, first American Ambassador to Luxembourg and Hostess with the Mostest! Three nights in a row she was called Madam!
With the prodigious support of the Embassy series and its founders, Mr. Jérôme Barry and his wife Lisette, the embassy was the spotlighted stage of a revival of Irving Berlin’s Call Me Madam staring an astonishing Klea Blakhurst and remarkably mastered artists such as Angela Marchese, David Blalock and Lawrence Redmond, deliciously accompanied by pianist George Peachey.
No need to say that the three evenings have seen the embassy shining in all its glory over a parterre of connoisseurs and music lovers in presence of Irving Berlin’s daughter, Mrs. Mary Ellin Barrett.
Ambassador Senninger and Louise Åkerblom
D. Blalok, A. Marchese, K. Blackhurst, L. Redmond
Jérôme Barry and Mary Ellin Barrett
Carolers greeting guests
Bringing Luxembourg to the American States This year was pretty much ubiquitous for Ambassador Jean-Paul Senninger who never tires from putting Luxembourg on the American map and keeping alive the special bond between the Americans and the Luxembourgers. Early in April, his tribulations took him first to Ohio to Bowling Green State University where he could also meet with the local Chamber of Commerce and to Springfield, Illinois, for a PBS-TV show on Luxembourg and a lecture at the Illinois Trade Council. Minnesota was next when accompanied by our Consul General in San Francisco, Mr. Georges Schmit heading the Board of Economic Development they introduced the Luxembourg Financial Center in Minneapolis. Some times in June Ambassador Senninger stopped by in Seattle to mark the partnership between Boeing and CargoLux, Luxembourgish first fret air carrier and one of the leading cargo airlines worldwide.
Certainly the climactic moment was the Heritage Weekend and Grand Opening of the Luxembourg American Cultural Society Center which is the beating heart of the Luxembourg immigration in Illinois and Wisconsin and is under the High Patronage of Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg.
Ambassador Senninger and Louise Åkerblom at the Grand Opening
A delegation from Luxembourg headed by the Minister of Culture, Mrs. Octavie Modert was present as co-funders of that project brought to fruition with the effort of an entire and dedicated community.
The delegation from Luxembourg and Luxembourg Minister of Culture, Mrs. Octavie Modert addressing the LACS members
The LACS was founded in 2004 by individuals of Luxembourg descent in America as well as citizens of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The mission of the Luxembourg American Cultural society is symbolized as Roots and Leaves: Preserve the roots of Luxembourg heritage/culture in America and nurture the leaves of ongoing relationships of family, friendship, commerce, and tourism between Luxembourg and America!
To learn more about the LACS, pleas visit; http://www.luxamculturalsociety.org/index.html
The Cultural Center
The Grand Opening
A tribute to the Liberation of Luxembourg by the US Troops
Georges Schmit, Consul General in San Francisco and Mrs. Huguette Schmit
During a ceremony chaired by HRH the Crown Prince Guillaume and the Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade Jeannot Krecké and in presence of Ambassador Jean-Paul Senninger and Mr. François Knaff, Consul General in New York, the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce in the United States awarded October 20, 2010 the "Luxembourg American Business Award 2010 to Husky Injection Molding Systems.
The prize, awarded every two years, prizes North American companies established in the Grand Duchy, which play an important role in the Luxembourg economy. The award ceremony took place in a context of friendship where the emphasis is on maintaining good trade relations across the Atlantic. Upon delivery of the Luxembourg American Business Award 2010, Jeannot Krecké praised the vision and contribution of Husky stressing that "this award is to honor a company that has adapted to the requirements imposed by the international market.
The next stop was Texas in November where the Ambassador and Georges Schmit, Consul General in San Francisco, visited the Dallas-Fort Worth area in early November for a speech at the Dallas World Affairs Council. He provided an upbeat assessment of EU and Luxembourg recovery prospects for 2011, and offered details on the pivotal role of the Luxembourg Government in resolving the financial crisis in the European Union in 2008 and 2009. During the visit, he also visited Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, home of the Pate Collection of Luxembourg literature at the TCU library. He was greeted by TCU Chancellor Victor Boschini, Library Dean June Koelcker, and Mrs. Joyce Capper Pate, Honorary Consul of Luxembourg in Texas.
Ambassador addressing the World Affairs Council
Ambassador, Texas Honorary Consul Joyce Pate Capper and San Francisco Consul General Georges Schmit at Texas Christian University
On November 19, Ambassador Jean-Paul Senninger was the honored guest and speaker of the National Foundation for Women Legislators (NFWL) Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida. This has been a unique opportunity not only to introduce Luxembourg but to connect elected women in America to leaders in Luxembourg.
Other landmarks in 2010 2010 has also been the year commemorating the end of two wars. The 65th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge reminded us of this capital turning point in the liberation of Luxembourg by the US Army under the lead of General Patton. Probably one of the hardest battles of WWII, it is the root of a strong and indestructible bond between Luxembourg and the USA. Numerous commemoration took place in Washington, DC and several US States under the presiding of the Battle of the Bulge Committee and of course in Luxembourg where the veterans had been invited.
Arlington Cemetery, December 15, Wreath Laying Ceremony to honor the VBOB – From right: 3 US Veterans, Ambassador Jan Matthysen of Belgium, Ambassador Jean-Paul Senninger The 60th Anniversary of the Korean War was the occasion of paying a tribute to the Luxembourgish contingent as indeed Luxembourg, just out of 5 dreary years of occupation did not hesitate to send his men to defend democracy. Ambassador Senninger especially attended the ceremony at the Korean Memorial in Washington, DC.
On a happier note, we have the pleasure to announce
Congratulations to
Mr. Ethan Allen Hastert new Honorary Consul of
r. Jeffrey F. Weltzin, new Honorary Consul of
r. Ralph J. Gerson, new Honorary Consul of
o keep yourself updated with the latest news, do not hesitate to check
that three new Honorary Consuls have been sworn in this year.
Luxembourg in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Iowa
MLuxembourg in Colorado
MLuxembourg in Michigan
Tour embassy website. http://washington.mae.lu/en
Bis geschwënn !
