Ambassador Stroum attends Launch of American Chamber of Commerce business guide 'Working In Luxembourg'

On 4 February, Ambassador Cynthia Stroum together with Minister for Economy Jeannot Krecké and Deputy Mayor of Esch/Alzette Lydia Mutsch attended the launch of the third edition of AmCham’s business guide entitled “Working in Luxembourg”. In her address, Ambassador Stroum said: “One of my top priorities during the coming years will be to support the American business community in Luxembourg (…) and to improve the already strong business ties between our two countries.”

AmCham's publication provides an overview of the rules, practices and customs of the Luxembourg business environment as well as the cultural context of the workplace environment, the government and social support systems. It will be distributed at the various international trade missions the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce and several Ministries are intending to make over the next few years and will also be found at all Luxembourg Embassies around the world in order to support the promotion of the Grand Duchy. For more information, go to www.amcham.lu

Cynthia Stroum

Ambassador of the United States of America to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

For complete biography CLICK HERE

Dean Acheson Legal Stage Program 2010 - 2011

at the Court of Justice of the European Communities

We are pleased to announce that the United States Embassy in Luxembourg is now accepting applications for the Dean Acheson Court of Justice of the European Communities Legal Stage (Internship) program. 

For program information and application materials CLICK HERE

65th Anniversary of the battle of the Bulge

CLICK HERE for the Presidential Proclamation -- 65th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge

December 16 marks an historic date in the shared history of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the United States of America.  This is when the Rundstedoffensiv, or Battle of the Bulge, began in 1944.   It is considered the most brutal battles of the World War II in which tens of thousands of American GIs were killed or wounded defending Luxembourg – and Belgium - during the blistering cold months of the Winter of 1944-1945. 

This year, the government of Luxembourg, many towns, communes and commemorative societies held memorial services, vigils, and commemorations throughout the Grand Duchy to mark the 65th anniversary of this historic event.   Thirteen American World War II Veterans were present in Luxembourg during this week, some invited as special guests of the Government of Luxembourg and others as part of a trip organized by the Greatest Generations Foundation, which also brought twelve young Americans who are decedents of World War II servicemen to learn first hand about the history of the forefathers.

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 1, 2009
 
Excerpts of the President’s Address to the Nation                                     

“The 30,000 additional troops that I am announcing tonight will deploy in the first part of 2010 – the fastest pace possible – so that they can target the insurgency and secure key population centers. They will increase our ability to train competent Afghan Security Forces, and to partner with them so that more Afghans can get into the fight. And they will help create the conditions for the United States to transfer responsibility to the Afghans.” 
 
“Because this is an international effort, I have asked that our commitment be joined by contributions from our allies. Some have already provided additional troops, and we are confident that there will be further contributions in the days and weeks ahead. Our friends have fought and bled and died alongside us in Afghanistan. Now, we must come together to end this war successfully. For what’s at stake is not simply a test of NATO’s credibility – what’s at stake is the security of our Allies, and the common security of the world.”
 
“Taken together, these additional American and international troops will allow us to accelerate handing over responsibility to Afghan forces, and allow us to begin the transfer of our forces out of Afghanistan in July of 2011. Just as we have done in Iraq, we will execute this transition responsibly, taking into account conditions on the ground. We will continue to advise and assist Afghanistan’s Security Forces to ensure that they can succeed over the long haul. But it will be clear to the Afghan government – and, more importantly, to the Afghan people – that they will ultimately be responsible for their own country.”

United States House of Representatives Armed Services Committee Members Visit Luxembourg

On Friday, November 27, 2009 six members of the United States House of Representatives Armed Services Committee, led by Committee Chairman Ike Skelton from the state of Missouri, visited Luxembourg.
The committee members were on an eight-day working trip to Europe which took them to Romania, Italy, Germany, Luxembourg and the United Kingdom.
While in Luxembourg, the Committee members visited the Luxembourg American Military Cemetery and Memorial in Hamm.  While there, the Committee members laid a wreath at the chapel, toured the Cemetery (which is maintained by the American Battle Monuments Commission, an agency of the Executive Branch of the Federal Government of the United States), and visited the tombs of servicemen and women from their respective states.
The House of Representatives Armed Services Committee provides direct oversight of the Department of Defense and military services. Committee Members who visited Luxembourg: Chairman Representative Ike Skelton, Democrat from the state of Missouri represents the 4th District, located in west central Missouri, including Kansas City suburbs and Jefferson City; Representative Solomon P. Ortiz, Democrat from the state of Texas represents the 27th District, southern Gulf Coast of Texas, including the cities of Corpus Christi and Brownsville;  Representative Carol Shea-Porter, Democrat from the state of New Hampshire represents the 1st District, in the east of New Hampshire, including the cities of Manchester, Rochester and Dover;  Representative Dave Loebsack, Democrat from the state of Iowa represents the 2nd District in the southeast of Iowa, including the cities of Cedar Rapids and Iowa City; Representative Howard P. 'Buck' McKeon, Republican from the state of California represents the 25th District, including northern Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Inyo and Mono counties and Representative K. Michael Conaway, Republican from the state of Texas represents the 11th District, in west central Texas, including the cities of Midland, Odessa and San Angelo.

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Liberation of Luxembourg 65th Anniversary

Chargé d’Affaires Mark Biedlingmaier joined Grand Duke Henri, Prime Minister Jean-Claude Junker, a host of dignitaries, and thousands of spectators at a solemn and stirring ceremony commemorating the 65th anniversary of the Liberation of Pétange by American troops in 1944.  An American Air Force Color Guard lead a parade along  streets adored with American and Luxembourg flags to the Monument of the American Solider Hyman Josefson, the first American to die for the liberation of Luxembourg during World War II. 

Chargé Biedlingmaier read a special message from President Barack Obama which said in part, “The American people join me in thanking you for preserving our shared history and allowing all who visit Pétange to pay tribute to our soldiers who fought in the name of freedom.  Many years after this inspiring victory, the United States and Luxembourg continue to stand united as we work to build a more secure and hopeful world.” Click here or go below to see the entire text of President Obama’s letter.

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Special Message from President Barack Obama

on the 65 Anniversary of the Liberation of Pétange

Scholarship Awards Ceremony University of Luxembourg

A ceremony at the University of Luxembourg was held on June 4, 2009 to award U.S. Embassy – U.S. Enterprise scholarships to two students from the University of Luxembourg.  This year’s scholarships were awarded to Danielle Schnadt and Tania Steinmetz, who will spend one semester studying in the U.S. in the coming year. 
The financial sponsors of the U.S. Embassy – U.S. Enterprise scholarship include the following American companies operating in Luxembourg: Airtech Europe, Brinks, Deloitte, IBM, John Deere Bank, J.P. Morgan, Pfizer, EMC, Ocean Oil, Goodyear, State Street Bank, Guardian Glass and Covidien Group. 

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