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Archive: Selected Events III/2008

This page shows our front page items from July thru September.

U.S. Embassy Receives Vase from Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur Berlin

September 19, 2008. On the occasion of the opening of the new chancery in Berlin, the Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur (Royal Porcelain Manufacture, KPM) Berlin presented the U.S. Embassy with a vase based on a design by Karl Friedrich Schinkel from 1832. It shows a hand-painted veduta of the Gendarmenmarkt in Berlin after an 1857 painting by Eduard Gärtner. U.S. Chargé d’Affaires John M. Koenig received the present in the new Chancery from KPM sole shareholder Jörg Woltmann and CEO Dr. Winfried Vogler. The handover took place on the 245th anniversary of the purchase of KPM by Frederick the Great. The present is also an expression of the bonds between Berlin and the USA.

School Election Project Kick-Off Event In Berlin

September 19, 2008. The U.S. Embassy’s Cultural Section, in cooperation with the Berlin-Brandenburg teacher training institute LISUM, hosted 70 teachers from Berlin and Brandenburg schools for a seminar on the presidential election campaign. Darrell West, the vice president and director of Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution, gave an excellent briefing. Information Resource Service staff from the Embassy produced an extensive database for classroom use, and representatives of the city library advertised research-based workshops for teachers and students. Finally, the teachers participated in a state lottery to choose an “adopted” U.S. state, which they will study intensively with their students. The project will end with a final discussion on Election Day with student and Embassy representatives as well as an American expert. The project is fully integrated in school curricula and will be conducted in two federal states for the next three weeks. The highly motivated teachers underscored the interest among the German public in the outcome of November’s election. Together with their students, they will look behind the news stories and intensively study U.S. election processes and issues.

Ambassador Timken Hosts Iftaar Dinner

September 12, 2008. As in the preceding years, Ambassador William Timken hosted an Iftar dinner at his residence on Friday evening, September 12, 2008. In a lively panel discussion five alumni of the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) recounted their experiences in the U.S. Moderated by radio journalist Ms. Banu Baturay, herself an IVLP alumna, participants described the positive impact of their exchange experience, their impressions of the U.S., and how their trip helped change their opinions of the U.S. Especially important for this group was the willingness of Americans to look beyond stereotypes of nationality. One speaker recounted that as a test he would, in broken English, introduce himself as an American — and was always believed. Guests commented that they were impressed by the openness of the panel which included both criticism and appreciation of what they saw in the U.S. All agreed however, that the exchange experience was a major factor in their career and in their personal development.

President Bush Attends Iftaar Dinner at the White House

September 17, 2008. As in the years before, President Bush has attended an Iftaar Dinner at the White House. In his welcome remarks the President declared: “Over the past eight years, we have made the Iftaar dinner an annual tradition here at the White House. And I’m really glad we did. At this year’s gathering, we pay special tribute to the many contribution Muslim Americans have made to our nation. We join in wishing Muslims around the world, ‘Ramadan Mubarak.’” President Bush continued to praise Islam’s long and distinguished history: “People of all faiths have benefited from the achievements of Muslims in fields from philosophy and poetry to mathematics and medicine.“  Video| Remarks in full »

Memorial Service In Honor Of The Victims Of September 11, 2001

September 11, 2008. On the seventh anniversary of the September 11 attacks, the Jewish Community of Berlin, the U.S. Embassy and the “Centrum Judaicum” jointly hosted a memorial service at Berlin’s New Synagoge. This year’s commemoration included readings and prayers by clergy representing the Jewish, Muslim and Christian faiths, a keynote address by Dr. Josef Joffe, publisher of the German weekly Die Zeit, remarks by Ambassador Timken and Lala Süsskind, chairwoman of the Jewish Community of Berlin. Over 150 political, business, cultural, religious and diplomatic representatives attended, as well as family members of German victims of the attacks. The American Embassy in Berlin has held similar interfaith services on each of the past anniversaries. 
Ambassador Timken's Speech | Photo Gallery | Video (wmv/Quicktime)

Family Members of 9/11 Victims Unveil Memorial Plaque

September 11, 2008.  On the seventh anniversary of the 9-11 attacks, Ambassador and Mrs. Timken welcomed the families of the German victims to the Embassy in a private ceremony to unveil a memorial plaque.  White roses covered the plaque, located in the Embassy courtyard, which commemorates all those who lost their lives in the attacks.  After welcoming remarks from Ambassador Timken, the father of one of the September 11 victims spoke to the guests — among them Germany’s Ambassador to the U.S., Klaus Scharioth, and Under Secretary Jay M. Cohen of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.  At the end of the ceremony, family members were invited to each take a rose, unveiling the plaque, which reads:  

in memory of the thousands who lost their lives
in new york city, in washington, dc,
and in somerset county, pennsylvania,
on september 11, 2001.
citizens of 90 countries around the world,
including eleven germans,
were killed in these unprovoked terrorist attacks.
may their souls rest in peace.
may their families’ pain and grief be eased.

Ambassador's Statement on Patriot Day 2008

“Each year since September 11, 2001, Americans join together to pay tribute to those who lost their lives on that terrible day and to honor all those who have responded in the face of terror. It is a measure of the profound friendship that joins our two countries that each year many Germans join with us to remember the pain and devastation of 9/11.
Our world changed on September 11, 2001. On that day, thousands of innocent lives were taken from us, including eleven German citizens. The passage of time does not erase the memories or the grief of those who lost loved ones, but the events of 9/11 have united us even more closely with the nations that have joined together to keep such attacks from happening again. Even as we continue to mourn those we lost, we remain determined to defy the terrorists’ ideology of hate. more »

After the Conventions: The Race to the White House

September 9, 2008. Capitalizing on extremely high interest in the 2008 U.S. Presidential Elections, the U.S. Embassy in Berlin presented a panel discussion, featuring several prominent U.S. and German speakers. Minister-Counselor for Public Affairs Dr. Helena Kane Finn opened the program, which was moderated by Dr. Constanze Stelzenmüller, Director of the Berlin office of the German Marshall Fund. Dr. Christoph von Marschall, senior Washington correspondent at one of Berlin’s largest dailies, Der Tagesspiegel, lent a unique Washington-based German perspective to the panel, joining Dr. Alexander Lennon, Editor in Chief of the Washington Quarterly, and Dr. Adam Posen, Deputy Director and Senior Fellow at the Washington-based Peterson Institute for International Economics. The event was co-organized with the German Marshall Fund, and took place at the Federal State Representation of Rhineland-Palatinate. more »

Globalization, U.S. Economy, and the 2008 Presidential campaigns

September 2, 2008. As part of its Transatlantic Dialogue and its year-long series on the 2008 Presidential election, the Friedrich Ebert Foundation presented a one-day seminar on “A Responsible Transatlantic Policy for the World Economy and the Role of China” on September 2, 2008 in Berlin. Co-organized by the US Embassy in Berlin, the seminar opened with a presentation by US speaker Howard Rosen from the Washington-based Peterson Institute for International Economics, who discussed the impact of globalization in the United States and its implications in the current Presidential campaign. An audience of over 100 policy and opinion makers, academics, and students, including several Parliamentarians and staffers, took part in the discussion.

The Wittenberg Summer School Goes International

August 10-16, 2008. 40 students from 27 universities in Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, The Netherlands, Italy, Poland, Russia and even as far away as Afghanistan discussed the “Vigorous Executive: The President in American Politics and Culture” at the third Wittenberg Summer School. The program jointly coordinated by the U.S. Embassy, the Center for U.S. Studies at the University of Halle Wittenberg (ZUSAS), and the American Studies Department of Magdeburg University has developed into a showcase of American Studies. U.S. Missions in six countries nominated students for this high level seminar. The intensive program offered challenging lectures on historical, political, and cultural issues surrounding the U.S. Presidency. Photo Gallery | video | more »

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid Visits Berlin

August 08, 2008. Ambassador William Timken, Jr., met with a U.S. Congressional Delegation headed by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in the Chancery’s Quadriga Room. Other members of the delegation were Senator Jeff Bingaman, Senator Johnny Isakson, Senator Robert Menendez, and Senator Bill Nelson. Later that day, the delegation met with State Secretary Peter Ammon of the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss a range of topics including Transatlantic Relations, Afghanistan, NATO, and Global Warming. The delegation had a press availability at the Chancery that afternoon. A walking tour of Berlin’s Central District from the Reichstag Building to the Gendarmenmarkt concluded the Friday program, which continued on Saturday with a visit to the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC).

Special Envoy to the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Sada Cumber Visits Berlin

July 18, 2008. Ambassador Sada Cumber (Bio), who was appointed earlier this year by President Bush as the first-ever U.S. Special Envoy to the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), held a round-table discussion at the U.S. Embassy in Berlin with Muslim German academics, politicians, business executives, and community organizers to learn directly from them about the issues and challenges facing Muslim integration in Germany and throughout Europe. In a lively discussion, topics ranged from concern about the lack of Muslim education in Germany, to preventing Muslim extremism, to social, structural, and identity issues at the root of what participants described as the cultural divide between Muslims and Germans. Ambassador Cumber expressed his gratitude at being able to meet the representatives of various organizations and mentioned that he was especially glad to hear a European perspective on the sensitive issue of integration. He also stressed the 'question of responsibility,' which he deemed as most important since, according to his experiences, he felt that the road taken by many Muslims is to blame the West for all their troubles and hardships rather then looking for solutions in trying to improve their own conditions through building diplomatic relations with the West - or productive relations with their home societies. Ambassador Cumber urged participants to engage actively on integration issues, rather than waiting for the German government to take the lead.

On September 27, 2008, the Secretary General of OIC declared:

...we would like to reiterate the steady position of the OIC, in condemning terrorism in all its manifestations, including hideous suicide attacks, irrespective of their motivations or justifications. OIC Summits and Ministerial Conferences condemned terrorism in the strongest possible terms. No effort should be spared to bring the perpetrators of these barbaric attacks to face justice. On this occasion we reaffirm and reiterate our unyielding determination to combat this scourge by all means in cooperation with the international community.

We call upon the Muslims, the world over, to unite their stand on this issue and help to put an end to this phenomenon which distorts the image of Islam as a religion of peace, compassion and tolerance. full text

Thousands Celebrate German-American Friendship on Pariser Platz

July 5, 2008.  “Welcome home” – the Amerikafest on July 5, 2008 was a huge success and attracted over 300,000 visitors who enjoyed American-German culture, entertainment and food under bright blue summer skies in the heart of the German capital. Celebrating the opening of the new U.S. Embassy at the Brandenburg Gate, the Amerikafest, which was open to the public and free of charge, was a joyous, festive party hosted by the Federation of German-American Clubs e.V. (FGAC) and staged in close cooperation with the U.S. Embassy. more | Photo Gallery

Berlin Students Take Center Stage At “Dancing to Connect” Performance

July 5, 2008. Ninety high school students from five inner-city schools danced for the first time in their lives before an enthusiastic crowd of family, friends and dance lovers at one of Berlin’s most renowned theaters, the “Haus der Berliner Festspiele.” The performance was the culmination of a week-long “Dancing to Connect” workshop in which the students, many of whom come from immigrant or Muslim families, had created, rehearsed and polished their own dances on themes of integration and tolerance. The performance was part of official Independence Day celebrations in honor of the opening of the new Embassy building in the heart of Berlin. Two acclaimed New York dance companies, Battery Dance Company and Drastic Action, mentored the student and guided their creative work.  Watch the video! | Press: Tagesspiegel of 2008-07-06

Chancellor Merkel and Former President Bush Celebrate Embassy Opening

July 4, 2008. Today the U.S. Embassy celebrated U.S. Independence Day and the Grand Opening of the new embassy building on Pariser Platz. Chancellor Angela Merkel, former President George H. W. Bush, and Ambassador William R. Timken, Jr. spoke about the historical significance of the new embassy site which serves as a living symbol of the German-American partnership. As a tribute to the 60th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift, a group of Airlift pilots also participated, among them Col. Gail Halvorsen, the original candy bomber. The traditional fireworks display closed the program in the evening. Photo Gallery

Treasury Secretary Paulson meets German Minister Glos

July 1, 2008. This morning, United States Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson, Jr. met with German Minister for Economics and Technology Michael Glos in Berlin to discuss global financial markets and the need to keep economies around the world open to investment as well as efforts to protect the global financial system. During a joint press availability, Paulson and Glos also addressed environment and energy issues, in particular the launch of the international clean technology fund which will increase and accelerate the deployment of cleaner, more efficient technologies in developing nations like India and China.

Please find more events in our archive (QI/2008 | QII/2008 | QIII/2008 | QIV/2008).