Blava, bucharest, warsaw web.doc

BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA

Hotel Danube Rybne namestie 1 811 02 Bratislava Phone: +421 2 5934 0833 Phone: +421 2 5441 4311 GMF Office Sturova 3 811 02 Bratislava Phone: +421 2 5931 1522 Fax: +421 2 5931 1405 The capital of the Slovak Republic, Bratislava, is situated in the South-West of the country, on the borders with both Austria and Hungary. It was first mentioned in written records in 907 and since the 10th century, the city was closely associated with the Kingdom of Hungary, as a border fortress first, after the battle at Mohacs (1526) when the Turks conquered vast parts of Hungary also as an important political center, seat of the Imperial Council and coronation place for the next 300 years. The 19th century witnessed not only Bratislava's rapid urban and industrial development but also a renaissance of the Slovak culture and nation. Eventually, the Slovak Republic emerged in 1918 within Czechoslovakia with Bratislava as its capital. During WWII, the Slovak Republic was controlled by Nazi Germany, and after 1948 Czechoslovakia became part of the communist block under Soviet influence. Slovakia became an independent country again in 1993. Bratislava is the largest town in Slovakia with a population of approximately 450,000. Friday, March 24
ARRIVAL AT VIENNA AIRPORT
Pickup and minibus transfer (one hour drive) and hotel check in
MEET IN HOTEL LOBBY
P ROGRAM BRIEFING AND INTRODUCTION TO SLOVAKIA
Joerg Forbrig, GMF Bratislava
Slovenska restauracia (Slovak Restaurant) DINNER WITH DARINA MALOVA (DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE, COMENIUS UNIVERSITY
BRATISLAVA) AND KATARINA VAJDOVA (DIRECTOR OF CIVIL SOCIETY DEVELOPMENT
FOUNDATION, BRATISLAVA)
Slovenska restauracia (S lovak Restaurant) Saturday, March 25
MEET IN HOTEL LOBBY, MINIBUS TRANSFER (45 MINUTES )
WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION TO THE REGION BY OLIVER SOLGA, MAYOR OF P EZINOK
Pezinok is located 18 km northwest of Bratislava and is one of the regional capitals with 20,000 inhabitants. Known as a wine-growing region since the 16th century, Pezinok has received the rights of a free royal city in 1647. In the 17 th and 18th centuries, Pezinok was among the richest cities in the Austro- Hungarian mona rchy. The industrialization of the region in the 19 th century has had a strong imprint on the city, with wood-processing and construction industry still being dominant in the city. Among Pezinok's sights are a renaissance town hall, several historic burghers' houses and a medieval castle. LUNCH AND WINE TASTING WITH THE REVIA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Non-governmental volunteer activities in Slovakia have a deep-rooted tradition, with numerous voluntary groups and self-help societies recorded in history. The first interruption to the continuity of development of civil society occurred in 1939. After a short post-war revival, association began to be systematically restricted after 1945, and with the accession of the Communist regime, most organizations ceased to exist. November 1989 not only brought a change in the political system, but also an immense expansion of the civic sector, as the number of citizen groups and organizations increased rapidly. Revia is a community foundation that is active in the wine region of the Lower Carpathian mountains. TRADITIONAL CRAFTS: MODRA MAJOLICA CERAMICS FACTORY
Slovak Folk Majolica
Dolna 138, Modra Since the 14 th century, Modra has been famous for its unique Majolica earthen ware. Subsequent centuries shaped a folk style that is now recognized as an art form in itself. Using traditional designs and techniques, Modra artisans produce hand-crafted, hand -painted and personally signed pottering that was once appreciated by the rulers of the Hapsburg Empire and continues to find admirers across Central GUIDED TOUR OF CERVENY KAMEN CASTLE
Cerveny Kamen (Red Rock) is one of the best preserved castles in Slovakia. The imposing structure in the foothills of the Lower Carpathian Mountains dates back to the mid-13th century. Its medieval owners, the Fugger merchant family, had the castle built into a mighty fortress that represented top military engineering. Later adjustments brought elements in the renaissance and baroque style and turned the castle into a residence of the Palffy's, an influential Hungarian aristocratic family. The museum housed in the castle today has a rich collection of historical furniture and paintings. CULTURAL EVENT (TBC)
Sunday, March 26
EVANGELICAL CHURCH SERVICE IN ENGLISH
Small Church, Panenska ulica, Bratislava GUIDED TOUR OF BRATISLAVA
TREASURES OF CZECH AND SLOVAK MODERN PAINTING , BRATISLAVA CITY GALLERY
Palffyho palac (Palffy Palace), Panska 19, open daily except Mondays 11:00 am - 6:00 pm
Optional
SHOPPING AT AUPARK SHOPPING MALL, WALK ACROSS THE NOVY MOST BRIDGE AND VISIT THE
UFO VIEW POINT CAFÉ
DEPARTURE FOR SAMORIN
Samorin is a small town with approx. 12,000 inhabitants. It used to be inhabited mostly by Hungarians but fast growth since the 1970s and the construction of new residential areas saw a significant influx of Slovak families. According to the 2001 census, approximately 30 per cent of Samorin's inhabitants are Slovak, with the rest belonging to other nationalities, mainly the Hungarian one. As Samorin is situated close to Bratislava, most of its inhabitants commute to the city either for studies or for work. The "sleeping town" is gradually awakened by different development activities realized either by NGOs or by the municipality, or in cooperation of the two sectors. MEETING WITH LOCAL MMF FELLOWS AND VISIT TO SAMORIN AT HOME GALLERY
The "At Home Gallery" is managed by a young couple, Suzanne and Csaba Kiss. Since the 1990s when they started with first exhibitions in their flat, they have become one of the best-known galleries in Central Europe. They have fundraised for and reconstructed the synagogue in Samorin (that served as a warehouse for decades) and organize exhibitions and concerts there. In recent years they have build their new home next to the synagogue, which also serves as an "artists' home". This has brought many visitors to Samorin, including the Dalai Lama a few years ago. Monday, March 27
SLOVAKIA'S SUCCESSFUL REFORMS AND FUTURE TRENDS
Meeting with Ivan Miklos, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Slovakia (tbc) Stefanovicova 5, Bratislava A 1995 Marshall Memorial Fellow, Ivan Miklos has been Deputy Prime Minister since 1998 and Minister of Finance of Slovakia since June 2002. An economist by training, he received his education at Bratislava University of Economics and London School of Economics. After several university appointments, he served as executive director of the M.E.S.A. 10 Center for Economic and Social Analyses from 1992 to 1998. He became widely known through his introduction of a 19-percent flat rate income tax for both individuals and companies in Slovakia at the beginning of 2004, which triggered a fierce, a nd still ongoing, debate in the European Union about tax incentives to be instrumentalised by member countries. He received the "Euromoney Finance Minister of the Year 2004 Award". SLOVAK FOREIGN POLICY IN EUROPEAN AND TRANSATLANTIC CONTEXT
Alexander Duleba, and Vladimir Bilcik, Senior Research Fellows Research Institute, Slovak Foreign Policy Association The Slovak Foreign Policy Association (SFPA) was founded in August 1993. It is an independent, non- partisan and non-profit organization that wishes to contribute to the integration of the Slovak Republic within the community of democratic states and their political and security structures. Through its programs of meetings, seminars, workshops and publications, SFPA disseminates information about international relations, and it makes particular efforts to reach all regions of Slovakia. In September 1995, SFPA established a research centre to carry out analyses of current foreign affairs. SLOVAK POLITICS AND SOCIETY
Martin Butora, Senior Policy Analyst, Institute for Public Affairs Institute for Public Affairs Bastova 5, Bratislava Martin Butora is a sociologist, politician and diplomat, and currently the Honorary President of the Institute for Public Affairs in Bratislava. In the 1989 Velvet Revolution, he was co-founder of the Public Against Violence movement, and he subsequently served as adviser to President Vaclav Havel. He has taught at various universities and, in 1997, he established the Institute for Public Affairs, a think tank in Bratislava. In 1999-2003, he served as Slovak Ambassador to the United States. Martin Butora has authored numerous studies and several books on democracy, civil society and human rights, but also three prosaic works, several TV programs and film scripts. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND FOREIGN INVESTMENT
Slovak Agency for Investment Development and Foreign Trade (SARIO) Pavel Vrabik, Project Manager Slovak Agency for Investment Development and Foreig n Trade Martincekova 17, Bratislava In recent years, Slovakia has become a primary destination for foreign direct investment. Its advantages include a highly skilled workforce, significantly lower labor costs than in neighboring countries, a favorable tax environment, a strategic location and infrastructure providing access to a market of over 350 million people. Increasingly, the automotive industry is becoming the engine behind foreign investment and economic development, with Volkswagen, PSA Peugeot Citroen and Hyundai Kia making Slovakia the world's largest car manufacturer per capita by 2007. SARIO is the Slovak Agency for Investment Development and Foreign Trade, whose mission is to present the economic environment of Slovakia internationally, attract foreign direct investments and assist in their implementation. CULTURE CLASH
The American movie Hostel (director: Eli Roth, 2005) has recently caused much controversy in Slovakia by portraying the country as underdeveloped, and swarming of criminal children's gangs. (Plot Outline: Three backpackers head to a Slovakian city that promises to meet their hedonistic expectations, with no idea of the hell that awaits them. Genre: Thriller.) The soundtrack features songs from famous Czech and Slovak a rtists who claim not to have been asked for permission. Many consider the outrage unnecessary because this is neither a documentary nor a high- quality artistic film. Whether the criticism or the compliments for the film were justified can be best judged after the screening of the film that will be followed by a discussion with students of the Film and Television Faculty of the Academy of Musical Arts and moderated by Jozef Slovak, director and Tuesday, March 28
CIVIL SOCIETY IN SLOVAKIA (TBC)
The non-governmental organization Proti prudu (Against the Stream) is the publisher of the Nota Bene street magazine which helps homeless people to help themselves. The magazine was founded in 2001 and is published with 31 000 issues monthly. Proti prudu also organizes awareness-raising campaigns and organizes social, sporting and cultural events for homeless people. Alena Panikova, Executive Director, Open Society Fund Open Society Foundation (OSF) is a nongovernmental non-profit organization established and financed by the philanthropist George Soros. Its mission is the transformation of closed societies to open ones, as well as the protection and dissemination of the values of existing open societies. In Slovakia, OSF was established in 1992 and is one of the seven establishing organizations of the Donors' Forum - an informal group of grant-providing organizations in the Slovak Republic. Boris Strecansky, Programme Director, Ekopolis Foundation The Ekopolis Foundation/Slovak Environmental Partnership has been supporting the development of civic society and environmental sustainability for 14 years so far. It supports projects and the operation of hundreds of non-governmental organizations realizing their responsibility for societal development and environmental issues. The Ekopolis Foundation is a member of the international association Environmental Partnership for Sustainable Development (EP) and of the European Greenways Association that is devoted to the environmentally friendly traffic development in Europe. Lotta Pufflerova, Citizen and Democracy Obcan a demokracia (Citizen and Democracy) is an independent non-governmental organization that promotes the idea of an open society based on respecting citizens' and human rights. It is active in raising legal awareness, answering questions regarding the relation between citizens and public institutions, providing legal assistance and protecting citizens' rights. It aims to change the unsuitable practice of the state bodies and strengthen the position of the citizen in communication with public offices. WOMEN IN SLOVAKIA (TBC)
Bernardina Bodnarova, International Center for the Study of Family The ICSF is a research organization establish ed by the Slovak Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs and Family. Its main fields of work are social and family policy, the labor market and employment as well work conditions and health protection in the place of work. Besides research and publication, the center has consulting and educational activities. Viera Klementova, Country Director for Slovakia, Slovak-Czech Women's Fund The mission of the Slovak-Czech Women's Fund is to ensure resources for supporting the promotion of women's rights and gender equality in society. The Slovak-Czech Women's Fund was established as a bilateral initiative of Czech and Slovak women working in the area of women's rights promotion in 2004. The Fund aims to contribute to the development of socially responsible philanthropy in Slovakia and in the INDIVIDUAL APPOINTMENTS
FAREWELL DINNER WITH FRIENDS AND MMF ALUMNI
Modra hviezda restaurant
Wednesday, March 29
MINIBUS DEPARTURE FOR VIENNA AIRPORT
BUCHAREST, ROMANIA

City Coordinator: Liana Popa
Euro-Hotel Triumf 32-34 Maresal Averescu Bvd., Bucharest 011455 Phone: +4021 224 54 96; +4021 224 54 97 Fax: +4021 224 55 54 E-mail: office@euro-hotels.ro www.euro-hotels.ro Friday, March 24

AFTERNOON
ARRIVAL AT HENRY COANDA AIRPORT (OTOPENI) IN BUCHAREST
Ms. Liana Popa will meet the group at arrivals and escorts the group to the hotel.
5:00-5.15 PM

5:15- 6:45 PM
RELAX AND REFRESH BEFORE DINNER
MEET IN HOTEL LOBBY

7:00-7:15 PM
P ROGRAM BRIEFING
With Ms. Liana Popa (Executive Director o f the Foundation for Pluralism, coordinator GMF- MMF program for Romania), and Mr. Catalin Basturea ( Program Associate, Foundation for AMMF Fellows will receive the information package for their visit to Bucharest.

7:15- 8:45 PM
INTRODUCTION TO ROMANIAN LIFE AND CULTURE
Working dinner at Restaurant Triumf with Ms. Cristina Guseth, Executive Director, Freedom House - Romania and Mr. Paul-Andre Baran, Executive Director, Romania Think Tank Saturday, March 25
DAY TRIP OUTSIDE BUCHAREST TO P RAHOVA COUNTY

Before we submerge in the daily rhythms of Romanian society, we will take the AMMF Fellows on a one-
day trip, which will provide an historical and economical overview covering two hundred years of
Romanian history: the 19th Century and the pre-communist early 20th Century period. The trip will also offer a look at a typical touristy area-Prahova Valley The group will travel by minibus and be escorted by Ms. Liana Popa and Mr. Catalin Basturea
MEET IN HOTEL LOBBY

Dress: Casual
DEPARTURE TO P LOIESTI
ARRIVAL IN PLOIESTI

9:45-10:45 AM
MEETING WITH HIS HON. MIRCEA IONESCU-QUINTUS, Former President of the Senate of
Romania, Mr. Florin Sicoie, County Council Member ( Prahova County)
National Liberal Party Branch Prahova County
11:00 - 11:50 AM
VISIT TO THE ART GALLERY (QUINTUS PALACE) IN P LOIESTI
1 Independentei Bvd. Contact person: Ms. Ruxandra Ionescu, Director
12:00 - 1:30 PM
LUNCH AT PRAHOVA PLAZZA RESTAURANT WITH MR. FLORIN SICOIE
DEPARTURE FOR SINAIA
ARRIVAL IN SINAIA

3:00-4:15 PM
VISIT THE P ELES CASTLE AND WALK IN PELES CASTLE SURROUNDINGS
DEPARTURE FOR BUCHAREST
ARRIVAL IN BUCHAREST, HOTEL EUROHOTEL

6:15-7:00 PM
REFRESH BEFORE DINNER

7:00- 8:30 PM
DINNER WITH MS. SABINA ANTONIU, P RESS ASSISTANT, US EMBASSY (MMF 1999)
IRISA Restaurant 24 Banu Manta Bvd
Walking distance from the hotel
Sunday, March 26
MEET IN HOTEL LOBBY
Please bring your passport! Dress: Casual

9:20-12:00 AM
TOUR OF BUCHAREST, ESCORTED BY LIANA POPA

9:20-10:30 AM
TOUR OF BUCHAREST
Hotel Triumf - Victoriei Square - Romana Square - University Square - Unirii Bvd - Patriarhia Romana - Unirii Square- Parliament Palace - Kogalniceanu Bvd.- The National Opera House - Military High Academy - Panduri Ave. - Geniului - Cotroceni Palace
10:30 -11:30 AM
GUIDED VISIT OF THE COTROCENI P ALACE (COTROCENI MUSEUM )
The Cotroceni Palace is one of the architectural jewels of the early 19th century in Romania. It was buitd during the reign of Carol I and further developed half a century later. The Museum in the old wing of the Palace holds precious artifacts and vestiges of Romanian art and culture. 11:45 AM- 12:00 PM
TOUR OF BUCHAREST
Cotroceni Ave.- Splaiul Independentei - Stirbey Voda Ave.- Revolutiei Square - Magheru Bvd. -
12:00 - 1:45 PM
LUNCH WITH ALUMNI: MR. SAVA CHISER (MMF, 1999) AND MRS. ANCA IONITA (MMF, 2002)

2:15- 4:30 AM
VISIT TO THE ROMANIAN VILLAGE MUSEUM ESCORTED BY LIANA POPA
The Romanian Village Museum offers an overview of peasant houses and lifestyle in regions all over Romania. The Museum also offers a first hand look at the structure of Romanian society as it has evolved over the centuries. The visit to the Romanian Village Museum will offer another perspective (an opposite one) on Romanian society, as seen Saturday in Sinaia. Moreover, a stroll through the Romanian Village Museum is one of the favorite weekend past times of residents of Bucharest both young and old.
2:00 - 5:00 PM
FREE TIME - SHOPPING AT ROMANIA P LAZA
MEET IN HOTEL LOBBY
DEPARTURE TO THE NATIONAL OPERA HOUSE ESCORTED BY LIANA POPA)
AMMF FELLOWS ARE INVITED TO A PRODUCTION OF THE NATIONAL OPERA HOUSE
70-72 Mihail Kogalniceanu Bvd.

Take a taxi to this destination
DINNER AT OPERA RESTAURANT WITH MR. RADU IOAN GAFTA, NEWS EDITOR REALITATEA TV (MMF, 2004)
Monday, March 27
FULL DAY MEETINGS WITH YOUNG POLITICAL LEADERS REPRESENTATIVES

8:15 AM
MEET IN HOTEL LOBBY
Please bring your passport!
DEPARTURE TO THE COTROCENI PALACE ESCORTED BY LIANA POPA AND PAUL ANDRE BARAN

9:00-10:15 AM
POLICIES ON DOMESTIC AFFAIRS IN ROMANIA
Meeting with Mr. Claudiu Saftoiu, Presidential Adviser to the President of Romania (MMF, 2000) and Mr. Bogdan Chiritoiu, State adviser, Economic and Social Department: Short walking tour of the Cotroceni Palace's Garden
DEPARTURE TO THE CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES ESCORTED BY LIANA POPA , RALUCA AND P AUL ANDRE BARAN
1 Izvor St. ( S 2 Entrance)
Take a taxi to this destination

10:30 -11:30 AM
GUIDED TOUR OF THE P ARLIAMENT P ALACE
1 Calea 13 Septembrie
Built by the former communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, the Parliament Palace, otherwise know as The People's Palace, today houses the Romanian Parliament. This famous building, second in size only to Pentagon, was constructed at the cost of thousands of residential houses in the darkest period before the 1989 Romanian Revolution.
12:00 -1:45 PM
LUNCH AT THE PARLIAMENT CAFETERIA WITH MPS (ALUMNI MMFS)

2:00 - 3:30 PM
Individual appointment Romania's Integration in the EU Mr. Cristian Mihai Adomnitei, MP, National Liberal Party (MMF, 2005) Member of Integration Committee, Deputies Chamber
2:00 - 3:30 PM
Individual appointment Gender balance Ms. Roxana Tesiu, Executive President, Center for Partnership and Equality 2:00 - 3:30 PM
Individual appointment International Assistance Ms. Cecilia Moise, Secretary, USAID Romania Mr. Larry Sacks, Democracy Officer/Political Process& Media Opera Center Building
2:00 - 3:30 PM
Individual appointment Expansion of infrastructure Mr. Cristian Alexandru Boureanu, MP, National Liberal Party (MMF, 2004) Vice-President of the Industry and Services Committee, Deputies Chamber
2:00 - 3:30 PM
MAKHDOOM
Individual appointment Rule of law Mr. Daniel Buda, MP, Democratic Party Member of Justice, disciplinary and immunities Committee
2:00 - 3:30 PM
Individual appointment Integration into EU Institutions Ms. Roberta Alma Anastase, MP, Democratic Party BACK TO THE HOTEL

4:00-6:00 PM
FREE TIME
MEET IN HOTEL LOBBY
DEPARTURE FOR DINNER
Take a taxi to this destination

6:30- 8:15 PM
DINNER AT LA DOLCE VITA RESTAURANT WITH ALUMNI
Address : 44 Occidentului St.
Take a taxi to this destination
Tuesday, March 28
MEET IN HOTEL LOBBY
Please bring your passport!
DEPARTURE TO THE CULTURAL AFFAIRS CENTER, UNITED STATES EMBASSY
Escorted by Liana Popa and Paul Andre Baran Take a taxi to this destination

10:00 -11:00 AM
MEETING WITH MS. KATHLEEN KAVALEC , CULTURAL OFFICER
Mr. Mark Wentworth, Public Affairs Officer Mr. Paul Oglesby, Press Officer Ms. Sabina Antoniu, Press Assistant (MMF 1999) 10 Dumbrava Rosie St. Contact person: Cornelia Vlaicu, Cultural Assistant
11: 30 AM - 12: 00 PM
SHORT WALKING TOUR ROMANA SQUARE

12:00 - 1:30 PM
LUNCH AT PIZZA HUT AT ROMANA SQUARE

2: 00 - 3:15 PM
MEETING WITH MR. ROMEO NICOARA, STATE COUNSELOR TO THE PRIME MINISTER OF ROMANIA (MMF 2001)

3:30 - 4:30 PM
BRANDING ROMANIA
Meeting with Mr. Valeriu Turcan, President, Governmental Strategies Agency BACK TO THE HOTEL

5:30- 6:45 PM
P REPARING FOR DINNER
Dress: Casual
MEET IN HOTEL LOBBY

7:00-10:00 PM
FAREWELL DINNER
52 Maresal Averescu Bvd.

Dress: Casual. Walking distance from hotel
Wednesday, March 29
MEET IN HOTEL LOBBY & CHECK OUT
DEPARTURE TO AIRPORT HENRY COANDA ( OTOPENI)
WARSAW, POLAND
Program Coordinator Centrum Stosunków Miedzynarodowych/Center for International Relations Emilii Plater 25, 00-688 Warsaw, Poland Ul. Sw. Tomasza 34 Phone: +48 12 424-26-00 Cracow Warsaw Forum Hotel Ul. Nowogrodzka 24/26 Phone: +48-22-621-02-71
Kracow, Poland
Krakow is Poland's prime tourist attraction, a must with few equals in the entire Central and
Eastern Europe. The place has been settled since the Stone Age at least. In 1038 Krakow became
the capital of Poland and Polish monarchs took up their residence in its Wawel Royal Castle. The Old Town historical district in Krakow's heart is actually the medieval city established in 1257 by Prince Boleslav V, the ruler of Poland at the time. Its well preserved original grid of streets with the huge central Grand Square, Europe's largest in the Middle Ages, seems the last stage in the perfection of medieval city planning. It is also the best example of that In its long history Krakow underwent many ups and downs. The proud capital city of a mighty kingdom for centuries, it was turned into a sleepy borderland town of the Austrian empire in the 19th century. Then it became a vital center of Polish national awakening at the turn of the 20th century and the cradle of Poland's rebirth, only to be reduced to backwater under communism. Now Krakow is nearly a million city ripe for restoration to European status. And the beautiful Old Town area remains its vibrant hub with numerous landmarks, museums, art galleries, music venues, theaters, university colleges, etc. on top of myriad boutiques, cafes, and UNESCO entered the whole of Krakow's Old Town in the list of the world cultural heritage. Friday, March 24

AFTERNOON
ARRIVAL OF AMMF FELLOWS
Please take a taxi from the airport to the hotel.
MEET IN HOTEL LOBBY - INTRODUCTION TO POLAND AND PROGRAM BRIEFING
FREE EVENING (DINNER AND DRINKS IF UP TO IT)
Saturday, March 25
MEETING WITH FATHER BRONISLAW FIDELUS, PARISH-P RIEST OF THE ST. MARY'S CHURCH
MEETING WITH ANNAMARIA ORLA-BUKOWSKA, SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGIST
Christian Culture Foundation ul. Kosciuszki 37
1:00 - 2:00 PM

2:30 - 5:30 PM
TOUR OF CRACOW OLD TOWN, WAWEL CASTLE, CRACOW UNIVERSITY
Meet the tour guide in Kazimierz

5:30- 7:30 PM
FREE TIME
DINNER WITH STUDENTS OF THE JAGIELLONIAN UNIVERSITY
Sunday, March 26
MEET IN HOTEL LOBBY

9:20 AM - 10:30 AM
TRAVEL BY MINIVAN TO AUSCHWITZ-BIRKENAU CONCENTRATION CAMP MUSEUM
The site of the Nazi notorious Auschwitz death camp is an hour's drive from Krakow. Between June 1941 and January 1945 about one million men, women and children perished in the three Auschwitz concentration camps-i.e. Auschwitz proper, Birkenau and Monowitz-and their more than forty sub-
10:30 AM - 1:00 PM
GUIDED TOUR OF AUSCHWITZ MUSEUM
Karczma restaurant at open-air museum in Lipowiec village (on the way back to Cracow) ARRIVAL IN CRACOW
MEET IN HOTEL LOBBY TO DEPART FOR THE RAILWAY STATION

5:00 PM - 7:45 P M
JOURNEY TO WARSAW
CHECK-IN AT FORUM HOTEL
WARSAW, POLAND

Poland's capital and biggest city, Warszawa, has often been described as the phoenix from the
ashes of WWII. With about 90 % of its buildings destroyed, it is essentially a postwar city. Although the old town has been exactly reconstructed as in pre-war times, most of the urban landscape is containing modern atmosphere. That includes the Palace of Culture and Science (once a present from the Soviet leader Stalin to the people of Poland ) on the one side, as well as recently constructed skyscraper buildings in the center of Warsaw on the other side. Warsaw's main north-south boulevard is the Royal Way, running from the Royal Castle to Lazienki Palace, the royal summer residence. This is one of Europe's grandest stretches of road, with churches, palaces, galleries and museums lining the route. Monday, March 27
Dress: business

9:30 - 10:30 AM
MEETING AT THE CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS WITH EUGENIUSZ SMOLAR,
P RESIDENT OF THE CIR AND ANTONI PODOLSKI
The Center for International Relations (CIR), founded in 1996 by the former Polish ambassador to Germany, Janusz Reiter, is an independent, non-governmental establishment dedicated to the study of Polish foreign policy as well as those international political issues, which are of crucial importance to Poland. The Center's primary objective is to offer political counseling, to describe Poland's current international situation, and to continuously monitor the government's foreign policy moves.
11:00 AM- 12:30 PM
"CIVIL SOCIETY AND NGOS IN POLAND"
Meeting at the Polish-American Freedom Foundation The Polish -American Freedom Foundation builds on the Polish people's historic achievements in establishing free market democracy since 1989, a success that the United States has strongly supported. The Freedom Foundation seeks to advance democracy, civil society, economic development and equal opportunity in Poland and, ultimately, in other Central and Eastern European countries.
1:00 - 1:30 PM
LUNCH WITH LUKASZ LIPINSKI (MMF, 2004)
Deputy Business Editor Canteen of Gazeta Wyborcza £ukasz Lipiñski is currently the deputy business editor and manager of the EU issues in Gazeta Wyborcza, the biggest daily newspaper in Poland. Lukasz is responsible for coordinating the work of all desks dealing with European integration and co-managing the economy desk. Lukasz started his career in Gazeta as a local correspondent in Gdansk. In 1998 he moved to the economy desk in Gazeta headquarters in Warsaw. His work requires him to cooperate with many NGOs (pro-European, charities), and most importantly Polish economic institutes (IBnGR, CASE). He has also hosted a radio program on European integration. Lukasz received his Law degree in 1997 focusing on the non-profit sector.
1:30 - 3:00 PM
VISIT TO GAZETA WYBORCZA, ONE OF THE BIGGEST DAILY NEWSPAPERS IN POLAND
Meeting with Polish journalists Ul. Czerska 8/10 3:00 - 7:00 PM
FREE TIME / INDIVIDUAL APPOINTMENTS

Individual appointment MCCORQUODALE
Meeting with labor union/government official/Solidarnosc
Individual appointment ROMERO
Meeting with expert on immigration with focus on human rights - Helsinki Human Rights
Individual appointment SLACK
Vote -smart activists (Róza Rzeplinska, Kuba Wygnanski) or women's rights activist/local government - Agniszka Grzybek formerly of OSKA now with Green's party Individual appointment STREMSTERFER

State of Illinois Central European Office Chmielna 8 Rooms 309-310 00-950 Warsaw, Poland
Individual appointment VENEGAS

Transportation Authority, Government Transportation Agency, Public-transportation advocacy organizations, Elected officials, City Agency Staff
7:00 - 9:00 PM
DINNER AND JAZZ CONCERT (OPTIONAL)

Tuesday, March 28
Dress: business. Please, bring your passports with you!
VISIT TO POLISH P ARLIAMENT AND TOUR O F PARLIAMENTARY BUILDING
CHALLENGES FOR THE POLISH MIGRATION POLICY IN THE ERA OF GLOBALIZATION
Prof. Krystyna Iglicka

4:00 - 6:00 PM
WARSAW SIGHTSEEING
Optional
7:00 PM
DINNER WITH MMF POLISH ALUMNI
Wednesday, March 29
DEPARTURE FOR PARIS

Source: http://trends.gmfus.org/doc/Blava,%20Bucharest,%20Warsaw%20web.pdf