Photo Gallery
October 19^th, 2007

Washington, D.C.-Republicans Abroad Luxembourg hosted the 2007 European Regional Meeting in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg from October 11-14, 2007.

Sharon March, Chairman of RA Luxembourg organized a series of high-level meetings and social events.

 A delegation of representatives of Republicans Abroad  from Austria, Czech Republic, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom attended the four day meetings.

Global Chairman Chris Fussner  traveled from Singapore and Co-Chairman Joan L. Hills , RA Legal Counsel Bob Horn, and Executive Director Cynthia Dillon, from Washington, D.C.   Regional Chairman, George Yates, came from France.

RA-Luxembourg Chairman Sharon March prepared an exciting and interesting agenda beginning on Thursday, October 11^th, with  an informal get-together at Wenge’s Restaurant in the center of Luxembourg. The invited speaker was US Chargé d’Affaires, Steve Kraft, who candidly spoke  about his own experiences in the country, its peoples and customs as well as the excellent   relationship  between the US and Luxembourg.

That afternoon, Sharon March arranged for members of Republicans Abroad to visit the Parliament of Luxembourg (Chambre des Deputées)  while in full session.  Members were escorted into the Chamber of Deputies by  Mr. Frank Engel,  Secretary General of the parliamentary group CSV (Christian Socialist People’s Party).  They were greeted by President of the Parliament, Lucien Weiler. (In Luxembourg, the first parliament was instituted by the constitution of June 23, 1848 under King Grand Duke Guillaume II.  The Chamber of Deputies has sixty members divided between four constituencies, Southern, Central, Northern and Eastern. The largest are  the Southern and Central constituencies with 23 and  21 deputies respectively and the Northern and  Eastern, with 9 and  7 deputies.  Parliament is housed in a beautiful building dating to 1860 and is adjacent to the Grand Ducal Palace.  From 1940-1944, the Luxembourg parliament was dissolved  by the Nazi German  occupiers and  was used as the “Provincial Propaganda Office”).    The group visited the headquarters of CSV which are situated next door to the parliament and   were greeted by President Jacques Santer, former Prime Minister of Luxembourg (1984-1995) and President of the European Commission (1995-1999).

President Santer spoke about Luxembourg and its peoples and the great relationship that exists with the United States, dating  to WWI and WWII.  He mentioned, with gratitude, the fact that Luxembourg had been liberated by Generals Patton and Eisenhower and added that, “one characteristic of the Luxembourg people is that they remain always loyal to their friends.”  Being at the crossroads of Europe, its central position bordering with Germany, France and Belgium, Luxembourg  integrates diverse cultures. And although a small country the size of Rhode Island, it is today, after New York, the second financial center for investment funds.

Former President of the European Union, Jacques Santer with members of Republicans Abroad.

From L to R: RA Counsel, Bob Horn, Cynthia Dillon, Annie Chen Fussner, Global Chairman Chris Fussner, President Jacques Santer, Luxembourg Chairman Sharon March, Co-Chair Joan Hills, and Member at large, Elayne Ghiron, Friends of RA Luxebourg Corinne Sinclair and Laertes Boechat.

That evening a Dinner reception was held at the Italian restaurant, Basta Cosí  and the guest speaker was David Clark, a consultant  on International Capital Markets matters. His clients include the International Capital Markets Association (ICMA).  Until recently he was Head of Funding at the European Investment Bank responsible for the bank’s funding in Europe (excluding the euro), Mediterranean sector  and Africa. He worked at the EIB from 1997 to 2007.  He gave an extensive  dissertation on market trends and the present global economic situation.

On Friday, October 12^th, the meetings began in the afternoon with a visit to the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce where Executive Director Pierre Gramegna,  self-described as a diplomat by profession  and who was Luxembourg Counsel General in San Francisco from 1993-1996, talked about the differences between the Europeans Chambers and their American counterparts.  One interesting fact is that in Europe, membership is compulsory. Companies, large and small, in the  industry, services and banking sectors, must join the organization. Craftsmen and artisans have their own separate organization.  He spoke of the role of the chamber, how it works closely with the government to measure the impact of any law being considered by the parliament and  its repercussion on  the economy.  The Chamber   also helps people set up companies and authorizes and qualifies the business to be established.  It also organizes trips abroad for its members and provides training and vocational schooling at reasonable costs.  Luxembourg has a population of approximately 500,000 people. It serves as a gateway to the European market and together with bordering regions it has established what is called a “Greater Region” with a consumer population of 11 million.  The region comprises areas in Belgium, France and Germany: Wallonia, Lorraine, Rhineland Palatinate and the Saarland.  Luxembourg’s workforce is divided amongst Portuguese expatriates with 37.3%, French, 12.6%, Italian, 10%, Belgian, 9% and German, 5%.  It may be deduced that 1/3 of the population of Luxembourg is foreign born,1/3 commutes from neighboring countries and 1/3 is autochthonous.  Luxembourg is also one of the three working capitals of the EU, housing the EU Court of Justice, the EU Commission and the EU Council which meets three months per year.  Luxembourg is also a founding member of NATO and was a member of the Council of Europe on Human Rights set up in the 1950’s.  It is the home of 154 banks… Mr Gramegna, like President Santer before him concluded the meeting by extolling the great rapport that exists between the US and Luxembourg, and “people remember that the US liberated Luxembourg and young and old are very much aware of thisfact."

Members of Republicans Abroad pose for the cameras with Executive Director Pierre Gramegna (front row, right) of the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce

Next meeting was held at the Hotel de Ville (Townhall) where Deputy Mayor Xavier Bettel greeted the representatives of Republicans Abroad and invited everyone to a glass of local Luxembourg wine.  In the evening, Sharon March offered the guests an exquisite dinner at the restaurant La Lorraine, where the speaker was RA Legal Counsel Robert Horn.    He delivered an extensive and entertaining speech on the political atmosphere and scenario in Washington, D.C. and offered his view on the situation at home.  He spoke so eloquently that many members have invited him to speak to their base in their respective countries.

RA Chairman Chris Fussner with Sharon March and Deputy Mayor Xavier Bettel(second from left) and members of Republicans Abroad

Saturday meetings began with the Executive Board Meeting and continued with a presentation by Polli Brunelli, DOD Director of the FVAP (Federal Voting Assistance Program) who gave a detailed report on the latest information and changes made on voting registration.  And since Republicans Abroad’s primary mission is to get American residents overseas to vote in federal and primary elections, the statistics presented were interesting, to say the least!

Country presentations were then delivered by every  chairman that was present. Warren S. Proctor from The Netherlands  spoke about the formation of his new chapter in Rotterdam; Bob Gephardt, Chairman of Switzerland  presented facts about his chapter which is very active; Austria’s Pamela Moore, also a new chairman, discussed some of her plans; James Levy, Spain Country Chair talked about his very active chapter, as well as Italy’s Member- at-large, Elayne Ghiron  gave some great fundraising advice.  UK’s Chairman, Miki Bowman spoke of their group’s activities: past speakers have been John McCain, Karl Rove, Rudy Guliani, Mitt Romney, etc. Czech Repubic’s Chairman, Roger Johnson talked about voter registration as well as France’s Chair, George Yates, who recently announced the good news that his chapter registered more than 40 people in one Sunday afternoon! 

About Republicans Abroad

Republicans Abroad  offers a means to Americans residing abroad to stay active in American politics. Through its public diplomacy, Republicans Abroad’s  objectives are to promote interest in the policies of the Republican Party, to promote voter registration and the casting of absentee ballots by non- resident Americans, and to disseminate information concerning the policies of the Republican Party and its candidates.