Former Polish Director of U.S. Interests Section in Baghdad Krzysztof Bernacki Receives the Secretary's Award for Distinguished Service

In a ceremony this afternoon, Deputy Secretary of State Richard L.Armitage presented the Secretary's Award for Distinguished Service to the Director of the U.S. Interests Section in Baghdad, Polish diplomat Krzysztof Bernacki, in recognition of Mr. Bernacki's outstanding performance in Baghdad as Chief of the U.S. Interests Section from January 2001 until the Section temporarily suspended operations in January 2003.

Mr. Bernacki's performance was exemplary throughout a difficult and dangerous period, marked by the 9/11 attacks in New York and Washington and sustained confrontations and stand-offs with the Iraqi Government. Mr. Bernacki and his small staff diligently and faithfully represented U.S. interests and watched over our citizens and our property. For this, we are deeply grateful and we are honored to present him with the Secretary's Award for Distinguished Service.

Mr. Bernacki's outstanding performance in Baghdad continues more than a decade of service by Polish diplomats in Iraq on behalf of the United States. This award symbolizes the deep gratitude of the United States for the outstanding contribution of Mr. Bernacki and his staff under difficult circumstances.

Mr. Bernacki was born in Warsaw in 1956, is married, and has two young children. An economist by training, he also served for five years in Poland’s Mission to the European Union.