US ambassador discusses foreign policy and war commemoration

Flanders’ minister-president Kris Peeters held his first official meeting yesterday with the new United States ambassador to Belgium, Denise Bauer. They met at the cabinet office of the minister-president on Martelaarsplein in central Brussels.

Bauer was appointed by US President Barack Obama in the summer to replace former ambassador Howard Gutman. Born in 1963, Bauer has worked as a TV producer and played an active role as a Democratic fundraiser and political manager in the Obama campaigns.

During the meeting, Peeters discussed Flemish foreign policy and the current negotiations on a US-EU trade deal. He also talked about Flanders’ plans to mark the 100th anniversary of the First World War.

Gutman was a popular ambassador who built up strong relations with Belgium and made a campaign out of visiting every single municipality in the country. The end of his four-year term was marred by an accusation from a member of staff of the US state department that he solicited underage prostitutes in Brussels. Gutman strenuously denied the allegation, and a state department spokesperson said they were “baseless”. Gutman retired in July but is under investigation.