Meet Howard Gutman

If you want to be heard, say it in Belgium!

Ambassadorial Speeches

Full list of speeches as delivered, see below

PRESS RELEASES

Full list of press releases

Videos

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About Howard Gutman

Howard Gutman served as the United States Ambassador to Belgium from 2009 to 2013. His four year time in position made Ambassador Gutman the third longest serving U.S. Ambassador to Belgium in over 100 years. One popular newspaper called Ambassador Gutman the “the most popular ambassador ever in Belgium,” while the weekly magazine section of the leading Belgian daily Le Soir highlighted Ambassador Gutman in a feature entitled “The Ambassador Who Makes Us Love America Again.”

 

Over the course of four years in Belgium, Ambassador Howard Gutman has over 100 television appearances. His appearances ranged from the daily news shows and weekly political talk shows such as De Zevende Dag (The Seventh Day) to the evening talk and entertainment shows (such as De Laatse Show – The Last Show – and Villa Van Tilt) to sitcoms, quiz shows and specials.  Ambassador Gutman bestowed the last award of the 2012 Belgian Music Industry Awards (the Belgian version of the Grammy Awards) for Song of the Year (during which he voiced support for the anti-piracy guidelines) and a Lifetime Achievement Award on annual Belgian Sports Award program (the Belgian version of the ESPYS).  The popular Belgian comedy show “De Tegen Sterren Op” (akin to “Saturday Night Live), which has cast members imitate leading Belgian officials and celebrities, had a character who played Ambassador Howard Gutman.  During his posting, Ambassador Gutman created a goal to visit all 589 of Belgium’ cities and communes, in order to rebuild the U.S.-Belgian partnership not just with the government, political leaders and business officials, but with all of the citizens.  His tour of all the municipalities was finally completed on May 5, 2013 when he visited the last stop on his list, Voeren.  The event was celebrated by a reception featuring Prime Minister DiRupo, Ambassador Gutman, and many mayors from all around Belgium.  The Wall Street Journal ran a front page article entitled “Every Day is Someplace in Belgium for an Ambassador Keen To See It All “ applauding Ambassador Howard Gutman’s partnership tour.

 

United States Senators Leahy, Grassley,  Shelby and Cochran attended the Memorial Day Ceremonies in Belgium in 2011 and, on June 7, they placed a copy of Ambassador Howard Gutman’s speech into The Congressional Record.  After learning about one of Ambassador Gutman’s speeches on the future of the climate debate, Prince Charles of the United Kingdom, who heads the P-8’s efforts on climate, put together a 1 on 1 meeting with the Ambassador in Brussels.  The current Representative of Saudi Arabia to the United Nations, the former Mayor of Jeddah, wrote a column, entitled “Iftar with a Friend”  in the Jeddah newspaper calling for greater tolerance for the West after attending the Embassy’s Iftar dinner.  Upon completing his service, Ambassador Gutman was presented the first annual “European Union Jewish Building Friendship Award” for his work on behalf of the Jewish community in Belgium.

 

According to the Gallup International Poll, in 2012, Belgium had the greatest increase in the world in its favorability rating towards U.S. leadership, leading Foreign Policy’s website to ask “Anyone have any guesses how America got out of the Belgian doghouse?”  Secretary Clinton praised Ambassador Howard Gutman during her last visit to Brussels for helping to increase America’s favorability rating by 600%.  On his visit to Brussels, Secretary Kerry echoed such praise for the successes that had been reached in the four year tenure.

 

The 2009-2013 period saw important advances in the Belgian-American partnership.  Belgium became an valuable member of NATO, providing “surge” troops in Afghanistan when asked to do so by President Obama; committed to stay in Afghanistan until the U.S. troops complete their exit; and pledged post- exit aid to the Afghani reconstruction.  Belgium was one of seven NATO countries to engage in the air mission in Libya.  Belgium helped guide the sanctions regime against Iran by declaring the closing of its Port of Antwerp. And Belgium took part in many joint efforts design to remove the threat of terror.

At the Embassy, Ambassador Howard Gutman oversaw a staff of more than 400 State Department officers and local Belgian employees.  The Embassy made certain that the United States continued to be well-represented during the Wikileaks and NSA controversies, the threatened closing of the Embassy during government budget battles, and the security concerns following the attack in Benghazi.

 

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Speeches

2013

 

07_10_2013_Iftar.pdf

07_04_2013_July4andFarewell.pdf

06_12_2013_CSRforTomorrow.pdf

05_27_2013_MemorialDay.pdf

05_05_2013_PartnershipTourFinale.pdf

05_03_2013_PartnershipTourFinale (NL).pdf

05_03_2013_PartnershipTourFinale(FR)%29.pdf

03_15_2013_Hoover.pdf

03_05_2013_CercleDeLorraine.pdf

01_22_2013_Lincoln.pdf

 

2012

 

12_19_2012_Vlerick.pdf

12_11_2012_TuesdayEveningGroup.pdf

12_04_2012_Clinton.pdf

11_10_2012_MarineBall.pdf

11_07_2012_ElectionResults.pdf

11_06_2012_ElectionWelcome.pdf

11_06_2012_ElectionNight.pdf

10_23_2012_VIRA.pdf

10_19_2012_Columbia.pdf

10_06_2012_LeadersMeetingParis.pdf

10_03_2012_Janssens.pdf

10_03_2012_AgoriaMIT.pdf

10_02_2012_CenterForCreativeLeadership.pdf

09_28_2012_MilitaryBall.pdf

09_15_2012_Vesalius.pdf

09_10_2012_AmCham.pdf

07_04_2012_July4.pdf

06_28_2012_SCKCEN.pdf

06_16_2012_MaggieNicholson.pdf

06_04_2012_MarineAppreciationLunch.pdf

05_28_2012_MemorialDay.pdf

05_24_2012_SelectUSA.pdf

05_22_2012_CompletingWalloonBrabant.pdf

05_09_2012_MolenbeekSummitofCultures.pdf

04_28_2012_RedStarLine.pdf

04_01_2012_Mortsel.pdf

03_29_2012_WomensMonth.pdf

 

2011

 

11_99_2011_ThanksgivingVideo.pdf

11_30_2011_ThinkingAboutAntiSemitism.pdf

11_19_2011_MarineCorpsBall.pdf

11_07_2011_BelgianAmericanLessons.pdf

10_25_2011_UMons.pdf

10_18_2011_AmChamYoungProfessionals.pdf

10_14_2011_ObamaStandardLiege.pdf

09_11_2011_Sept11.pdf

09_10_2011_AmCham.pdf

08_25_2011_Iftar.pdf

07_04_2011_July4.pdf

06_29_2011_BelgiumRedSox.pdf

06_27_2011_TradeMission.pdf

06_15_2011_ContemporaryResponsesHolocaust.pdf

05_30_2011_NeverToForget_MemorialDay.pdf

05_26_2011_TradeMissionSendOff.pdf

05_25_2011_UnderstandingOurFuture.pdf

03_03_2011_EuropeanPetrochemicalLuncheon.pdf

 

2010

12_14_2010_MilitaryPartnership_HolidayReception.pdf

12_10_2010_UGent.pdf

11_19_2010_BAEF.pdf

11_06_2010_MarineBall.pdf

09_29_2010_PoliticsAndEconomicsClimateFuture.pdf

09_16_2010_AmCham.pdf

09_15_2010_RoyalHighInstituteofDefence.pdf

09_11_2010_September11Memorial.pdf

09_10_2010_IfObamaWereACountry.pdf

09_06_2010_AlMadina_Iftar2010Column.pdf

09_02_2010_Iftar2010.pdf

06_23_2010_PoliceAcademy.pdf

06_14_2010_CercleDeLorraine.pdf

06_11_2010_BASCommencement.pdf

05_29_2010_MemorialDay.pdf

05_25_2010_SergeCruz.pdf

05_07_2010_Biden.pdf

04_05_2010_Mortsel.pdf

02_25_2010_BusinessForecast.pdf

02_11_2010_CercleGaulois.pdf

 

2009

12_01_2009_President_Obama_Jewish_Community_and_Mid-East.pdf

11_13_2009_Leuven.pdf

10_19_2009_Mechelen.pdf

10_05_2009_Chamber_of_Commerce_Gala.pdf

10_04_2009_Father_Damien.pdf

09_30_2009_First_Speech_Charleroi.pdf

09_18_2009_Climate_Change_EN.pdf

09_14_2009_Iftar_Remarks.pdf

09_11_2009_September_2011_Memorial_Speech.pdf

07_16_2009_Senate_Foreign_Relations_Committee.pdf

 

Press Releases

2013

 

07_20_2013_Amb_Farewell_La_Libre.pdf

07_20_2013_Amb_Farewell_Standaard.pdf

07_20_2013_Farewell_OpEd_Ambassador_Gutman.docx

07_19_2013_Amb_Gutman_farewell_Echo_front_page.pdf

07_19_2013_Amb_Gutman_farewell_Echo_page_4.pdf

07_19_2013_Amb_Gutman_farewell_in_Echo.docx

06_17_2013_News_Coverage_Zemst_Visit.pdf

06_06_2013_De_Zondag_AMBGutman.pdf

05_23_2013_Amb_in_Trends_Tendances.pdf

05_12_2013_Linter_translation.pdf

05_08_2013_Amb_in_Ubupan.pdf

05_05_2013_DeZondag_Final.pdf

05_04_2013_Gutman_Het_Nieuwsblad.pdf

May_2013_Howard_Gutman_De_Vijfhoek_final_published.pdf

04_24_2013_Gutman_Knack_ENG_Final_version.pdf

04_26_2013_Amb_in_Le_Soir_by_Delvaux.pdf

04_24_2013_Amb_in_Soir_Magazine.pdf

04_17_2013_Laporte_in_La_Libre_on_589_tour.pdf

March_2013_Neos_official_translation.pdf

03_16_2013_Hoover_Exhibit_VRT_and_VTM_coverage.pdf

02_21_2013_Ibis_visit_Het_Laatste_Nieuws.pdf

02_21_2013_Ibis_visit_Krant_van_WestVlaanderen.pdf

02_21_2013_Ibis_visit_Nieuwsblad.pdf

01_31_2013_Amb_Gutman_in_Sud_Presse.pdf

01_26_2013_Gutman_Het_Nieuwsblad.pdf

01_01_2013_Knack_U_Vraagt_translation.pdf

 

2012

 

12_06_2012_Personality_of_the_Day_in_La_Libre.pdf

11_03_2012_Amb_in_La_Libre_November 3.pdf

11_02_2012_Amb_Gutman_in_Vif_translation.pdf 

10_31_2012_Amb_Gutman_Visits_The_Leie_Region_De_Streekkrant.pdf

07_05_2012_Interview_of_Ambassador_Howard_Gutman_in_Paris_Match.pdf

04_24_2012_Article_Paquet_La_Libre.pdf

American_Ambassador_Needs_to_Shorten_Visit_to_Gent.pdf

Metro_AMBGutman.pdf

 

2011

 

12_20_2011_Amb_at_Remember_Museum.pdf

11_06_2011_Amb_interview_in_Avenir_November6.pdf

09_10_2011_Amb_in_DH_Supplement.pdf

09_07_2011_Amb_in_Soir_Mag.pdf

07_26_2011_Amb_in_Virton.pdf

07_20_2011_Amb_in_Villers_in_Le_Soir.pdf

07_20_2011_Amb_in_Villers_L_Avenir.pdf

07_16_2011_Amb_in_Walcourt.pdf

06_15_2011_Dr_Loewinger_in_Eventail.pdf

05_10_2011_Amb_Gutman_in_La_Meuse.pdf

05_05_2011_Amb_in_Dendermonde_Het_Nieuwsblad.pdf

05_05_2011_Amb_Gutman_in_Dendermonde_Het_Laatste_Nieuws.pdf

04_28_2011_Amb_in_Trends_Tendances_translation.pdf

04_21_2011_Amb_Gutman_Belang_van_Limburg.pdf

04_18_2011_Fashion_Diplomacy_Royals.pdf

04_15_2011_Amb_Residence_in_Derniere_Heure.pdf

04_14_2011_Ambassador_in_La_Capitale.pdf

03_16_2011_Amb_Gutman_in_Leuze_in_L_Avenir.pdf

 

2010

12_01_2010_Amb_Gutman_on_Cancun_in_La_Libre.pdf

11_30_2010_Amb_Gutman_on_Wikileaks_in_La_Libre.pdf

11_04_2010_HNB_MidtermElections.pdf

11_04_2010_Amb_Gutman_in_L'Echo.pdf

11_04_2010_Amb_Gutman_in_L'Avenir.pdf

09_15_2010_Wablieft.pdf

08_19_2010_Article_on_Dinant_visit_in_L'Avenir.pdf

08_19_2010_Article_on_Dinant_visit_in_Derniere_Heure.pdf

08_18_2010_Article_on_Chimay_visit_in_L'Avenir.pdf

06_30_2010_Amb_Gutman_interview_in_Le_Soir.pdf

05_07_2010_Amb_Gutman_in_Le_Vif.pdf

04_24_2010_Amb_Gutman_Courrier_Escaut.pdf

03_30_2010_HBvL.pdf

02_02_2010_Amb_Gutman_Namur_Vers_L'Avenir.pdf

01_21_2010_Amb_Gutman_Le_Soir_Mons_visit.pdf

 

2009

 

12_12_2009_De_Standaard_PortraitAMBGutman.pdf

12_03_200_Amb_Gutman_article_in_De_Standaard.pdf

11_28_2009_Amb_Gutman_interview_in_L'Echo.pdf

11_07_2009_Amb_Gutman_BelangvanLimburg.pdf

10_09_2009_GVA_AMB_Gutman_Antwerp.pdf

10_08_2009_Amb_Gutman_Paris_Match.pdf

10_07_2009_Amb_Gutman_in_Laatste_Nieuws.pdf

10_01_2009_Amb_Gutman_Charleroi_in_Derniere_Heure.pdf

10_01_2009_Amb_Gutman_Charleroi_in_Vers_Avenir.pdf

10_01_2009_Amb_Gutman_article_in_De_Morgen.pdf

09_29_2009_Ambassador_Gutman_Interview_in_Flemish_TV_weekly_Humo.pdf

09_10_2009_Trends_Profile_Article.pdf

09_10_2009_De_Tijd_First_Luncheon.pdf

09_10_2009_De Morgen_First_Luncheon.pdf

 
 
 

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