The Frieden-Bettel government had extended an invite to the US president to participate in the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Ardennes offensive next Saturday, yet this Friday’s published list was missing his name.

The US president had received two official invites to take part in the commemoration ceremony for the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge which will be held on Saturday 14 December, at the American military graveyard in Luxembourg-Hamm and Belgium.

However, it seems as if the US president is not going to attend the ceremonies organised by Grand Duke Henri, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, Luc Frieden, in collaboration with the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) and the American embassy. The American presidential delegation is led by Bill Nelson, administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The delegates of the Chamber of Representatives and of the Senate will represent the American congress in Hamm.

The King and Queen of Belgium, as well as the Prime Minister Alexander Croo, will attend the commemoration in honour of the American soldiers, in presence of several Battle of the Bulge veterans.

In a press statement, the government has indicated that numerous personalities such as deputies, members of the government, of the council of state, the Luxembourgish judiciary, the College of Aldermen and the Luxembourg City Council, as well as mayors, representatives of European institutions, the Luxembourgish diplomatic corps, patriotic associations and the “Comité pour la Mémoire de la Deuxième Guerre Mondiale” (Committee for the Remembrance of the Second World War) are going to attend the celebrations.

Afterwards, the Grand-ducal couple, the Belgian King and Queen and the two prime ministers will move on to the commemoration ceremony held in Bastogne in the afternoon.