Diplomatic Connections May-June 2014 Issue by Diplomatic Connections

A Business, Diplomacy & Foreign Policy Publication

MaY - June 2014 • $7.95

BUSINESS • POLITICS • Travel • ENTERTAINMENT • MILITARY & DEFENSE • CONGRESS

D I P L O M A T I C C O N N E C T I O N S B U S I N E S S edition | M a Y - J une 2 0 1 4

w w w . diplomaticconnections . com

IMPERIALE COLLECTION

DRIVE THE FUTURE NOW

2014 BMW 750Li xDrive Sedan

2014 BMW X6 xDrive35i

Available All-Wheel Drive: 4-Year/50,000-Mile No-Cost Maintenance

BMW of ROCKVILLE. • BMW Diplomatic Pricing • Special Lease Rates through BMW Financial • State Department Registration Contact our Diplomatic Specialist: Nicholas at 202-251-4151 or npopovici@bmwrockville.com

Priority 1 Service. Ownership Simplified. No Appointment Needed. Just drive in! 125 Complimentary BMW Service Loaners.

2014 BMW i3 Electric. Orders now being accepted.

BMW of Rockville 1300 Rockville Pike | 1-888-445-6023 | BMWRockville.com 2

Black Toro Patented Perpetual Calendar. Self-winding movement. 18 ct rose gold case with ceramic bezel. Water-resistant to 100 m. Also available on leather strap. W W W . U LY S S E - N A R D I N . C O M

FACE CARE • BODY CARE • FRAGRANCES with ESSENtiAl OilS FROm thE SOuth OF FRANCE

L’OCCITANE is all about the Provence that we love, a land full of mystery where beauty is endlessly reinvented. l’OCCitANE, a true story.

Unmatched expertise comes with a seal of approval. Indiana University Health is proud to be one of only 18 hospitals in the United States to achieve the Honor Roll ranking—U.S.News & World Report’s highest distinction. We are home to one of the most respected transplant teams in the nation, ranked as a top 10 transplant center by volume. Patients from all over the globe have benefitted from the unparalleled care of our expert physicians and accommodating concierge services staff.

To speak to our International Patient Concierge, call +1.317.962.3111 or visit iuhealth.org /international

CHRONO CLASSIC XLS 3-year warranty I Swiss Made I Chronograph I 45 mm I Water resistant to 100 meters I Scratch-resistant, triple-coated anti-reflective sapphire crystal I Ref. 241652 I Suggested retail price $825

7 MAKERS OF THE ORIGINAL SWISS ARMY KNIFE I WWW.SWISSARMY.COM

✡✢✣✤✥✦✧★✩✪✫✬✭✮✯✰✱✲✳✴✵✶✷✸✹✺❞✁✠✃✄☎✾✆☛✈✉✿☞❛❝❜✚✓✜✞✟■ marriot_light_abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz`1234567890-=[]\;’,./ ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ~!@#$%^&*()_+{}|:”<>? å∫ç∂´ƒ©˙ˆ∆˚¬µ˜øπœ®ß†¨√∑≈¥Ω`¡™£¢ §¶•ªº–≠“‘«…æ≤ ÷≠ÅıÇÎ´Ï˝ÓˆÔÒÂ˜Ø∏Œ‰Íˇ¨◊„˛Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚÆ¯˘¿ Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚÆ¯˘¿|áéíóúâêîôûàèìòùäëïöüÿãñõÁÉÍÓÚÀÈÌÒÙÄËÏÖÜŸÑÃÕÂÊÎÔÛ ”“’‘ '" €$€£¥₩฿руб ≠ marriot_light_italic_abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz`1234567890-=[]\;’,./ ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ~!@#$%^&*()_+{}|:”<>? å∫ç∂´ƒ©˙ˆ∆˚¬µ˜øπœ®ß†¨√∑≈¥Ω`¡™£¢ §¶•ªº–≠“‘«…æ≤ ÷≠ÅıÇÎ´Ï˝ÓˆÔÒÂ˜Ø∏Œ‰Íˇ¨◊„˛Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚÆ¯˘¿ Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚÆ¯˘¿|áéíóúâêîôûàèìòùäëïöüÿãñõÁÉÍÓÚÀÈÌÒÙÄËÏÖÜŸÑÃÕÂÊÎÔÛ ”“’‘ '" € $€£¥₩฿руб ≠ marriott_med_abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz`1234567890-=[]\;’,./ ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ~!@#$%^&*()_+{}|:”<>? å∫ç∂´ƒ©˙ˆ∆˚¬µ˜øπœ®ß†¨√∑≈¥Ω`¡™£¢ §¶•ªº–≠“‘«…æ≤ ÷≠ÅıÇÎ´Ï˝ÓˆÔÒÂ˜Ø∏Œ‰Íˇ¨◊„˛Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚÆ¯˘¿ Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚÆ¯˘¿|áéíóúâêîôûàèìòùäëïöüÿãñõÁÉÍÓÚÀÈÌÒÙÄËÏÖÜŸÑÃÕÂÊÎÔÛ ”“’‘ '" € $€£¥₩฿руб ≠ marriott_med_italic_abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz`1234567890-=[]\;’,./ ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ~!@#$%^&*()_+{}|:”<>? å∫ç∂´ƒ©˙ˆ∆˚¬µ˜øπœ®ß†¨√∑≈¥Ω`¡™£¢ §¶•ªº–≠“‘«…æ≤ ÷≠ÅıÇÎ´Ï˝ÓˆÔÒÂ˜Ø∏Œ‰Íˇ¨◊„˛Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚÆ¯˘¿ Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚÆ¯˘¿|áéíóúâêîôûàèìòùäëïöüÿãñõÁÉÍÓÚÀÈÌÒÙÄËÏÖÜŸÑÃÕÂÊÎÔÛ ”“’‘ '" € $€£¥₩฿руб ≠ marriott_bold_abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz`1234567890-=[]\;’,./ ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ~!@#$%^&*()_+{}|:”<>? åç´ƒ©˙ˆ˚¬µ˜øœ®ß†¨¥`¡™£¢§¶•ªº–“‘«…æ÷�ÅıÇÎ´Ï˝ÓˆÔÒÂ˜ØŒ‰Íˇ¨„˛Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚÆ¯˘¿ Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚÆ¯˘¿|áéíóúâêîôûàèìòùäëïöüÿãñõÁÉÍÓÚÀÈÌÒÙÄËÏÖÜŸÑÃÕÂÊÎÔÛ ”“’‘ '" €�$€£¥₩฿руб marriott_bold_italic_abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz`1234567890-=[]\;’,./ ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ~!@#$%^&*()_+{}|:”<>? åç´ƒ©˙ˆ˚¬µ˜øœ®ß†¨¥`¡™£¢§¶•ªº–“‘«…æ÷�ÅıÇÎ´Ï˝ÓˆÔÒÂ˜ØŒ‰Íˇ¨„˛Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚÆ¯˘¿ Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚÆ¯˘¿|áéíóúâêîôûàèìòùäëïöüÿãñõÁÉÍÓÚÀÈÌÒÙÄËÏÖÜŸÑÃÕÂÊÎÔÛ ”“’‘ '" €�$€£¥₩฿руб marriot_condensed_light_abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz`1234567890-=[]\;’,./ ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ~!@#$%^&*()_+{}|:”<>? å∫ç∂´ƒ©˙ˆ∆˚¬µ˜øπœ®ß†¨√∑≈¥Ω`¡™£¢ §¶•ªº–≠“‘«…æ≤ ÷≠ÅıÇÎ´Ï˝ÓˆÔÒÂ˜Ø∏Œ‰Íˇ¨◊„˛Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚÆ¯˘¿ Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚÆ¯˘¿|áéíóúâêîôûàèìòùäëïöüÿãñõÁÉÍÓÚÀÈÌÒÙÄËÏÖÜŸÑÃÕÂÊÎÔÛ ”“’‘ '" € $€£¥₩฿руб ≠ marriot_condensed_medium_abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz`1234567890-=[]\;’,./ ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ~!@#$%^&*()_+{}|:”<>? å∫ç∂´ƒ©˙ˆ∆˚¬µ˜øπœ®ß†¨√∑≈¥Ω`¡™£¢ §¶•ªº–≠“‘«…æ≤ ÷≠ÅıÇÎ´Ï˝ÓˆÔÒÂ˜Ø∏Œ‰Íˇ¨◊„˛Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚÆ¯˘¿ Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚÆ¯˘¿|áéíóúâêîôûàèìòùäëïöüÿãñõÁÉÍÓÚÀÈÌÒÙÄËÏÖÜŸÑÃÕÂÊÎÔÛ ”“’‘ '" € $€£¥₩฿руб marriot_condensed_bold_abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz`1234567890-=[]\;’,./ ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ~!@#$%^&*()_+{}|:”<>? å∫ç∂´ƒ©˙ˆ∆˚¬µ˜øπœ®ß†¨√∑≈¥Ω`¡™£¢ §¶•ªº–≠“‘«…æ≤ ÷≠ÅıÇÎ´Ï˝ÓˆÔÒÂ˜Ø∏Œ‰Íˇ¨◊„˛Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚÆ¯˘¿ Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚÆ¯˘¿|áéíóúâêîôûàèìòùäëïöüÿãñõÁÉÍÓÚÀÈÌÒÙÄËÏÖÜŸÑÃÕÂÊÎÔÛ ”“’‘ '" € $€£¥₩฿руб ≠ AbadiMTStd-Light_abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz`1234567890-= [] \;’,./≠ ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ~!@#$%^&*()_+{}|:”<>? å∫ç∂´ƒ©˙ˆ∆˚¬µ˜øπœ®ß†¨√∑≈¥�`¡™£¢ §¶•ªº–≠“‘«…æ≤ ÷≠ÅıÇÎ´Ï˝ÓˆÔÒÂ˜Ø∏Œ‰Íˇ¨◊„˛Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚÆ¯˘¿ Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚÆ¯˘¿|áéíóúâêîôûàèìòùäëïöüÿãñõÁÉÍÓÚÀÈÌÒÙÄËÏÖÜŸÑÃÕÂÊÎÔÛ ”“’‘ '" € $‚Ç¨¬£¬•‚Ç©‡∏ø—Ä—É–± AbadiMTStd-LightItalic_abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz`1234567890-= [] \;’,./≠ ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ~!@#$%^&*()_+{}|:”<>? å∫ç∂´ƒ©˙ˆ∆˚¬µ˜øπœ®ß†¨√∑≈¥�`¡™£¢ §¶•ªº–≠“‘«…æ≤ ÷≠ÅıÇÎ´Ï˝ÓˆÔÒÂ˜Ø∏Œ‰Íˇ¨◊„˛Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚÆ¯˘¿ Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚÆ¯˘¿|áéíóúâêîôûàèìòùäëïöüÿãñõÁÉÍÓÚÀÈÌÒÙÄËÏÖÜŸÑÃÕÂÊÎÔÛ ”“’‘ '" € $‚Ç¨¬£¬•‚Ç©‡∏ø—Ä—É–± AbadiMTStd_abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz`1234567890-= [] \;’,./≠ ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ~!@#$%^&*()_+{}|:”<>? å∫ç∂´ƒ©˙ˆ∆˚¬µ˜øπœ®ß†¨√∑≈¥Ω`¡™£¢ §¶•ªº–≠“‘«…æ≤ ÷≠ÅıÇÎ´Ï˝ÓˆÔÒÂ˜Ø∏Œ‰Íˇ¨◊„˛Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚÆ¯˘¿ Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚÆ¯˘¿|áéíóúâêîôûàèìòùäëïöüÿãñõÁÉÍÓÚÀÈÌÒÙÄËÏÖÜŸÑÃÕÂÊÎÔÛ ”“’‘ '" € $‚Ç¨¬£¬•‚Ç©‡∏ø—Ä—É–± AbadiMTStd-Italic_abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz`1234567890-= [] \;’,./≠ ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ~!@#$%^&*()_+{}|:”<>? å∫ç∂´ƒ©˙ˆ∆˚¬µ˜øπœ®ß†¨√∑≈¥Ω`¡™£¢ §¶•ªº–≠“‘«…æ≤ ÷≠ÅıÇÎ´Ï˝ÓˆÔÒÂ˜Ø∏Œ‰Íˇ¨◊„˛Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚÆ¯˘¿ Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚÆ¯˘¿|áéíóúâêîôûàèìòùäëïöüÿãñõÁÉÍÓÚÀÈÌÒÙÄËÏÖÜŸÑÃÕÂÊÎÔÛ ”“’‘ '" € $‚Ç¨¬£¬•‚Ç©‡∏ø—Ä—É–±

Let us provide a peaceful retreat alongside the power of the Pentagon. Let us connect you to 170 world-class stores that share your sense of style. Let us serve you monumental views from the comfort of our Club Lounge. Let us welcome you to our home with the language from yours.

Experience The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City. To reserve your next group meeting or special event, contact our Diplomatic Specialist at 571-366-6360 or visit ritzcarlton.com/pentagoncity.

in our quest for ageless beauty, la prairie went to the top of the swiss alps, to the harshest environment on earth, a crystalline world of ice, snow and relentless sun. there, our scientists discovered three seemingly fragile plants that have evolved not just to survive, but thrive. la prairie has found a way to extract the dna protecting power of these plants to create the revolutionary swiss ice crystal complex, resulting in a brilliant new way to help the skin protect itself from the visible signs of accelerated aging.

LAPRAIRIE.COM ÂŠ 2014 LA PRAIRIE INC.

under the ice time stands still

your skin will appear more resilient and renewed, looking younger, longer.

introducing cellular swiss ice crystal cream and dry oil. lavishly hydrating, luxuriously nurturing. la prairieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s age delaying fortifiers.

Diplomatic Letter From

the

Publisher

While many places in the world are in a state of flux, Europe is especially feeling some growing pains, making it quite timely to dedicate some column inches this edition on that corner of the world. As the EU faces fresh challenges, a dash of debate and exaggerated rumors of its viability, we interview the ambassadors of Luxembourg, Poland and Latvia. Luxembourg’s Jean-Louis Wolzfeld fills us in on how his country has been shaped by the influences of Belgium, France and Germany but still retains its own identity. Investors should note that despite plummets elsewhere, Luxembourg is one of the few European countries to retain its AAA rating. To detractors of the euro, Ambassador Wolzfeld reminds us that the currency has remained strong and well above the value of the U.S. dollar in most cases. Point well taken. Warsaw native Ambassador Ryszard Schnepf of Poland shares his country’s excitement at joining the EU and the freedom it has given citizens to move about Europe as never before. He lets readers in on why 2014 has been dubbed ‘The Year of Jan Karski” and exactly who this mysterious World War II resistance fighter was. Ambassador Schnepf also reveals why he wishes his country were part of the U.S. Visa Waiver Program. In a delightful interview, Latvian Ambassador Andris Razans fills us in on his country’s phenomenal 5.1 percent growth, crucial role in keeping troops in Afghanistan supplied and how austerity measures are paying off. One of Europe’s (and the world’s) most famous celebrities is none other than David Beckham. This star soccer player and husband to Spice Girl Victoria Beckham isn’t all sports and paparazzi shots. As a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, he promotes his sportsmanship and development from Sierra Leone to China. Our article this issue explores his humanitarian efforts, including reaching out to communities impacted by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. In our travel section, for those of you on the East Coast who think you’re about to turn into snowmen and snowwomen after this winter, let us metaphorically whisk you away to Jamaica, where Monica Frim reports on everything from jerk spice to Errol Flynn. This year’s Oscars have left everybody talking, Diplomatic Connections included. We weigh in with some thoughts on the role of the Best Foreign Language Film category, ideas for bringing some additional variety to the night and put forth a plug for a potential new category. Before I sign off and you begin reading this issue, I’d like to say a most heart-felt thank-you to everyone who attended our April 9th Diplomatic Appreciation Reception™ at the Embassy of Turkey. We had a fantastic turn out and a splendid evening. Warmest regards, Dawn Parker Publisher Diplomatic Connections

Diplomatic EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Dawn Parker AssistantS to the Editor Chanel Cherry, Ashley Gatewood, Jeongwha Lee BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Executives Washington, D.C., Evan Strianese; Los Angeles, Evelyne Ustarroz; New York, Mongoose Atlantic, Inc. - Stephen Channon, Dominique Griffith and Kathryn Latham DESIGN & CREATIVE KDG Advertising, Design & Marketing msocha@kdgadvertising.com Contributing Designer Larry Smith DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENTS and CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Roland Flamini, James Winship, PhD, Monica Frim, F. Bristol Lewis, Mark Kennedy Event Coordinator Assistants Joo Hyun Ahn, Yinxue Dong, Christian Franke, Shana Holmes, Yanjun Huang, Hyun Jee Kim, Katharina Wagner, Yanwu Xu

To contact an advertising executive CALL: 202.536.4810 EMAIL: info@diplomaticconnections.com DIPLOMATIC CONNECTIONS WEBSITE DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT IMS (Inquiry Management Systems) 304 Park Avenue South, 11th Floor New York, NY 10010 Marc Highbloom, Vice President marc@ims.ca Maria D’Urso, Project Manager Mariad@ims.ca CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHY Zacarias Garcia, Paula Morrison, Monica Frim To order photos from the events go to: www.diplomaticconnections.com Send any name or address changes in writing to: Diplomatic Connections 4410 Massachusetts Avenue / #200 Washington, DC 20016 Diplomatic Connections Business Edition is published bi-monthly. Diplomatic Connections does not endorse any of the goods or services offered herein this publication. Copyright 2014 by Diplomatic Connections All rights reserved.

Thank you to all the interns who volunteered for our April 9th event from Capitol Hill and the German and Korean embassies. 10

Cover photo credits: The Oscars, Jason Merritt/GettyImages; David Beckham, Lintao Zhang/Getty Images; Princess Claire of Luxembourg, Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images; Jamaica, Monica Frim; NATO, Aivars Liepins/AFP/Getty Images; Luxembourg Royals, Grand-Ducal Court of Luxembourg via Getty Images; Ambassadors of Latvia, Poland and Luxembourg, Zacarias Garcia of Diplomatic Connections

PAGE 14

PAGE 54

Diplomatic Airlines and TOURISM Turkish Airlines 94 & 95 APARTMENTS and HOUSING Dittmar Realty – Courtland Towers 28 Dittmar Realty – Randolph Towers 28 AUTOMOTIVE - CARS and LIMOUSINE SERVICES Admiral Leasing 35 BMW of Rockville 2 Jim Coleman Cadillac 29 & 36 CATERING Helga’s Catering 93 Maison Culinaire Catering 88

Diplomatic Connections Events Diplomatic Connections Reception, April 9th at the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey............84 Diplomatic Connections Reception, September 18th at The Fairmont Washington, D.C. Georgetown Diplomatic Connections Reception, October 16th at The Peninsula Chicago, Illinois Diplomatic Connections Reception, November 13th at The Peninsula Beverly Hills, Los Angeles California

PAGE 25 PAGE 38

DUTY FREE Candy Ferrero Pralines 73 Health & Beauty Clarins 71 La Prairie 9 L’Occitane 5 L’Oreal 69 Luggage Tumi 83

PAGE 30 EDUCATION – INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS Chamberlain International School 45 Florida Air Academy 47 [The] Glenholme School 45 Loyola School – New York 45 Riverside Military Academy 46 Sandy Spring Friends School 47 St. Timothy’s School 46 The Beekman School 46 The Rectory School 46 EDUCATION – Duty Free School Items Crayola 44 Furniture CORT FURNITURE 13 HOME IMPROVEMENTS, CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTORS, DESIGN/REMODELING Metropolitan Energy Savers Co., Inc. MESCO 13 Hospitals and Medical Centers Cleveland Clinic 96 Johns Hopkins Medicine INSIDE Back COVER Indiana University Health 6 HOTELS, DINING and ACCOMMODATIONS [The] Fairfax at Embassy Row 75 Fairmont Washington, D.C. – Georgetown 12 [The] Hay-Adams 4 InterContinental - Cleveland Clinic 96 [The] Peninsula Beverly Hills INSIDE Front COVER [The] Peninsula New York 59 [The] Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City 8 Trump Hotel Central Park New York Back COVER Humanitarian Roll Back Malaria Partnership 51 Moving, Relocation & Logistics Interstate International 23 Schumacher Cargo Logistics 23

Diplomatic

Watches, Timepieces and Luxury Items Chopard 1 Cross Pens 63 Tommy Hilfiger 53 Ulysse Nardin 3 Victorinox Swiss Army 7

Featured Articles Ambassador Interviews ~ Latvia 54 Luxembourg 14 Poland 30 Diplomatic Connections April Reception at the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey 84 Humanitarian, David Beckham 38 The Oscars 64 Travel to Jamaica 76

D I P L O M A T I C C O N N E C T I O N S B U S I N E S S edition | M a Y - J une 2 0 1 4

AUTHENTICALLY LOCAL UNRIVALED PRESENCE ENGAGING SERVICE WE BRING THE WORLD TO WASHINGTON

An Urban Oasis in the Heart of the Capital Surrounded by seats of international power, we are located at the footsteps of Georgetown, minutes from the White House, World Bank, IMF and the State Department. Let our distinctive and tranquil surroundings and attentive staff help transport you and your international guests beyond the institutions, monuments, to create a once in a lifetime serene Washington experience. For reservations or more information, contact your travel professional or 202 429 2400 2401 M St. NW, Washington D.C. 20037 www.fairmont.com/washington 12

SOMETHING EVEN HEADS OF STATE, DIGNITARIES AND AMBASSADORS CAN AGREE ON.

Furniture rental from CORT is a cost-effective, high-quality option when you’re in need of furnishings for any room. Furnish your space without the high expense and compromise that come with purchasing. With CORT, you get: ¡ No overseas shipping, moving or storage costs ¡ Flexible terms – as short as one month

¡ Accessories for every room, including kitchen, bed, bath, office and outdoor ¡ A sustainable alternative to shipping

For more information, visit go.cort.com/embassy or call 888.333.6637

LIVE. WORK. CELEBRATE.™

MESCO

M E T R O P O L I TA N E N E R G Y S AV E R S C O . , I N C .

MESCO Home Improvement provides custom residential remodeling in the Washington Metropolitan Area for homeowners who are serious about quality and integrity.

At MESCO Home Improvement we believe in old world craftsmanship and a process that treats you as a respected partner. Our client relationships are based on trust, integrity and promises kept. Whether you remodel one room or the whole house, remember to choose a company whose name is synonymous with quality and integrity . . . MESCO Home Improvement.

301.921.0708 office 301.370.9922 cell mescoajj27@gmail.com www.mescohomeimprovement.com

MESCO half ad.indd 1

FREE Estimate Second Story Additions Major Remodels & Design & Planning Renovations including: Earth-friendly Roofing / Siding Landscaping Design & Installation

Bathrooms / Kitchens Sunroom Installation Decks / Porches / Patios Finished Basements

Gates & Fences QUALIFIED EMBASSY CONTRACTOR

D I P L O M A T I C C O N N E C T I O N S B U S I N E S S edition | M a Y - J une4/25/13 2 0 16:11 4 PM 13

An Interview with Ambassador Jean-Louis Wolzfeld of Luxembourg By Roland Flamini hen the musical comedy “Call Me Madam” made its debut in the 1950s, the main character was instantly recognized as a parody of Perle Mesta, a prominent Washington socialite known as the “Hostess with the Mostess,” who was appointed the first resident U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg. But there was — and is — no resemblance between the tiny country in the musical and the prosperous, no-nonsense real grand duchy which exists in the not-always-comfortable embrace of Germany, France and Belgium. Luxembourg, throughout history one of the most contested pieces of real estate, was the main site of the Battle of the Bulge, one of the pivotal battles of World War II. Luxembourg is also one of the six signatories of the Treaty of Rome, the founding document of the European Union. Staunchly European, it has survived the eurozone debacle rather better than most 14

w w w . diplomaticconnections . com

European Union countries, but Jean-Louis Wolzfeld, Luxembourg’s ambassador in Washington, said in an interview with Diplomatic Connections that reports of the euro’s demise have been greatly exaggerated.

Diplomatic Connections: Luxembourg is Europe’s only grand duchy. So what is the title of the head of state?

Ambassador Wolzfeld: A grand duke. The title of grand duke replaces the title of king; our system is exactly the same as in all the European monarchies. We are the only country whose reigning monarch has the title grand duke.

Diplomatic Connections: And the grand duchy family recently had a royal wedding.

Ambassador Wolzfeld: Yes, not too long ago the Crown Prince married Countess Stephanie from Belgium, and there was a great celebration throughout the

H.E. Jean-Louis Wolzfeld Ambassador of Luxembourg to the United States

D I P L O M A T I C C O N N E C T I O N S B U S I N E S S edition | M a Y - J une 2 0 1 4

country because that meant the monarchy line was assured for decades to come. (Photos on pages 24 & 25) Diplomatic Connections: Your country is wedged in between Germany, France and Belgium — and is the population 300,000? Ambassador Wolzfeld: Half a million plus 200,000 what we call “frontier workers” who live in France, Germany and Belgium that work in Luxembourg. They’re commuters, a bit like between Virginia and Washington, D.C. Diplomatic Connections: Except that in Europe they commute to a different country. Ambassador Wolzfeld: Yes, but in Europe frontiers don’t exist anymore, so it makes no difference. Diplomatic Connections: And the main industry used to be steel, but is no longer. High-tech has taken over. Ambassador Wolzfeld: Steel is still an important industry. ArcelorMittal, the world’s largest steel company with 100,000 workers, has its headquarters in Luxembourg. The industry employs much fewer people than before, but has specialized branches. The new Freedom Building in New York [One World Trade Center] has been built with [steel] beams designed and manufactured in Luxembourg, and so 16

w w w . diplomaticconnections . com

are many other skyscrapers in the United States. But beyond that we have tried to diversify our industry so we have gone into research and high-tech, chemical industries and automotive supply industries. We are now developing research in the field of health and environment. Plus we have SES, the world’s largest satellite company, operating 62 [geostationary] satellites able to reach five continents. Diplomatic Connections: You mentioned before that you had a large daily immigrant population. You are, in fact, surrounded by larger European countries. How difficult is it to maintain your identity? Ambassador Wolzfeld: I think we are handling this question quite well. We now have more than 40 percent of people residing in Luxembourg who have a foreign passport. However, we try to integrate them, especially through language. And in spite of the fact that we have this high percentage of foreigners, there is not a single xenophobic movement or party. Many European countries have parties that criticize foreigners; this does not exist in Luxembourg. At the last elections, there were nine political parties. Not a single one called for a limitation on the number of foreigners. We all recognize that we need foreigners because our population is

John Thys/AFP/Getty Images

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (R) talks with Luxembourg’s Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn before the start of a North Atlantic Council meeting on the Middle East and Syria at NATO headquarters in Brussels. This photo was taken on the day that Secretary Kerry began his first NATO foreign ministers meeting in late 2013, with a worsening conflict in Syria stirring fears of regional spillover and as the alliance prepares to leave Afghanistan this year.

too small to provide the labor force we need. We recognize them as the basis of our common prosperity, so it would be foolish to be xenophobic. Diplomatic Connections: Which one of the countries around you do you think exerts the strongest influence? Ambassador Wolzfeld: Historically and economically it would be Belgium, because since 1921 we’ve had the BelgoLuxembourg Economic Union, which was the first customs union in Europe, long before the European Union even started. For a long time we shared the same currency. Beyond that, Germany would have the strongest influence because of the size of its market, and also because many of our technological standards come from Germany. France would have a more cultural influence. Diplomatic Connections: But there is a Luxembourg language, is there not? Ambassador Wolzfeld: We have three languages. We have a national language, which is Luxembourgish, and which is developing because we are teaching it at school and we are offering free courses for non-speakers. It is the most frequently used language in day-to-day communications. Fifty years ago in parliament, all the members would have spoken French. Now, they use Luxembourgish. We also have television programs in Luxembourgish, which has further promoted its use. Diplomatic Connections: Is this mandated, or has it developed of its own accord? Ambassador Wolzfeld: In a country where you have so much diversity, we feel that language is a unifying factor and promotes integration. In addition, we have two official languages: French and German. The country’s statutes are in French and the courts function in French. Diplomatic Connections: In other words, in parliament or in the courts, you can choose to speak in Luxembourgish, German or French. Ambassador Wolzfeld: The courts are a good example. In the same hearing, the witnesses normally speak Luxembourgish, the police make their reports in German and the lawyers speak French. Diplomatic Connections: So the average Luxembourger grows up tri-lingual. Ambassador Wolzfeld: Yes, and most people with a high school education have at least a basic knowledge of English. Diplomatic Connections: You mentioned before that there has historically been a large Luxembourger population in this country. Ambassador Wolzfeld: By now many have been assimi-

lated since they are third, or even fourth, generation immigrants, but we are now experiencing a kind of revival of the Luxembourg identity. The Luxembourgish-American population is not as large as it used to be. For instance, in Chicago you had the Luxembourg Brotherhood, which celebrated its 125th anniversary a few months ago. Apparently when a politician wanted to run for office in the city, he consulted the association to test the political climate. Luxembourgers also had kind of a monopoly on the sale of vegetables. They grew the vegetables and sold them in the markets. We also have the Luxembourg-American Cultural Society that endeavors to revive the heritage. The association has its headquarters in Wisconsin, but covers the whole of the United States. It tries to develop a feeling of being American-Luxembourger.

Diplomatic Connections: If anybody knows one fact about Luxembourg it’s usually that Luxembourg was one of the six original countries that signed the Treaty of Rome, and therefore was in on the ground floor of the creation of the European Union, and also that Luxembourg is in the eurozone. How is Luxembourg faring in Europe’s current economic crisis? Ambassador Wolzfeld: We’re faring relatively well. We had our troubles because we have a very open economy, and since our major trade partners are within Europe, and the eurozone was doing badly, we felt the repercussions. But our public finances have been in better order than others until now; we are within the Maastricht criteria. The deficit will be less than 1 percent this year, and our public debt is about 25 percent, which is well below what others have. Luxembourg is among the few countries in Europe to have maintained AAA status. Diplomatic Connections: Are things improving, however slightly, in the eurozone as a whole? Is the danger of the end of the euro, which some had predicted, perhaps receding? Ambassador Wolzfeld: Talk of the demise of the eurozone was mainly outside Europe. In Europe, a large majority of people never thought for a moment that the implosion of the eurozone was a realistic alternative because everyone was conscious that it would have been a disaster not only for the zone, but for each of its member countries. A return to national currencies would have been unsustainable. The talk came very much from economists, mainly Anglo-Saxon economists, who were talking from outside, and sometimes were suspected of having an agenda. But things have improved, not massively, but they have improved. Two years ago, the first question you would have asked me is, “How long is the euro going to survive?” That’s a question nobody

D I P L O M A T I C C O N N E C T I O N S B U S I N E S S edition | M a Y - J une 2 0 1 4

A Russia-built Proton rocket of the International Launch Services (ILS) with the EADSAstrium-built Astra 2E satellite of the fleet operator SES of Luxembourg is mounted at a launch pad in the Russian-leased Kazakhstan’s Baikonur cosmodrome on September 26, 2013.

w w w . diplomaticconnections . com

one dollar. Throughout the crisis it has been between $1.25 and $1.40 for one euro. Our currency has been remarkably stable and predictable, which was an enormous asset. Diplomatic Connections: But isn’t unemployment still a problem? Ambassador Wolzfeld: The only point of general preoccupation is that unemployment throughout the eurozone has remained high — unacceptably high in the southern countries, but even in a traditionally high employment country like mine we have 7 percent unemployment, which is a peak for us. That is one of the most important problems which most of us will have to face in the future. Diplomatic Connections: What can the countries of the European Union learn from this shock — other than that they should all stick to their commitments? Ambassador Wolzfeld: We learned that when we make commitments we have to take them seriously, not only to make them nice on paper, but we have to accept that we have to renounce part of our economic sovereignty, and to work together. Five years ago, if we had told member states that they had to coordinate their national budgets, they would have deemed it unacceptable. Nowadays, it has become a current practice, and this is going to evolve. When we have a banking union with common rules throughout the banking system in Europe it will also seem a loss of sovereignty. However, we will be doing something together for the common good. That is something that is generally recognized in Europe.

AFP/Getty Images

asks me nowadays, because we all know that the euro has survived. Diplomatic Connections: How do you explain the euro’s survival? Ambassador Wolzfeld: We have made a lot of efforts. We have created the European Stability Facility; we have created budget coordination of member states. We are on the point of having a banking union. In addition, there has been a massive effort in restructuring public finances and our macroeconomic fundamentals have improved. The result has been that the situation has slowly gotten better, and that since the middle of this year the eurozone as a whole has come out of the recession. Even the countries which were worst touched in southern Europe are doing better. Ireland, Portugal and Spain will probably not need additional help programs to get out of their present difficulties. We are calculating that growth will come back next year; modest, about 1 percent, but it shows that things are slowly getting better. Another thing, the currency itself, the euro, has throughout the crisis been remarkably stable and strong. When we launched the euro there was parity, one euro for

Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images

President Obama talks with employees as he tours the ArcelorMittal Cleveland steel mill before speaking on the economy in Cleveland, Ohio, in late 2013.

Diplomatic Connections: Are there differences in attitude that make some countries less willing to accept this kind of discipline than other countries, and that is, perhaps, geographic? Ambassador Wolzfeld: There is a different outlook on the purpose of the European Union between the core members on one side, and those who have joined later, or joined from the northwest on the other side. The northwest countries see it more as a kind of opportunity to improve the common market, and to sell their goods in a better way, but are not that convinced that the EU should become a stronger entity, or that it is something essential for Europe to progress. The newcomers from the east see the EU mainly as a way to ensure that their security is guaranteed and that they have a framework which allows their economy to prosper. However, because they have regained their freedom so recently, they are not immediately ready to give it up again. It would be more difficult for them to go forwards, which they will probably have to do, although at a slower and more complicated pace. But the core countries — France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Austria and a couple of others — have a deep conviction that if Europe wants to continue not only to prosper but to play a role in the world as a region,

we shall have to do more things in common. That means, of course, doing more at the European, than at the national, level.

Diplomatic Connections: Getting back to the United States; after 110 years, how would you characterize bi-lateral relations today? I gather that there are some issues, for example, Luxembourg banks not giving Washington information about U.S. citizens’ assets in the duchy. Ambassador Wolzfeld: Relations have never been as good. Luxembourg is probably the most pro-American country in Europe. That comes from the fact that during the two world wars your GIs came and liberated us. Without the American troops, we might be a German province today. We’re all conscious that if we live today as an independent country, it is due to the fact that so many soldiers during the Battle of the Bulge gave their lives for our liberty. That is a debt of gratitude deeply ingrained in us. Since then, of course, we have prospered; our political connection with the U.S. has developed through NATO where we have common goals. We have just become members of the UN Security Council for the first time in our history, where we cooperate very closely with the United States on many problems. Economically, our relations have grown. We have about 100 U.S. companies that have invested in Luxembourg. Also, we

D I P L O M A T I C C O N N E C T I O N S B U S I N E S S edition | M a Y - J une 2 0 1 4

John Thys/AFP/Getty Images

are the fifth largest European investor in the United States, so we contribute — albeit modestly — to create wealth and jobs in the United States. We are still looking for further American investment in Luxembourg, and we hope that after the Transatlantic free-trade partnership with the United States is launched, it will continue to further strengthen our links. Diplomatic Connections: What about the issues with the financial center? Ambassador Wolzfeld: We were all aware that banking secrecy had to disappear, not only because of the U.S., but also 20

w w w . diplomaticconnections . com

because after the last crisis, OECD [Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development] countries have decided that the exchange of information should be the international norm. We’ve known for some years that we could not hold out indefinitely against the pressures [for more bank transparency] from within the European Union, and even more strongly from the United States. We are about to sign the U.S. FATCA [Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act] agreement which will ensure free exchange of financial information with the U.S. tax authorities. We have announced that we will give up banking secrecy

John Thys/AFP/Getty Images

The Grand Duke de Henri of Luxembourg (L) and King Philippe of Belgium (C) review the troops during a visit on December 2, 2013, in Luxembourg.

The Grande Duchess of Luxembourg, Maria Teresa (L) welcomes Queen Mathilde of Belgium during an official visit by the Belgian royal couple on December 2, 2013, in Luxembourg. D I P L O M A T I C C O N N E C T I O N S B U S I N E S S edition | M a Y - J une 2 0 1 4

formed by a tri-partite coalition of the Democrats, the Socialists — moderate Social Democrats in our country — and the Green Party. After 40 years of uninterrupted government under the leadership of the Christian Democrats, there was a feeling that it was time to have some fresh air in politics. But that will not change the basic outlook of the government in foreign policy and the fundaments of our domestic economic policies. The route Luxembourg has been pursuing until now stresses the need for continuity, although with some new accents. Diplomatic Connections: What was your previous posting before Washington? Ambassador Wolzfeld: Before coming to the U.S. I was an ambassador for five years in Rome, and before that five years at the Court of St. James [the United Kingdom]. I’m a career diplomat and this is the only profession I ever had. I trained as a lawyer, but the day after I was sworn in at the Bar I joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Our diplomatic service is a professional service; we do not have political appointees, and therefore changes in government do not affect Ambassador Wolzfeld diplomatic appointments. Most of the diplomats Photo taken inside the Embassy of are not politicized. We consider ourselves serLuxembourg in Washington, D.C. vants of the state, rather than of the government. Diplomatic Connections: What is life like for a Luxembourg ambassador in Washington? towards Europe and the United States by 2015 so as to allow a Ambassador Wolzfeld: It’s a very interesting job befree flow of information between the fiscal administrations of cause of the openness of information. I have rarely served in the EU, the U.S. and Luxembourg. a country where you are offered so many briefings — along Diplomatic Connections: Your long-term prime minwith other European Union embassies, of course, on different ister, I think the longest-serving leader in Europe, resigned subjects. The degree of openness in dealing with the adminisrecently as a result of irregular activities by the Luxembourg tration is rather exceptional. And then there is another aspect: intelligence service, which has echoes of the National Secuthe high number of think tanks, which are a quintessential rity Agency’s scandal in this country. One, what is all that part of Washington institutions. The remarkable fact is their about, and two, are they connected? way of operating. In a typical think tank you have people from Ambassador Wolzfeld: No, they’re not connected. Our business, academia, former government officials and future problems with the security service were purely domestic. We government officials who all mix and cooperate freely. And that had a few loose cannons and they had been wire-tapping the is something which is quite unique, because in many European prime minister himself, which, to say the least, is a bit uncountries you have think tanks as well, but often they are more usual. They have done a few other things which they were not exclusively business oriented or academic. The diversity in the supposed to do, and a debate emerged about the insufficient membership of Washington think tanks, plus the fact that you control of the activities of the intelligence service, which lead have easy access to them, offers you an extraordinary insight to new elections. For the first time in 40 years, Prime Minister into the makings of American politics. n [Jean-Claude] Juncker’s party, the Christian Social Peoples’ Photos continue through to page 27. Party, will be in the opposition, and the government will be 22

w w w . diplomaticconnections . com

Diplomatic International Relocation Services

Since 1977, Moving People, Making a Difference

Relocating Household Goods Moves to Every Country in the World, On Time, Safely

L C

CARGO LOGISTICS

Confidence in Transport.

D I P L O M A T I C C O N N E C T I O N S B U S I N E S S edition | M a Y - J une 2 0 1 4

Andreas Rentz/Getty Images

Below photo of Luxembourg Royals: Prince Louis, Princess Tessy, Prince Felix, Grand Duke Henri, Princess Stephanie, Prince Guillaume, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, Princess Alexandra and Prince Sebastien pose on the balcony after the wedding ceremony of Prince Guillaume and Princess Stephanie of Luxembourg at the Cathedral of our Lady of Luxembourg in Luxembourg, Luxembourg. The 30-year-old hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg is the last hereditary Prince in Europe to get married, marrying his 28-year old Belgian Countess bride in a lavish two-day ceremony.

Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP/Getty Images

Above: Crown Princess Stephanie of Luxembourg and Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg arrive at the Royal Chapel for Princess Madeleine of Sweden and Christopher Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Neillâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wedding ceremony at the Royal Castle in Stockholm in 2013.

w w w . diplomaticconnections . com

Grand-Ducal Court of Luxembourg via Getty Images

The Grand-Ducal Court of Luxembourg and Princess Stephanie of Luxembourg and Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg pose with Miss Isaure de le Court, Countess Louise de Lannoy, Mr. Lancelot de le Court, Countess Caroline de Lannoy, Miss Madeleine Hamilton and Mr. Gabriel de Luxembourg for an official photo inside the Grand-Ducal Palace after their wedding ceremony at the Cathedral of our Lady of Luxembourg. D I P L O M A T I C C O N N E C T I O N S B U S I N E S S edition | M a Y - J une 2 0 1 4

Prince Felix of Luxembourg and Princess Claire of Luxembourg pose with Luxembourg royals. (First row L-R) Prince Gabriel, Gabriele Lademacher, Hartmut Lademacher, Princess Claire, Prince Felix, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, Prince Noah, Grand Duke Henri, Grand Duke Jean, (second row L-R) Prince Sebastien, Princess Alexandra, Felix Lademacher, Prince Guillaume, Princess Stephanie, Prince Louis, Princess Tessy, (third row L-R) guest, Princess Sibilla, Archduchess Marie-Astrid, Archduke Carl-Christian, guests, Princess Margaretha, Prince Jean, Prince Nikolaus, (fourth row L-R) guests, Prince Guillaume, guests, Countess Diane and guests for an official photo inside the Couvent Royal de Saint-Maximin after the wedding ceremony of Prince Felix of Luxembourg and Claire of Luxembourg at the Basilique Sainte Marie-Madeleine in Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume, France.

w w w . diplomaticconnections . com

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Princess Claire of Luxembourg and her father Hartmut Lademacher arrive to the religious wedding of she and Prince Felix of Luxembourg at the Basilique Sainte Marie-Madeleine on September 21, 2013, in SaintMaximin-la-Sainte-Baume, France.

D I P L O M A T I C C O N N E C T I O N S B U S I N E S S e dition | M a Y - J une 2 0 1 4

James A. Winship, Ph.D.

ew diplomatic careers begin at the rank of ambassador, but that is exactly the path followed by Ryszard Schnepf, Poland’s ambassador to the United States. He jokes that in a Godfather-like phone call in 1991, following the overthrow of Poland’s last communist regime under General Wojciech Jaruzelski, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in Poland’s new government made him an offer he “couldn’t refuse.” The Ministry, he recalls “was desperately looking for new faces to join the new government. They wanted to show that in all areas Poland was now different.” Intriguingly, Ambassador Schnepf’s official biography begins by noting that he is “Varsovian by birth and by residency. He loves his city, especially the long summer evenings, when the streets of Warsaw grow calm and desolate.” He is, in other words, a native of Warsaw — the capital city, the beating heart, the cultural conscience, the brooding mind of Poland. This description seems more appropriate to the biography of a literary master than to the political background of a diplomat, but perhaps that is exactly the point. Ambassador Schnepf is a most unusual diplomat. He has the heart of a romantic coupled with the mind of a political realist, the sensitivities of a humanist coupled with the tactical skills of a revolutionary. Ambassador Schnepf’s “Varsovian” identity is symbolic of his own dedication to his country and his resistance to foreign domination. He is an avid student of Latin American history, but acknowledges that studying the political history of Latin America provided veiled cover for criticism of the Communist regime in Poland. His master’s thesis was on Ignacy Domeyko, a Polish émigré geologist who helped to develop the Chilean mining industry, became rector of the University of Chile and whose early portraits of the plight of Chilean 30

w w w . diplomaticconnections . com

miners as well as the exploitation of indigenous populations would drive a commitment to basic human rights that would later help to energize Chile’s labor movement. Similarly, Ambassador Schnepf’s doctoral dissertation dealt with the emergence of political parties in Venezuela. Any semblance between these academic studies of labor movements and nascent political parties in Latin America and the emergence of the Independent Self-Governing Trade Union “Solidarity” movement in Poland is, of course, “purely coincidental.” This professor turned ambassador somewhat fondly recalls how, “During one of my classes as I was giving a lecture on Latin American populist political parties, mass parties during the 1920s, the Polish police actually arrested me. They thought that I was talking about the then current political system in Poland.” And, he adds impishly, “They were right.” He did indeed participate in the Solidarity democratic opposition in Poland and was the author of several forbidden “second circulation” publications, under the pseudonym “Paweł Zamorski,” that were highly critical of the Polish Communist martial law regime. These articles helped to encourage the growth of Solidarity, a movement that would come to represent 10 million Poles united in their support of workers’ rights, social change and democratic government. Solidarity in turn led to the election of Lech Walesa as the first president of Democratic Poland in December 1990. Ambassador Schnepf’s first diplomatic assignment was as ambassador of Poland to Uruguay and Paraguay (1991 – 1996). That was followed by a stint as Deputy Director in the Chancellery of Prime Minister Jerzy Buzek, responsible for protocol and preparing foreign visits. Subsequently, he was Deputy Chief of Mission in Madrid followed by appointment as ambassador to Costa Rica with simultaneous accreditation

H.E. Ryszard Schnepf Ambassador of Poland to the United States

to all of Central America. On his return from the Central America posting, Ambassador Schnepf was entrusted with responsibility within MOFA for organizing the 25th anniversary celebrations commemorating the birth of the Solidarity Trade Union. Following the completion of those responsibilities, Ambassador Schnepf served as Secretary of State for Foreign Relations and Security during which time he directed budget negotiations with the European Union. From that position he became ambassador of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Global Threats and later Undersecretary of State at MOFA. Prior to his designation as ambassador to the United States, Mr. Schnepf served as Poland’s ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain. The ambassador was kind enough to make time in his busy schedule to answer our questions about his career and about Poland’s remerging place in the global economy and

the world order.

Diplomatic Connections: Mr. Ambassador, at the top of every official communication from the embassy there is this line: “To serve Poland, to Build Europe, To Understand the World.” Would you elucidate these ideas for us, parse the words and tell us what lies behind them? Why are they at the core of Polish diplomacy? Ambassador Schnepf: Let’s start with the beginning: “To Serve Poland.” That is our duty and our honor. It is a part of our life. I understand that as the heart of my work. The American people are very patriotic, and so too are the Polish people. They understand that to serve country, particularly for the diplomatic service, is a kind of challenge, but at the same time, it is an honor.

D I P L O M A T I C C O N N E C T I O N S B U S I N E S S edition | M a Y - J une 2 0 1 4

Turning to “building Europe.” Poland joined the European Union in 2004. This was one of the most important moments in our modern history. Simply put, we joined the club that we mentally had never abandoned. But, our history cut us off from the mainstream that was Western Europe. We came back — with our values, with our force, with our young generation. Finally, we are now free “to understand the world” and to receive immense amounts of information in uncensored form. That means that we are able to understand the world and diversity in ways from which we were cut off under communist rule . . . and in that we gain a new and deeper respect for human rights and humane values. Diplomatic Connections: Why has joining the European Union represented such an important landmark for democratic Poland? Ambassador Schnepf: Joining the European Union was a critical step for Poland. For the Polish people and for millions of people coming from other new EU members, joining the EU was a kind of liberation. For the first time we could move freely in Europe outside of Poland without even having to carry passports, no visas, only your ID. Now we have the possibility to choose the place you live, to work in other countries, to change your life in myriad ways. Now we have much more freedom than we had before. Diplomatic Connections: Americans either don’t know 32

w w w . diplomaticconnections . com

Georges Gobet/AFP/Getty Images

President of Poland Bronislaw Komorowski and EU Council President Herman Van Rompuy

or don’t fully understand Polish identity in the sense that the United States never disappeared from the map. Your country literally disappeared from the map of Europe for decades.

Ambassador Schnepf: Actually, it was more than 100 years. That means that several generations grew up living in a territory that did not exist as a state. But, they maintained the national culture against the oppressors. That is a very difficult mission. Perhaps this is why Polish people are more concerned about independence and freedom and sovereignty than many other peoples. You appreciate something much more after you have lost it for a while. When you rediscover that thing, you cherish it all the more. These things once lost and now found are freedom and independence. Diplomatic Connections: That brings up the broader question of political identity and geographic locale in Central and Eastern Europe. Unfolding events in Ukraine pose very difficult questions. Some of these same questions have faced Poland: whether to look westward toward the new Europe or to look eastward toward the Russian Federation? Poland has made its decision but Ukraine, once a Soviet Republic, is struggling with what might be called bipolar dysfunction. Are there things that Ukraine can learn from Poland’s experience?

Ambassador Schnepf: First of all, the future of Ukraine

is extremely important for the world, not only for Poland. Ukraine is one of our biggest neighbors. It is very important to have a successful, stable, prosperous neighbor with whom you can share values, with whom you can trade, with whom you can share experiences. At the same time, Poland understands very well what it means to change the political system, which was similar to the Ukraine with a Soviet-oriented political and economic system. We remember how difficult it was for us when the economic system collapsed at the very beginning, and we were faced with rebuilding and modernizing it. That economic collapse made it very difficult for us to join the world after having been a part of COMECON (The Council for Mutual Economic Assistance), the Soviet-dominated economic bloc, for so many decades. Ukraine is in a very similar position today. Polandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s experience shows how to make this economic transformation. We provide a good example of the path to follow in order to privatize the national economy. A strong and healthy economy is based on the private sector, not the public sector. Diplomatic Connections: Is it possible for Ukraine or any of the other countries of Central and Eastern Europe to have a continuing relationship with Moscow and at the same time build a relationship with the European Union? Ambassador Schnepf: Nobody is expecting the Ukrainians to break with the Russian Federation. But, we are talking about the values and the way that business is done. We are talking about the rule of law. We are talking about democracy and human rights. So, we want Ukraine to go on our side, particularly to share in those achievements that the whole of Europe and the United States offer. Diplomatic Connections: How would you characterize relations between the United States and Poland today? Obviously, there is a huge Polish-American community in the United States that is, if anything, more fiercely Polish, more prideful than the Poles of Warsaw. Ambassador Schnepf: The history of relations between Poland and the United States has been a long one. Our relationship spans more than decades. It spans centuries. Practically everywhere I go, somebody will tell me that they have Polish roots and, though they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t speak very much Polish, they cherish their Polish family traditions. They are very conscious of their Polish roots and the situation of the country that their grandparents and other ancestors came from. Diplomatic Connections: Americans of Polish heritage constitute the human, the spiritual link between the United States and Poland. How would you assess the political and

economic links between our two countries?

Ambassador Schnepf: On a political level, we are one of the strongest allies of the United States. We follow the U.S. policies where and when they makes sense to us. We have had forces in Iraq and in Afghanistan as well as many other places around the world. We want to join and strengthen the global and regional security systems with the United States and with NATO. We have excellent personal contacts and relations between our Polish President Komorowski and President Obama. We have a growing commercial exchange between the United States and Poland, which still could be much bigger. Given the potential output of the United States and the growing potential of the Polish economy, not only as a producer but also as a consumer, there is room for a great expansion between our two countries. Diplomatic Connections: Are there issues of special importance to you in the relationship between the United States and Poland? Ambassador Schnepf: If there is anything that I would ask for, it is theoretically a small item but very significant to the Polish people. That is non-visa entry to the United States for Polish citizens. Diplomatic Connections: Poland is not included in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program yet, though the possibility of including Poland is being explored. Why is this so important to the Polish people? Ambassador Schnepf: Those Polish people who want to change their life, to look for a job in another country mostly choose one of the European Union countries. That is so for a very simple reason: they go where they can work legally. The distance is much closer. You can take your family in the car and go to Paris or almost any other European city you choose. Who comes to the United States? Primarily it is tourists, students on study programs and Polish citizens with family members who live here in the U.S. The number of these people is not that big, but symbolically this visa situation looks very bad. If we have a friendship, a strong bond between our two countries, if we are allies . . . if we share so many things and share basic values . . . if we share the dangers of war in Iraq and now in Afghanistan, then one might ask the question: how can you measure the percentage and say that because an arbitrary percentage of Polish applicants do not qualify for visas then Poland should be excluded from the Visa Waiver Program? That is to say that Polish people still have to apply for a visa and have their applications individually evaluated. [NOTE: In a 2010 meeting, President Obama promised President Komorowski that Poland would be added to the Visa

D I P L O M A T I C C O N N E C T I O N S B U S I N E S S edition | M a Y - J une 2 0 1 4

Waiver Program. To date, that goal has not been accomplished. In fiscal year 2013, Poland’s nonimmigrant refusal rate was 10.8 percent, above the 10 percent threshold that had been set for certain special partners of the United States and well above the 3 percent refusal rate that had been the original standard for the Visa Waiver Program.] Diplomatic Connections: This year 2014 has been designated the “Year of Jan Karski” in Poland. Who was Jan Karski and how is he perceived in Polish history? Ambassador Schnepf: Jan Karski was an extraordinary man. During the very difficult times of World War II, as an officer of the Polish underground, he prepared a secret report on the extermination of Jews in the Nazi camps located on the territory of Occupied Poland. Disguising himself in Occupation Police uniforms, he was able to visit several of these places. Risking his life, Karski prepared a special report for the Polish government in exile in London and also visited members of the British government. And then he met in Washington with high-level officials including President Roosevelt.

Diplomatic Connections: What does it mean now to say that 2014 is “The Year of Jan Karski?” How will it be observed in Poland and here in the United States? Ambassador Schnepf: Here in the United States nobody knew about this professor at Georgetown University or about his past for many years. Years before his death, his work 34

w w w . diplomaticconnections . com

was “discovered” by his fellow professors and students. He was a real hero who was posthumously decorated with the Medal of Freedom by President Obama. Why did he risk his life for others, to make the truth known? He wanted to change the ugliness of the world in which he found himself and to save as many people from the atrocities around him as he could. The task bordered on the impossible, but still he was striving to make leaders in positions of power understand the horror and urge them to take action. It is important to present to the public the history of this very special man. This will be done through exhibitions, movies, plays and symposia. We certainly will do a special tribute and a Jan Karski concert at Strathmore in Bethesda. Diplomatic Connections: One of the most difficult things in anyone’s life is juggling two careers and having a family. Your wife is a well-known and respected broadcast journalist as a television anchor in Poland. How do you pull it off? How do you juggle parenting, two careers and being in the high-profile role that you are in as ambassador and that she is in as a television personality who is watched by literally millions of Poles? Ambassador Schnepf: We are both trying to continue our

Janek Skarzynski/AFP/Getty Images

Polish Defence Minister Tomasz Siemoniak and U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel inspect a military honor guard during a welcoming ceremony in Warsaw on January 30, 2014. Hagel paid a two day visit to Poland.

Customized Vehicle Leasing Options For Diplomats 1-888-919-6427 AdmiralLeasing.com

Offices Baltimore • Rockville, MD

We Offer: • All Makes and Models • Closed-End Leases • Finance Leases • Personal Leasing for Diplomats • Embassies, Consulates, & Foreign Missions are PRE-APPROVED awollman@admiralleasing.com

Arnold Wollman 410-977-3491 (Cell)

• Maintenance Plans • Nationwide Delivery of Vehicles to Your Location • State Department Registration (Diplomatic Tags)

- Vehicle Leasing Since 1979 35

work. Neither of us wants to give up the work we have begun. Each of us feels that we have something to give in our public personas. We feel we have something to give to our children. But the real answer is: “I don’t know.” Sometimes I think I’m not doing things right. I probably should dedicate more time to the children. I’m particularly at a stage of my life where my duties as an older father are different than when the father is a young man in his twenties. You watch the children growing and changing. It is a unique experience to be a father and a little bit of a grandfather at the same time. But, we both enjoy very much being a united family and we always look forward to sharing time together.

Diplomatic Connections: Ambassador, we always wrap these interviews up with two related questions. What are your greatest concerns for the future of your country? And, what are your greatest hopes for the future of your country? Ambassador Schnepf: Poland today has a very stable political situation. I hope that it will remain that way — a very liberal, open-minded, tolerant government and ruling party. During the last few years, we have observed growing nationalism and racism in the world, and that worries me. I’m worried about not only Poland’s future but also about other European countries, where nationalism and racism look like responses to a series of problems that are primarily economic. That is not true. These are the easiest most unthinking populist replies to the problems that we face. Diplomatic Connections: These responses provide emotional release, but not solutions. Ambassador Schnepf: Of course not. We should be aware of our problems and aware of the dangers posed by simplistic answers. I hope that Poland and the world will not backslide on questions of racism and virulent nationalism. But, there are some signs that it might happen.

Ambassador Schnepf with his family Photo taken at the Ambassador’s Residence in Washington, D.C. by Zacarias Garcia, Diplomatic Connections

Diplomatic Connections:: And your hopes? Ambassador Schnepf: My hope is to have the Olympic Games in Poland one day. My dream is to hold these games in our democratic, liberal country. I would really like to have all the countries of the world visiting. That would be a clear sign that we are doing fine and that we have a country that after so many years, centuries even, has returned to the map and to the community of nations to play a strong positive role in Europe and in the world. Diplomatic Connections:: Ambassador, thank you for taking time to talk with us today. We hope it felt more like a conversation than a quiz! It has been a pleasure — emotionally charged with Poland’s energy, revealing of Poland’s past, helping us to understand Poland’s present and offering us a vision of Poland’s future. n

D I P L O M A T I C C O N N E C T I O N S B U S I N E S S edition | M a Y - J une 2 0 1 4

England football superstar David Beckham plays football with children-survivors of super Typhoon-Haiyan at a school ground in Tanuan town, Leyte province, central Philippines on February 14, 2014, on the second day of his visit to the syper typhoon stricken province. Beckham, who flew to the Philippines on February 13 to give comfort to survivors of the Asian countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s deadliest ever typhoon, gamely played with children-survivors. 38

w w w . diplomaticconnections . com

Ted Aljibe/AFP/Getty Images

F. Lewis Bristol atural disasters often preoccupy international news coverage — for a matter of a few days, occasionally a few weeks — but the immediate sense of catastrophe and urgent need is quickly eclipsed by fresher news stories. The aftermath of natural and human-caused disasters provides dramatic photos of physical destruction and human suffering. But, these frightening events are ephemeral and the attention of the media is short-lived. Nevertheless, the effects of such disasters are far-reaching and the human consequences can be long lasting. From a humanitarian point of view, the question becomes how to keep the attention of the world focused long enough and with sharp enough vision to recognize the ongoing and long-term needs for human as well as physical reconstruction. UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) has used its International Goodwill Ambassadors, celebrities from around the world, to focus and sustain attention on the needs of the world’s children. How do you overcome the media’s “disaster of the moment” fleeting attention span and counteract the human tendency to fall prey to “compassion fatigue?” You do what major international marketing campaigns and Madison Avenue do. Brand your product. Associate it with beauty, fame, accomplishment and globally recognizable personalities. That is exactly what UNICEF did when they named David Beckham to their list of Goodwill Ambassadors with a special focus on UNICEF’s Sports for Development Program in 2005. D I P L O M A T I C C O N N E C T I O N S B U S I N E S S edition | M a Y - J une 2 0 1 4

Lintao Zhang/Getty Images

David Beckham poses with young fans at Nanjing Olympic Sports Center in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province of China.

The “Beckham Effect” — Sharing the Spotlight With the World’s Children Footballer (soccer player for American audiences) David Beckham has been termed an “iconic athlete” and an “elite global advertising brand.” Fair enough. He is surely those things, but those labels freeze him in time and space. They take him out of the action of the football pitch that has for so long been his home, and turn him into a commodity — a retired athlete of once exquisite skills possessed of a luxuriously tattooed physique whose rugged visage and physical mystique are for sale as the image attached to everything from high-end men’s clothing, to designer watches, to a series of fragrances. To top it all off, he is married to recording star, model and designer Victoria Beckham, a.k.a. “Posh” Spice of the Spice Girls. Together they are the parents of four children, who often seem to be everywhere on the global celebrity stage. The 40

w w w . diplomaticconnections . com

Beckhams have become a brand in their own right. He is the elite athlete whose name has become virtually synonymous with the game he played. She is the glamorous, sometimes aloof, pop singer who managed a successful singing career as a solo artist after the Spice Girls broke up but who truly emerged as a diva of style and fashion. Beckham’s football career at midfield is legend. He is most closely associated with the Manchester United Club and has always insisted that he would never play for any other English Premier League club. He captained the English national team from 1998 to 2009 and managed to score in three different FIFA World Cup tournaments. When he left England’s shores, he continued to play the international game with Real Madrid in Spain, AC Milan in Italy, the Los Angeles Galaxy and Paris Saint-Germain, where he played his final game in 2013. Before his retirement, Beckham shared in winning the Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup in 2011 and 2012 playing for the Los Angeles Galaxy. He continues to be a spokesperson for the development of MLS in the United States and is part owner of a new franchise in Miami scheduled to begin

playing in 2016. David Beckham achieved football fame because of his uncanny ability to lift a penalty kick over a wall of defenders and hook it away from the goalkeeper into the opposing team’s net. But Beckham has taken his astounding athletic abilities and his love for the game then blended them with a genuine concern for the world’s children. He has become an ambassador for football — helping to make his game available to children in all corners of the world, no matter how limited the resources available to build fields or provide equipment. He has become an ambassador of concern for children’s health and welfare on issues including malnutrition and stunted growth, availability of vaccines, improving educational opportunities, as well as disaster relief directed especially at children and their families.

The same thing can be said of his international humanitarian work; he has remarkable breadth and depth of vision. Working together with the UNICEF staff, Beckham has touched areas as diverse as Thailand, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Somalia and the Philippines. The range of issues he has highlighted span the exploitation and trafficking of children, ending preventable childhood diseases, combating malnutrition and its stunting effects, extraordinary dangers to the life and health of children in conflict situations, motherto-child transmission of HIV/AIDS and the disrupting effects of natural disasters on children’s lives. As UNICEF’s Special Ambassador for Sports and Development, Beckham has demonstrated the power of sport to change children’s lives and ensure that every child has the right to play. In the words of his UNICEF commission, “Sport and play are a crucial part of every child’s life. By taking part

The Vision Thing

in sport, children learn to develop self-confidence, motivate themselves and lead active lifestyles.” Beckham’s most recent UNICEF mission took him to Tacloban in the Philippines, center of the area hard hit by Super-Typhoon Haiyan (known as Typhoon Yolanda in the

Ted Aljibe/AFP/Getty Images

On the football pitch, David Beckham was known for his “field vision,” the ability to see the entire field and find the open player who could advance the ball into scoring position.

England football superstar David Beckham interacts with children-survivors of devastating Typhoon Haiyan during a visit to a tent city in Tacloban city, Leyte province, central Philippines on February 13, 2014. Beckham visited the Philippines to give comfort to survivors of the Asian country’s deadliest ever typhoon — although not everyone was sure of his identity.

D I P L O M A T I C C O N N E C T I O N S B U S I N E S S edition | M a Y - J une 2 0 1 4

w w w . diplomaticconnections . com

Ted Aljibe/AFP/Getty Images

Philippines) in early November 2013. Typhoons are an annual occurrence in the Philippines, but that does not lessen the devastation that wind, driving rain and sweeping storm surges can cause. Haiyan was classified as a super storm because of its exceptional strength and size, packing sustained winds of over 175 mph with gusts estimated above 200 mph. While the death tolls from such a storm are never exact, it is clear that more than 6,000 people died and that the destruction of property was enormous. Even more devastating than the effect on property, however, was the disruption of children’s and families’ lives. The consequences of those disruptions do not end when the media turns its attention elsewhere. “As a father,” Beckham observed during his visit to Tacloban, “it was deeply moving to meet children as young as two who were left with nothing but the clothes they were wearing when sea and storm water swept through their villages during the typhoon. Children who were caught up in Haiyan,” he continued, “are still traumatized by their experience and need ongoing assistance.” Beckham’s visits included Santo Niño Elementary School, which was leveled by the storm. Four of the school’s students died, and nine out of 10 children lost their homes. UNICEF assembled a series of tents on the former school grounds so that classes could resume. It distributed school supplies, provided recreation kits and offered public health services to prevent the spread of disease. The tents are also designed to create child-friendly spaces where crucial psycho-social support can be provided for the children. In all, UNICEF has provided similar facilities and services to more than 400,000 children so they can resume schooling and make the needed adjustments to cope with the ongoing work of physical and human reconstruction. Beckham was able to be a kid with the kids. He sat in on reading lessons and encouraged students to read aloud, helped them paint a bright mural intended to encourage handwashing and organized pick-up football games on a nearby field. “As a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador,” Beckham pointed out, “seeing how children are being given a sense of normality amidst the rubble of their communities has been amazing. I want to show people around the world how their generous donations have had an enormous impact on children and their families and how thankful people here are for their kindness.” Moving on from the school, Beckham also visited a health center where UNICEF offers pre-natal and infant

England football superstar David Beckham carries a boy on his shoulders during a football game with childrensurvivors of super Typhoon-Haiyan at a school ground in Tanuan town, Leyte province, central Philippines on February 14, 2014, on the second day of his visit to the super typhoon stricken province.

D I P L O M A T I C C O N N E C T I O N S B U S I N E S S edition | M a Y - J une 2 0 1 4

n e n c t o s C y t i v i t a Cre R L D O W e h t

866 UN Plaza, Suite One, New York, NY 10017 (First Avenue at 48th Street) 212-486-2997 info@diplomaticlifestyles.com www.diplomaticlifestyles.com 44

The Glenholme School Devereux Connecticut Preparing young people for higher education and career opportunities.

independent schools Chamberlain International School A Therapeutic Boarding School That Makes A Difference

Boarding, Diagnostic & Transitional Programming Grades 6-12: Post Graduate

At Chamberlain, we work with your child through individual attention and help them to achieve goals they never thought possible. Let us help your child reach his/her full potential.

Helping students facing learning and emotional challenges for over 35 years

conTAcT oUR Admissions office

(508) 946-9348

Co-educational boarding and day school devoted to students with Asperger’s, ADHD, and various learning differences. Study Strategies • Small Class Sizes Two hours from New York City www.theglenholmeschool.org • (860) 868-7377

Admissions office: 1 Pleasant Street • Middleboro, MA admissions@chamberlainschool.org • (508) 946-9348

Learn more at www.chamberlainschool.org

“A Loyola Jesuit education helps provide young adults with the strong foundation they’ll need to lead a successful and meaningful life.” You’ll be in good companY… Sandra ciSneroS bill clinton patrick ewing pat conroY Salma HaYek billY collinS alfred HitcHcock marY HigginS clark tom clancY al roker natHan lane cHarleS oSgood bill murraY denzel waSHington don SHula JameS JoYce All of these public figures have made the rewarding journey of a Jesuit education.

For advertising opportunities, please contact 202.536.4810 ext4 or DGrifﬁth@diplomaticconnections.com

EDUCATION • EDUCATION • EDUCATION

Glenholme School - Diplomatic Connections_Layout 1 8/9/2013 2:15 PM Pa

EDUCATION • EDUCATION • EDUCATION

independent schools

The Beekman School

High School Summer Sessions

St. Timothy’s School Girls Boarding and Day, Grades 9-12 Offering the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program Ask us about our new Foreign and Public Service Merit Scholarship O p e n i n g s AvAi l Ab le fO r fAll 2 014

admis@stt.org | 410 · 486 · 7401 | www.stt.org

6MZIVWMHI 1MPMXEV] %GEHIQ]

THE RECTORY SCHOOL

Est. 1920

AN INDEPENDENT, COED JUNIOR BOARDING (5–9)

AND

DAY SCHOOL (K–9)

At Rectory, we celebrate the individual and develop proficiencies in academics, the arts, athletics, and citizenship.

Now enrolling for 2014-2015

860-928-1328

• Located in beautiful Pomfret, CT on 138 rural acres • Familial community offering an enriching and supportive learning environment • Student:Teacher ratio is 4:1, Average class size: 10 • Learn more by visiting our website:

www.rectoryschool.org

Our 2013-14 Corps of Cadets consisted of over 480 cadets from 23 countries.

For advertising opportunities, please contact 202.536.4810 ext4 or DGrifﬁth@diplomaticconnections.com

EDUCATION • EDUCATION • EDUCATION

independent schools

Lintao Zhang/Getty Images

British football player David Beckham kicks the ball with the Youth Football Team at Hankou Literary and Sports Centeron in Wuhan, China. Beckham was on a five-day visit to China at the invitation of the China Football Association as Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first international ambassador.

w w w . diplomaticconnections . com

care. There, the agency has also supplied a refrigerator and generator to assure that polio vaccine can be kept properly chilled. A stop at a cemetery to visit the mass graves of victims helped emphasize the magnitude of the disaster in human terms. A final visit in the seaside neighborhood of Anibong testified to the destructive force of the storm. Little was left on the ground save for three large ships that were washed ashore and remain grounded. Here Beckham helped distribute clean water kits to each of the more than 400 local households. In the wake of such a massive storm, finding clean water untainted by bacteria becomes difficult. The kits contain chlorine tablets and 20-liter containers to store fresh water. In turn, clean water for drinking and cooking protects children from illnesses such as diarrhea and typhoid.

Children and the Future of Football in China

Lintao Zhang/Getty Images

David Beckhamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s efforts to be an ambassador for his sport go beyond his work with UNICEF. He has been called by the Chinese Super League to help rebuild the professional sport and establish a growing base of young players in that country. During the first years of the 21st century, professional football in China was tainted by a match fixing scandal that undermined the growing national enthusiasm for the sport. Beckham has been called in to do two things: (1) lend his credibility to rebuilding the national professional football league; and (2) help establish football in the Chinese schools in order to provide a base of experienced young players whose football skills can be honed in training programs around China. Modern football (soccer) was introduced into China in the late 19th century by the British. But FIFA has allowed the official history of the sport to acknowledge that Chinese history includes one of the earliest recorded descriptions of a sport similar to football during the Han Dynasty in the 2nd century B.C. As a young man, Mao Zedong played goalkeeper at the teachers college he attended in his native Hunan Province. Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s current President Xi Jinping, said to be a football fan, has expressed three wishes: to qualify a team for the World Cup, to host the World Cup and to win a World Cup. In this composite image British football player David Beckham slips as he kicks the ball during a visit to Wuhan Zall Football Club at Wuhan Hubei Province in Wuhan, China. D I P L O M A T I C C O N N E C T I O N S B U S I N E S S edition | M a Y - J une 2 0 1 4

Lintao Zhang/Getty Images

The intent of bringing Beckham to China for multiple visits has been to enhance the credibility of China’s Super League, and he has dutifully made tours of the major Chinese cities that are sponsoring teams in the renewed league. For a time there were even rumors that Beckham might play for one of China’s leading teams, but that appears not to be his intent. Instead, Beckham is the face of international football endorsing the sport in China, promoting the individual teams and lending his credibility to help stabilize and legitimize football in China. One international sportswriter who covers FIFA and teams across the globe notes that, “Chinese football does need the boost that Beckham can provide. Him coming over is not going to create a massive improvement in terms of grassroots football, but Beckham can brand the league and bring the right kind of notoriety to it.” Though Beckham’s primary mandate 50

w w w . diplomaticconnections . com

David Beckham with a young fan during a press conference in Hangzhou, China.

Lintao Zhang/Getty Images

British football player David Beckham with students pose for a photo during a press conference titled ‘Ambassador for the Youth Football Programme in China and the Chinese Super League’ at Shijia Hutong Primary School in Beijing, China.

Lintao Zhang/Getty Images

British football player David Beckham plays football with the youth team at Hankou Literary and Sports Centeron in Wuhan, China.

is to promote professional football in China, his itinerary always includes visits with children in schools and hospitals. During his trips to China, Beckham has visited schools in Beijing, Qingdao, Wuhan, Nanjing, Hangzhou and Shanghai. In each city he visits he has donated signed jerseys representing the teams for which he has played. These have been auctioned off for the benefit of children’s charities in each city. Everywhere Beckham goes in China he plays the game: training sessions for the leading teams, encouragement for school teams of young players just coming to the organized game, and kick-arounds with the younger kids in the parks and schoolyards. Beckham is a bit of a big kid himself. “I’m excited by the prospect of promoting the world’s greatest game to Chinese sports fans,” Beckham enthuses, “as I’ve seen first-hand the growing interest in football there. This is a wonderful sport that inspires people across the world and brings families together, 52

w w w . diplomaticconnections . com

so I’m relishing the opportunity of introducing more fans to the game.” Beckham’s legs might have been insured for millions of pounds when he was playing football, but his heart, his schoolboy enthusiasm for the sport, is a gift beyond price! Everywhere he goes Beckham shares that heart with the children, and just as surely he does all that he can to prick the conscience of the adults. That is a skill almost as great as curving the ball past an outstretched goalkeeper and driving it deep into the net. For all the variety of David Beckham’s career, one thing is incontrovertibly true: whether on the football pitch strengthening the weaknesses of leading professional teams in the global game, promoting the growth and reputation of world-class professional football leagues, sharing the game with new generations of players or shedding light on the critical needs of the world’s children . . . wherever he goes, David Beckham makes a difference. n

By Roland Flamini

2010, the Pakistani government, angered over

route, with shipments arriving at its seaport of Riga and

to assist with the planned NATO withdrawal. At the same time, says the ambassador in an interview at his Mass Ave. embassy, his country is coping with the consequences of its decision to switch its currency, the lats, in January to the euro, another indication of this former Soviet satelliteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s determination to cement its ties to the European Union.

then being transported by rail across Russia and Central

Diplomatic Connections: In August of 2013, the heads

Asia. At one point, the so-called Northern Distribution

of state of the three Baltic countries met with President Obama at the White House. What was the purpose of that meeting and what were the results? Ambassador Razans: The last time the U.S. president had a meeting with all three Baltic presidents in the same

U.S. drone attacks, blocked the delivery of sup-

plies through the historic Khyber Pass to American and other NATO forces in landlocked Afghanistan. The Baltic Republic of Latvia saved the day by setting up an alternate

Network (NDN) was shifting as much as 50 percent of all non-lethal supplies to the allied forces fighting the Afghan Taliban. Now, says Latvian Ambassador Andris Razans, the NDN is poised to start operating in the other direction 54

w w w . diplomaticconnections . com

H.E. Andris Razans Ambassador of Latvia to the United States

Aude Guerrucci-Pool/Getty Images

President Obama (R) welcomes President Toomas Hendrik Ilves of Estonia and President Andris Berzins of Latvia (L) in the Cabinet Room of the White House on August 30, 2013, in Washington, D.C. A joint meeting was held that highlighted the transformations the Baltic States have undergone since restoring their independence two decades ago. President Obama spoke with the media about the ongoing situation in Syria.

D I P L O M A T I C C O N N E C T I O N S B U S I N E S S edition | M a Y - J une 2 0 1 4

Aivars Liepins/AFP/Getty Images

Latvian Finance Minister Andris Vilks withdraws euros from a bank machine next to (from L) the President of the Bank of Latvia Ilmars Rimsevics, Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip, former Latvian Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis during a ceremony in Riga, Latvia, on January 1, 2014. Latvia officially adopted the euro at the stroke of midnight local time, making the former Soviet state of two million people the 18th member of the crisis-hit eurozone. As a huge firework display roared in Riga, the people of the Baltic state bade a reluctant farewell to their cherished lat — seen as a symbol of independence from the Soviet Union — to switch to the European single currency.

format was in 1998, with President Clinton, the four countries adopted the U.S.-Baltic Charter. The document is still in place, but it was created before we joined the European Union and NATO in the same year — 2004. Ten years have passed and the world has changed. We have since developed close relationships with the United States, more than close because they are existential relationships for the Baltic countries. This latest meeting looked to the future, and there was a joint statement. We are strategic allies within NATO. We are contributing to each other’s security because of that relationship. We have common interests. We have shared values. Diplomatic Connections: There’s also the European Union dimension. Ambassador Razans: And specifically in this conversation in Washington a great deal of attention was paid to trans-Atlantic relations as well as U.S.-EU relations. [For example,] it’s in our interest that the proposed Transatlantic Trade Agreement goes through [creating a U.S.-EU free trade zone, the world’s biggest], and we are among the most free economy-thinking countries in Europe; perhaps we don’t have the legacy of maturity that many EU countries have, but we have simply to run faster and we’re able to avoid some mistakes. 56

w w w . diplomaticconnections . com

Diplomatic Connections: Latvia has now joined the eurozone in 2014.

Ambassador Razans: Yes, in January. I have seen the euro coins and they are in circulation. Now all the prices are in euros in our stores. Diplomatic Connections: However, isn’t joining the battered euro at this stage a bit like jumping on a sinking ship? Polls have shown that the Latvian public is not very enthusiastic about joining, and there was some pressure for a referendum on whether or not to join. Ambassador Razans: Legally, there’s no need for a referendum on this issue. We had a referendum in autumn 2003 on joining the European Union, but in our accession treaty it stipulates that in due course Latvia will join the eurozone and introduce the European common currency. So in accepting to join the European Union, our people accepted this specific point. But it will be important for us to join the eurozone; we’ve pegged our currency to the euro since 2005. The option for our currency to fluctuate is extremely narrow. In real terms the stability of our currency has been very much influenced and affected by decisions in the eurozone. The majority of loans in Latvia these days have already been

Ilmars Znotins/AFP/Getty Images

taken out in euros; our major trading partners are eurozone members. From the point of view of trade and business, it’s a great advantage to have the same currency. The second aspect is how Latvia views the future of the state. There is a political consensus in our country that we want to be in the core of European development and integration. In our neighborhood, Finland and Estonia have already joined the eurozone. For us it’s very natural to follow. Diplomatic Connections: In four years, Latvia has gone from the brink of economic disaster to a growth rate of 5.1 percent, one of the highest in Europe. To get there, the government had to impose a draconian policy of austerity requiring layoffs, wage cuts and so on. However, the Latvian public took this philosophically and there were no protests in contrast, for example, to the Greeks and the Spaniards who have reacted very forcibly against similar measures. Why do you think the Latvians were so acquiescent? Ambassador Razans: The end of 2008 was a really difficult moment for the country that actually had experienced tremendous growth since regaining independence, very often double-digit percentage growth. That kind of growth was a blessing. But it was a curse as well because the economy was booming. We thought we might be somehow immune from the conventional wisdom that we should try to set something aside for bad times, should try to cool down the economy.

In the country there was this notion that we could just push the gas pedal and it will be going for some time — as long as there was a willingness to finance this economic model our economy was fine. It was very much dependent on the ability of our banking sector to get access to cheap liquidity. But then suddenly we experienced problems with one of our biggest banks. This was influenced by what happened on Wall Street and internationally. Then suddenly our financial institutions were not able to get access to liquidity. It was really a dramatic moment. Export levels were relatively low in comparison with other countries in Central and Eastern Europe. We were not part of the eurozone so were not able to rely on the kind of support that perhaps other nations could rely on; so we were basically on our own. There was no good strategy for how to get out of this mess. Faced with this situation, the government opted for huge cuts almost everywhere, nothing was spared — cuts across the board by 30 percent in government expenditure. Diplomatic Connections: But what I’m also interested in is the public’s reaction to this, which accepted some extremely tough measures. In such situations politicians usually have to ask themselves: are we going to face trouble? Ambassador Razans: There are a few reasons why people reacted the way they did. One is that Latvians have a different perspective from other European nations that have not lived

Latvian President Andris Berzins (R) and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton share a laugh during a meeting in Riga on January 30, 2014. Topics of Ashton’s meeting with Latvian officials were the European Union’s foreign policy and security. D I P L O M A T I C C O N N E C T I O N S B U S I N E S S edition | M a Y - J une 2 0 1 4

under Soviet domination. After living under the Soviet Union, we know exactly what’s bad, what’s wrong and what’s good. It’s a bit of a different visualization; [under the Soviets] people had been starving, salaries were extremely low, nothing was on the store shelves. It was a state of poverty and degradation. The majority of our population still remembers. Secondly, the blessing of my country is that we have a very highly educated population. The government was very successful in sending out the message and speaking openly about the situation, and in presenting the kind of strategy that really might work. So, different perspective and direct communication with your society and the NGOs that represent society. The government and prime minister who planned this policy have been re-elected several times since then, which means that the population had supported this policy. And at the end you have a situation where for the second year Latvia is the fastest growing European economy again. Of course, the digits are not anymore 10 or 12 percent, but five percent is not bad. Our economy has shifted from an emphasis on domestic consumption to more exports, which have gone up 25 percent. Diplomatic Connections: What does Latvia export? Ambassador Razans: We have a well-developed forestry sector — timber, starting from very simple products up to very expensive, good items. We’ve expanded our markets. Asia and Northern Africa have become very important export markets. Then electronics. IT is extremely well developed. Starting from highly sensitive microphones that are the best in the world these days to IT solutions for companies. The other strong export is pharmaceuticals. Diplomatic Connections: Why do you think that some other European Union countries have found it, indeed are finding it, harder to pull out of an economic nosedive than Latvia did? Ambassador Razans: We did something in Latvia that worked in our case. Whether you can apply the same policy somewhere else in Europe — perhaps not. For it to work, you need a number of preconditions. You need to act very fast and you need a not very big economy. You need liberal labor market rules, plus different political traditions and a different culture as well. So, yes, other countries have experienced something similar to ours but they opted for different policies, not only trying to cut expenditure but also looking for opportunities to fuel growth, and basically adding more expenditures, hoping that at some point it will come out right. There are disagreements among European countries on how to 58

w w w . diplomaticconnections . com

proceed and, of course, that affects the economic situation in general. I think the solution to any crisis begins back at home. If you are not doing your own things you cannot expect that somebody in Brussels will be able to affect the problem, and as a result, it grows. You need to do your homework. Diplomatic Connections: According to a recent Reuter report, this year NATO has scrambled jets 37 times to check Russian jets approaching Latvia’s border. This compares to only one time in 2004, when NATO first began these patrols of the Baltic frontier. What does that say about your relationship with Russia today? Ambassador Razans: I don’t think it says very much about our relationship with Russia. What it might say is something about the changing conditions and situation of the Russian armed forces. For example, it might say that there are now more means allocated for these activities, not only for exercises but also for acquiring new equipment and modernizing the military. Russia’s military muscle has been strengthened and it’s very clear that these activities have increased. Diplomatic Connections: There were also recent military exercises in Russia with the participation of Belarus. Ambassador Razans: Yes, exercises called Zapat on a really big scale, in 2013. The positive side was that the Russians informed NATO on the substance of these exercises. Of course, there was discussion about the real meaning of these exercises, but that’s for the military experts. But NATO has also recently held military exercises [its biggest in seven years] in Latvia and Poland, called Steadfast Jazz, with the participation of a great number of personnel, including from the United States and France. Latvia was part of ISAF [International Security Assistance Force] in Afghanistan, and still is. Latvia these days has the best possible security situation that we have ever had thanks to membership of the European Union and NATO. Diplomatic Connections: But on the broad political and economic front, how are Latvia’s bi-lateral relations with Russia today?

NEW YORK CITY’S LEGENDARY HOTEL. FIFTH AVENUE’S MOST ALLURING ADDRESS.

Known for its world-renowned service and attention to detail, The Peninsula New York is the hotel of choice for heads of states, diplomats and royal families. Located on the corner of Fifth Avenue and 55th Street, the hotel is just steps away from world-class shopping, museums and Broadway.

~ Prestigious recipient of the Forbes Five Star and AAA Five Diamond Awards ~ Awarded #1 Hotel and #1 Business Hotel in New York by Condé Nast Traveler Magazine ~ 185 spacious guestrooms and 54 suites ~ Complimentary wireless internet access in all rooms and public areas ~ Fine dining restaurant and rooftop bar and terrace ~ Exquisite meeting facilities with 4,285 sq ft flexible space ~ Award-winning Peninsula Spa ~ Glass-enclosed swimming pool, fitness center and outdoor sun terrace

700 Fifth Avenue at 55th Street, New York, NY 10019, USA Tel: (1-212) 956 2888 Fax: (1-212) 903 3949 Toll-free: (1-800) 262 9467 (From USA) E-mail: pny@peninsula.com Website: peninsula.com/newyork Hong Kong • Shanghai • Tokyo • Beijing • New York • Chicago • Beverly Hills • Bangkok • Manila • Paris 2013

Inset: Aivars Liepins/AFP/Getty Images

Latvia’s President Andris Berzins (R) shakes hands with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen ahead of a meeting in Riga, Latvia. Rasmussen was on an official visit to the Baltic states with talks in Estonia and Latvia on the alliance’s missile shield plans and policing the region’s airspace amid concerns over a Russian military build-up.

w w w . diplomaticconnections . com

U.S. army troops conduct a landing operation during the multinational exercise â&#x20AC;&#x153;BALTOPSâ&#x20AC;? in Nemirseta (Palangos District). There were seven NATO countries

Petras Malukas/AFP/GettyImages

participating: Lithuania, Estonia, the United States, Latvia, Poland, the Netherlands and Germany. During BALTOPS, military forces conduct joint maritime, air and land operations in the Baltic Sea region.

D I P L O M A T I C C O N N E C T I O N S B U S I N E S S edition | M a Y - J une 2 0 1 4

H.E. Andris Razans Ambassador of Latvia to the United States

Ambassador Razans: Russia is definitely a very important neighbor. It’s not the biggest trade partner, but it’s one of the first three or four countries. It’s our main supplier of oil and the sole source of natural gas. Trade has increased in recent years. We have very strong and efficient railway connections. So it’s very important, but not the most important. Diplomatic Connections: Isn’t your tourism also very heavily weighed in favor of Russians? Ambassador Razans: The larger part of our tourist trade is with Russia, although we have a strong presence of other Europeans. I would wish to see more Americans coming to Latvia. Just recently [the travel blog] Lonely Planet published the 10 best places to visit next year and Latvia ranks number four or five in this list. This year, Riga, our capital, will be the designated European Culture Capital, with many different events planned. The city was hidden behind the Iron Curtain during the Cold War. In those days the only visitors came from the Soviet Union and the satellite countries, so the Russians have long known Riga as a beautiful city. They know we have beautiful beaches. The majority of the population speaks Russian, so they feel comfortable in a European setting. Diplomatic Connections: Latvia also has a large Russian minority, with their own political party. Ambassador Razans: Russians make up the largest ethnic minority in Latvia, and it constitutes about 30 percent of the population. We have a strong presence of Russians in our parliament. But Russians have always lived in Latvia. When the Republic of Latvia was established in 1918 it was a safe haven for Russians who fled from Bolshevik Russia. They got into a very difficult situation when the next wave of Russians, the Soviets from whom they were fleeing, arrived. During the Soviet occupation there was a very big wave of Russians coming to Latvia. But these days, a large number of ethnic Russians are Latvian citizens and very active in our political life. They vote for anybody who can offer the best prospects. 62

w w w . diplomaticconnections . com

There may be Russian political parties. That’s politics, but that doesn’t necessarily mean Russians vote for them. Diplomatic Connections: Latvia has played a key role in the NDN, the supply route to U.S. and other NATO troops in Afghanistan created as an alternative to the route through Pakistan. Has it fulfilled its expectations? Ambassador Razans: Definitely. The concept of a NDN evolved during a very difficult moment for ISAF when the Pakistan route [through the North-West Frontier] had closed down and nothing was going through. Latvia saw an opportunity and proposed an alternative route using transit links we had built long before with Russia, and through Russia. We have excellent railway connections starting from our very good port in Riga. If you bring in cargo to Riga you can directly ship it by rail in two weeks through Russia, directly to Central Asia and to Afghanistan. At one point that was the only channel that worked for Afghanistan, especially when the troop levels increased in 2010 – 2011. That proved vital. We had an exceptionally good practical relationship, and a good practical understanding with all sides: the Russians, the Central Asians, the Kazaks and the Uzbeks. Now with the troop levels being reduced, the demand to transport food and supplies is going down. Diplomatic Connections: But will Latvia also be involved in the allied withdrawal from Afghanistan planned for 2014? Ambassador Razans: That’s reverse transit and it’s already happening. Riga’s airport, which is a few miles from the seaport, is already being utilized and functions well not only for Americans but our NATO allies. That’s part of the network; NATO planners have developed a very broad network of situations. NDN was never meant to be the single route. It’s one among several, but when you put the picture together, it works. Diplomatic Connections: What is it like being a European ambassador in Washington? Ambassador Razans: The way we work here differs in many ways from how we might be working in Europe. Ambassadors — embassies — are competing for attention. There are many European countries and we bring diversity. I can bring a Baltic or Northern European approach or identity. As an ambassador in Europe, it’s easier to attract economic interests, easier to find a person who knows something about the Baltics than in the United States. In Europe, as European ambassadors, we might be working closer together; here we work very separately. We meet, of course. We share our views, but sometimes one misses the common goal. All of us have our national agendas and our national egos. But it’s a very friendly city. n

P R E S S

YOUR IDEAS

with the New Apogee Limited Time Finishes

w w w.C R OSS.co m More Ideas. Guaranteed.

scar Night 2014 again raised the question whether the pre-awards red carpet show of spectacular gowns and gravity-defying cleavages has become a bigger draw than the prize giving itself â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and the fact that women make up over 60 percent of the viewing audience may hint at the answer. But even at this distance in time itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worth repeating that 64

w w w . diplomaticconnections . com

Christopher Polk/Getty Images

Actor Matthew McConaughey and model Camila Alves attend the Oscars at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood, California.

D I P L O M A T I C C O N N E C T I O N S B U S I N E S S edition | M a Y - J une 2 0 1 4

Ellen DeGeneres/Twitter via Getty Images

Above: Host Ellen DeGeneres poses for a selfie taken by Bradley Cooper with (clockwise from L-R) Jared Leto, Jennifer Lawrence, Channing Tatum, Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Kevin Spacey, Brad Pitt, Lupita Nyong’o, Angelina Jolie, Peter Nyong’o Jr. (Lupita’s brother) and Bradley Cooper during the 86th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California.

Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Right: Host Ellen DeGeneres with Brad Pitt, Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts in the audience having pizza during the Oscars.

w w w . diplomaticconnections . com

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

this academy awards ceremony produced a number of genuinely historic firsts in movie industry history. Steve McQueen was the first black film maker to ever win a best-picture Oscar, with “12 Years A Slave.” John Singleton was nominated in 1992, and Lee Daniels in 2010, but neither one was successful. Steve McQueen is also an artist who in 1999 won the London Tate Gallery’s prestigious Turner Prize for his video installations and art films. Alfonso Cuaron was the first Hispanic director to win the Academy’s best director award, with “Gravity.” In the foreign film category, “The Great Beauty,” is the only winning film from a production company belonging to a former Italian prime minister: Silvio Berlusconi owns Medusa Films. On the lighter side, Ellen DeGeneres produced what has to be the ultimate “selfie” including a batch of Oscar winners. And Jennifer Lawrence fell down. Again. However, she always manages to do so with a whimsical and youthful grace that is actually to be admired. At last year’s ceremony Lawrence tripped while climbing the stairs to accept her award. This year, the 23-year-old star toppled over as she emerged from her limo onto the red carpet, but with no apparent damage to either herself or her red Dior straight-lined column of a dress that was more fashion than Hollywood. Besides that, not much happened that was out of the ordinary. Jared Leto’s acceptance included the evening’s mandatory political statement, a reference to the current Russian land grab in Ukraine and the growing unrest in Venezuela. Steve McQueen reminded his audience that slavery was hardly a thing of the past and still remains to be a topic of discussion (he later went to New York to address U.N. ambassadors on the issue). Each person who wins this coveted award is given an extremely limited time to properly extend their expressions of gratitude. Some are poised for an eloquent speech mystifying the audience as they deliver it with great articulation and confidence while others find it incredibly difficult to overcome the challenge of having such a short time to adequately and sufficiently thank everyone. “At the Oscars you have 30 seconds to talk and it’s like the oxygen drops in the room,” observed John Ridley, winner of the writer Oscar for “12 Years A Slave.” But after the tense and frozen ritual of the awards ceremony winners give vent to their excitement backstage before going on to the afterOscar parties – Jennifer Lawrence playfully trying to snatch the Oscar from the hands of the actress who bested her, Lupita Nyong’o (in floating baby-blue by Miuccia Prada –

which stood out beautifully against the red carpet); Brad Pitt, producer of “12 Years A Slave,” with his wife Angelina Jolie – the latter all covered up in a dress by designer Elie Saab, who memorably also caused her to show a shapely leg at the 2009 Oscars. As a production, this year’s Oscars came in for the usual criticism of being overlong and overblown. With a television viewership of 43.7 million (20 percent more than in 2013), there’s little incentive to make radical changes to what is seen as a winning formula. Ellen in her fabulously characteristic Director Len Wiseman (L) and actress Kate Beckinsale attend the 2014 Vanity Fair Oscar Party in West Hollywood, California.

D I P L O M A T I C C O N N E C T I O N S B U S I N E S S edition | M a Y - J une 2 0 1 4

one-of-a-kind style was the first host in the history of the Oscars to ever order and serve pizza to the stars, even asking the delivery person if he’d ever wished to meet a celebrity, that now was the time, creating a roar of laughter. The principle of less is more has never been much embraced by Hollywood, but an Oscar Night cut by 45 minutes would leave the audience wanting more rather

than falling asleep on the couch. One way to streamline: merge the best foreign film with the best picture category. In today’s globalism it’s a dubious distinction. For example, this year’s Oscar winning picture, “Gravity” is as much British because it was filmed in the United Kingdom; “12 Years A Slave” was filmed in the United States, with a British director and British backing; “The Great Beauty” is jointly

Jason Merritt/Getty Images

(L-R) Actors Matthew McConaughey winner of Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role, Cate Blanchett winner of Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role, Lupita Nyong’o winner of Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role and Jared Leto winner of Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role pose in the press room during the Oscars in Hollywood, California.

w w w . diplomaticconnections . com

HAIRCOLOR

WITH COLOR SO SHIMMERING, SO MULTI-FACETED...

THERE’S ONLY ONE FERIA

Christopher Polk/Getty Image

Actresses Jennifer Lawrence and Lupita Nyong’o backstage during the Oscars.

produced by Italy and France, ensuring that this event was authentically international. True, there can be a language problem, but if the film has merit, it deserves to be judged in the broad context of the year’s output, regardless of its origins. Some thought could also be given to merging the long and short documentaries -- or abolishing the latter altogether which has today been overtaken by Youtube. Also, there is some merit to setting a limit to the number of times an actor can receive the most aspired to academy award in any category: three or four times in each would be ideal. This would open up the field to deserving others, bring more variety to Oscar Night, and induce academy members 70

w w w . diplomaticconnections . com

to approach the voting more creatively while potentially creating an even greater interest. On the other hand, there’s a good argument for introducing a new category of casting director. That would remove the current impression that the cast of a winning movie – or any movie, for that matter – somehow comes together by accident. And as we watch each seemingly endless Oscar extravaganza trundle across our screens, it’s good to remember that it all started with a relatively modest dinner at the Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles in 1929. Just fifteen years shy of a century, it’s been nothing less than fascinating to see how Hollywood has progressed while expanding on some pretty great original ideas of celebrating film, like the Oscars. n

Actress Naomi Watts

w w w . diplomaticconnections . com

Left: Jason Merritt/Getty Images; Right: Michael Buckner/Getty Images

Producer Jonathan Gordon and model Catherine McCord

Model Miranda Kerr attends the 2014 Vanity Fair Oscar Party in West Hollywood, California. 74

w w w . diplomaticconnections . com

Left: Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images; Right: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Actress Jessica Biel

The Fairfax at Embassy Row embodies the grace and elegance of a bygone era in Dupont Circle, one of Washington, D.C.’s most vibrant neighborhoods. For diplomatic delegations, foreign ministers and dignitary visits, The Fairfax at Embassy Row is nothing short of spectacular, meeting and exceeding guests’ expectations every step of the way.

life is a collection of experiences let us be your guide For more information, contact Shirley Phull, Director of Diplomatic Sales at 202 835 2149 or email sphull@fairfaxembassyrow.com luxurycollection.com/fairfax

©2013 Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Preferred Guest, SPG, The Luxury Collection and their logos are the trademarks of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., or its affiliates. For full terms & conditions visit luxurycollection.com/fairfax

Great Times, Great Huts and a Paradise on the Edge by Monica Frim

Poking out of the jungle, the hut known as African Sunrise is the most prominent feature of Great Huts resort when viewed from the sea.

w w w . diplomaticconnections . com

e arrived on the northeast coast of Jamaica in the evening just as the symphony was about to start. Our seats, or in this case bed, in the thatched bamboo hut known as the Sea Grape, were the best in the house but, really, any spot anywhere on the cliff-top would have been just as good. By the time we unpacked our suitcases, donned our concert pajamas and settled into our private theater dress circle, the orchestra was already tuning up. Like a brush scrape on cymbals, a gentle surf whisked the shoreline. Now and then the piccolo trills of tiny tree frogs vibrated through the air and, like Ravel’s “Bolero,” eventually built into an exuberant crescendo joined by the pebbly chirp of crickets and other tinny nighttime players. The concert lasted for hours, but I can’t say I paid much attention. Eventually the contrapuntal melodies coalesced into sleep-inducing white noise and, like “Bolero” in reverse, dissolved until only the swoosh of the surf was left to greet the sunrise over the sea. Welcome to Great Huts. Welcome to Paradise on the Edge. Welcome to the parish of Portland and the African soul of Jamaica.

Monica Frim checks out Jamaica’s lush, northeast coast, discovered by Hollywood celebrities after Errol Flynn started bringing them to Port Antonio in the parish of Portland in the 1940s. The area is now experiencing a revival more in tune with eco-tourism thanks to an abundance of tropical cliff-tops, hilly rainforests, cool mountain streams and laid-back beaches. Many villas and beaches are associated with the likes of Brooke Shields, Tom Cruise, Sharon Stone, Harrison Ford, Johnny Depp and Kate Moss, quiet places away from the biz and buzz of Hollywood or the densely populated all-inclusive resorts on Jamaica’s busier west side. Photography by John Frim, PhD, and Monica Frim

D I P L O M A T I C C O N N E C T I O N S B U S I N E S S edition | M a Y - J une 2 0 1 4

Dr. Paul Rhodes, the physician from Washington, D.C. who designed, developed and owns the Great Huts resort (or rather anti-resort), met us at breakfast along with a chorus of cockatoos, lovebirds and parakeets endemic to the pet shops of Jamaica. Lilly, his Virginia-born baby — he hand-fed the snow-white cockatoo from infancy in the United States before bringing her to the wilds of a room-sized aviary in the jungle — stole the show with her unending encore. “Hello, hello, hello…” We soon learned Lilly liked nothing better than a good finger massage, and would lean hard into the prober’s finger, quiet for a spell, head bent coquette-style — until the massaging stopped. Lilly took that as her signal to resume her persistent chatter. “Hello, hello…” minimalist music, birdstyle. Across the walkway a larger aviary housed a Scarlet Macaw, an Amazon parrot and many smaller birds. Dr. Paul, as the locals affectionately call him, explains that the Great Huts slogan, “Paradise on the Edge,” refers not only to the huts’ precarious perch on the cliffs, but also to his non-conformist approach to tourism. You won’t find a swimup bar, color-coded wristband or other agent of cookie-cutter all-inclusives here. Even the huts and tree houses are all individualized: some with bamboo walls, others with stone or concrete walls; some with concrete floors and others sand;

some single-storied, others with multiple levels, their only connections being the local materials and African designs. Windows are open cutouts in bamboo- or stone-walled huts, bereft of glass but with shutters that can be drawn to guard against the elements. Inside the huts and main lodge, the décor is as individualistic as the crafter’s eye — each chair, table, post or pedestal hand-carved so that, like the huts, no two are exactly alike. Super-sized alfresco bathrooms with modern plumbing but lacking indoor walls offer privacy by virtue of the surrounding trees and bamboo or stone partitions. They’re not for people who are shy with their traveling companions or who freak out at performing their bathroom rituals alongside harmless geckos and millipedes. But adventuresome spirits will love them. I spoke to many guests who were familiar both with Great Huts and other resorts and offered their appraisal of Great Huts as the best deal in Jamaica. The positive reviews online corroborated their opinions. In the dining room, slabs of oddly-shaped tree trunks serve as tables surrounded by an assortment of handmade chairs and benches, some carved out of a single trunk, others hand-hewn limbs whose natural twists and forks provide unique backrests and seat supports. Renowned Jamaican artist Gilbert Nicely handcrafted the wooden furniture, with

Pools and caves above and below Reach Falls make this guided jungle trek one of the best in Jamaica. The pool at the bottom of the 30-foot falls was the site of the famous love scene between Tom Cruise and Elisabeth Shue in the movie “Cocktail.”

w w w . diplomaticconnections . com

Great Huts features many unusual lounge chairs set into the rocks and jungle. Here two concrete loungers provide contemplative views over Boston Bay.

A sculpture of a giraffe pokes its head through the ceiling of the Great Huts dining room. Rustic chairs and tables are hand-crafted by local artisans.

Washington, D.C.-based Dr. Paul Rhodes is the creative genius and owner of Great Huts: Paradise on the Edge.

the exception of bamboo, which was the handiwork of John Hamilton and his team at the Original Bamboo Factory, now known simply as Bamboo Jamaica, in Spanish Town near Kingston. Masks by Nakazzi Hutchinson, paintings by the late Everald Brown, murals by Kingsley Thomas, sculptures by Kenyan-Jamaican Mazola wa Mwashighadi and authentic mud cloths from Africa adorn the walls and pay homage to the Jamaican people’s historical, political, artistic and cultural roots. Whimsical details include lighting fixtures made of calabashes and cutlery carved out of coconut shells. Dr. Paul conceived the idea of an Afrocentric resort as a showcase of pride in the Jamaican people’s roots and merged his medical and philanthropic interests with his artistic bent when he built Great Huts. Ever since he first set foot on the island as a medical student in 1973, he had an affinity for the people, “I felt greatly moved and felt such a sense of being needed to help these people.” He returned many times, first as a volunteer with Jamaica’s malnourished children and later with the disenfranchised elderly in the infirmaries. In 2007 he co-founded (along with Nellie Walker, Polly Perry and Father Francis) Portland Rehabilitation Management for the homeless in Port Antonio, where he is the medical director. Long-term volunteers at the shelter live at Great D I P L O M A T I C C O N N E C T I O N S B U S I N E S S edition | M a Y - J une 2 0 1 4

Huts, while guests at the resort are encouraged to visit the shelter, volunteer or donate what they can. Great Huts’ location is Caribbean by nature yet Afrocentric by design. Goldfish and turtle ponds, waterfalls, hammocks and various chairs and lounges hewn out of rock now dot the land, which Dr. Paul bought for his resort in 2000, adding more property later. His order of operations was to establish winding paths that respected the lay of the land first, then build the huts one by one, each in harmony with the existing natural formations. “We don’t cut down trees or move rocks,” said Dr. Paul. “We incorporate them into the design of the huts.” Indeed. One hut, called the Almond Tree Lodge, features its namesake smack in the middle as part of the supporting structure. The entire complex consists of four elements: cliffs, beach, jungle and meadow. Dr. Paul took us on a brief tour pointing out some of the unique features. Among the most striking were the Marcus Garvey Memorial Garden with its massive earthenware jugs and sculptures evocative of the struggle for Black nationalism, including a bust of Garvey on top of one of the jugs; the Emancipation sculpture depicting Herod breaking the chains of enslavement in the lobby; and a

stone circle known as a Kongo cosmogram with a “Kalunga” line that represents the separation of the land of the living from the land of the spirits. One could spend days exploring the grounds, as long as you’re sober and wearing thick-soled shoes — the fossilized coral surface of the cliffs is sharp and it’s a long drop to the wave-lashed rocks below. Other on-site and nearby activities include snorkeling in the sea and the caves that line the cliffs; swimming from Great Huts’ tiny, sandy beach; lounging on any of several hammocks strung on both the beach and the cliff-top; or simply gazing over the sea from cliff-top lounges and chairs. Surfers might want to rent a board at the adjacent Boston Beach, which is considered the best beach for surfing in Jamaica. Another must-do is to tuck into the jerk chicken and pork at one of the Boston Bay jerk stands just a short walk from the front gate. Boston Bay is known as the birthplace of jerk cuisine and it’s practically a ritual for everyone — tourists and locals alike. The meat is either dry-rubbed or marinated in jerk spice, a seasoning made principally of allspice and Scotch bonnet peppers (called pimento in Jamaica), plus other flavorings that vary with the chef. The only caveat is that vendors can be aggressive and unsolicited photography

Riding the surf is a favorite activity in Boston Bay at the base of Great Huts.

w w w . diplomaticconnections . com

The African Sunrise hut’s three levels provide 360˚ views over the sea and the other huts of the resort.

Dr. Paul Rhodes (right) is also the co-founder and Medical Director of the PRM Homeless Shelter in Port Antonio. Artist Kingsley Thomas painted the mural on the wall.

is generally not welcome. Don’t even think of reaching for your camera unless you’ve asked first. You will also want to venture deeper into the lush hills and mountains that, owing to an abundance of rainfall, make the eastern part of the island the greenest and best-suited for Jamaica’s nascent foray into eco-tourism. Hiking trails along precipitous slopes riddled with caves and waterfalls wind through a rainforest of greens dotted with pools and rivers. The waters glisten like precious jewels, their aquamarine hues changing with whatever ratio of sun and clouds happens to hit them the moment you’re looking. Sometimes they’re green as malachite, other times sapphire blue. This is particularly true of Reach Falls (I was told they’re even better than the more frequented Dunn with its cascading pools of clear mountain water), normally a half-hour’s drive from Great Huts, but more if you stop, as we did, to admire Errol Flynn Country and the rather laid-back Long Bay. If you don’t have a vehicle, Great Huts can arrange for both a driver and guide. As for Errol Flynn, you can find him everywhere in Portland. Not the man, of course — he died more than 50 years ago — but the legend, of which there are plenty. Flynn is generally credited for bringing the Hollywood jet set to Jamaica. After he literally washed ashore in 1947 in his yacht “Zaca,” he fell in love with the island and spent many a drunken and drug-induced frolic — partying, womanizing, drinking and gambling — in the Port Antonio district. But it all caught up to him when Flynn died in 1959, at the age of 50, while in Vancouver, Canada, with 17-year-old Beverly Aadland, whom he had seduced when she was 15 and, according to rumor, promised to marry. But he never divorced his third wife, actress Patrice Wymore, now in her late 80s, and officially his widow. Patrice still lives in an unassuming

white house on a hilltop on their 2,000-acre cattle ranch and coconut plantation east of Boston Bay. Our driver, Honey, suddenly stopped the car. “I am going to show you something,” he said, jumped out and came back with a leafy branch. “Squeeze that and smell.” It was allspice — named for its similarity to a mix of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Ground up, its seeds are used in jerk seasoning and beef patties, but the leaves can be used in cooking and tea. People have tried cultivating it from seed on other islands and failed. It turns out the seeds need to pass through bird droppings first — the thought being that they require either an acidic or warm gut to germinate. Honey stopped several times en route to the falls, pointing out the countryside’s bounty: ackee, breadfruit, the national blue mahoe tree and the unusual, pimply white, pearsized noni. “If you have a headache, you take the leaf from the noni and tie it around your head,” he said. “The fruit, you let rot and ferment, then smash it into juice. It tastes bad but it’s good for poor circulation and bellyaches.” At Reach Falls, our Rasta guide, Leonard, led us upriver to the 30-foot back-massaging falls, and onward through a jungle dense with elephant ears, dieffenbachia, ferns and mossy vines, over slippery rocks, and into pools and watery caves cooled by the mountain run-off. I wore the recommended water shoes, but Leonard, his feet toughened by years of treading over rugged jungle terrain, did the entire climb barefoot! The next day we followed Errol Flynn’s footsteps westward, not to vice and profligacy, but to possibly his most virtuous legacy, a punted raft trip — Jamaica’s answer to Venice’s gondolas — from Berrydale down the Rio Grande to St. Margaret’s Bay. Errol parlayed the practice of poling bam-

D I P L O M A T I C C O N N E C T I O N S B U S I N E S S edition | M a Y - J une 2 0 1 4

Entrance to Great Huts: Paradise on the Edge

Once a private residence, Trident Castle in San Antonio can now be rented for weddings and corporate functions. Famous guests have included Robin Williams, Brooke Shields, Daryll Hannah, Denzel Washington, Eddie Murphy, Glenn Close, Johnny Depp, Kate Moss and many more celebrities and aristocrats.

boo rafts laden with bananas to the coast for shipment into a tourist industry when he invited friends and lovers (drat, he had to infuse even this eco-friendly endeavor with a smack of scandal) on moonlit rides down the river. Our guide, Granville, tirelessly poled his self-built craft along the 7.5-mile route through a jungled hinterland laden with locust trees and banana groves. “All the captains build their own boats,” he said. Along the riverside, village women soaped clothes in colorful buckets before rinsing them out in the river, boys dived for crayfish with snorkels and spears while enterprising locals sold miniature rafts, drinks and snacks to rafting visitors. When we entered a narrow pass between two rocks supposedly dubbed Lovers Lane by Errol Flynn, Granville told us to make a wish. Our driver, Jingles, picked us up and whizzed us back to Great Huts along the coastal road — Errol’s road. We had been in Portland only four days, yet a sense of familiarity overtook us as we passed the sights of Portland’s colorstudded capital, Port Antonio: “Di Olde Marina;” then the new Errol Flynn Marina; Navy Island with its Flynn legends — that he either won or lost the wooded island in a poker game, depending on who’s telling the story; the orange and white striped Folly Point Lighthouse; the turquoise and white homeless shelter, co-founded and beloved by Dr. Paul; the white wedding cake known as Trident Castle; San San Beach with its offshore snorkeling haven at Pellew Isle, mistakenly referred to in much of the literature as Monkey Island (Monkey Island is actually another name for Wood Island off Folly Point); the Blue Lagoon, made famous by the Brooke Shields movie; and Winnifred Beach, the last remaining public beach between Boston Bay and Port Antonio. We had enjoyed the 82

w w w . diplomaticconnections . com

stories and sights, the lore and the legends from the road and from the sea. The day after we had arrived at Great Huts, Dr. Paul had invited us for a boat ride from The Old Marina back to Great Huts with Captain Marley. The trip confirmed to me that the best views of this tropical jewel known as Portland are from the sea. But for the best entertainment, you can’t beat the electrifying Saturday night Jamaican cultural show with performers from Manchioneal dressed in red, white and green. Through song and dance set against the pulsating rhythms of African drums, they play out their history — from their happy and free days in Africa, through their tragic “Middle Passage” across the Atlantic, to their forced enslavement and acceptance of the European ways before circling back (or is it forward?) to the reclaiming of their drums and happy ways. The night we attended, Dr. Paul proved himself a man of many talents as he sang three opening numbers before introducing the guests at Great Huts to each other. I tell you, that man can sing! Great Huts serves as a great base for forays into the surrounding rainforest and the limy-sand beaches that spread like creamed honey at the base of cliffs and jungles. But the resort atop the cliffs at Boston Bay is not just a place to rest one’s piña colada-hydrated head or to soak up some coastal rays; it’s a cultural plunge. n

Diplomatic Connections wishes to thank Dr. Paul Rhodes and the staff of Great Huts for their kind hospitality. For more information on Great Huts, go to www.greathuts.com or contact infogreathuts@gmail.com.

ALE XAN D RA COU STEAU . WATE R C O N S E RVATI O N I ST + E X P LO R E R + G LO BAL C ITI Z E N, LO S AN G E LE S . TU M I.C O M

TU M I S PE CIALMAR K ETS.COM | 8 00.6 6 9.3181 83

DIPLOMATIC CONNECTIONS’ INTERNATIONAL

Diplomat Appreciation Reception a

™

HELD AT

The Turkish Embassy Washington, D.C.

Mr. Aydan Karamanoglu, Counsellor, Embassy of Turkey

w w w . diplomaticconnections . com

Mr. Aydan Karamanoglu, Mr. Baris Tantekin, Mrs. Gorkem Kursunlu Karakus, Ms. Mine Ozgul and Mrs. Feriha Istar of the Embassy Turkish Culture and Tourism Office with Ayla Karamete, Semra Sarmat and Inci Olcav

Mr. Murat Coskun and Ms. Serenat Kivilcim of Turkish Airlines

International Diplomat Appreciation Reception™

by Monica Frim Diplomatic Connections has a tradition of bringing together members of the business and international diplomatic communities at lavish receptions held at various venues throughout the year. In a break from the traditional luxury hotel locales, the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey hosted hundreds of diplomats who thronged the embassy’s lobbies, vaulted salon and outdoor courtyard, rendering April’s event one of the most successful diplomatic networking events in Washington. Upon entering, guests could pick up Diplomatic Connections bags from the welcoming staff, useful for holding gifts and literature offered by the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey, Diplomatic Connections and the many vendors who showcased their wares and services at tables on two levels of the embassy. A framed bronze sculpture of the head of

w w w . diplomaticconnections . com

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk (1881-1938), first president and founder of the Republic of Turkey, greeted guests before they descended the stairs into the main salon. A display all about Turkey stood next to a table of promotional literature and tourist information books. In the main hall, Turkish Airlines’ brilliant blue vendor’s table was a prominent reminder of the company’s special partnership with Diplomatic Connections. Guests noshed and mingled elbowto-elbow tasting the culinary treats prepared by Helga’s Catering: a carving table with generous slices of beef and turkey served with condiments on thick slices of bread, a seafood table that included seaweed and oysters shucked right in front of the guests, self-serving fountains of rich brown and white chocolate over skewered fruits, cookies or pretzel sticks and, in the courtyard, a cheese table overflowing with dips, cheeses and a variety of crackers and an wide array of baked breads. Maison Culinaire Catering also offered sample tidbits of Moroccan and Turkish-based food (rice, vegetables, stew, pita bread and tiramisu) at its vendor’s table. Replenishments arrived right until the end and Turkish wine—both red and white—flowed unduly. Diplomatic Connections provides business representatives with opportunities to introduce their products and services to the diplomatic and international communities across the United States. Each event offers its own special touch but shares a common goal: to provide an elegant and friendly atmosphere for international dignitaries to share ideas and experiences about living in the United States, and to give business representatives networking and

International Diplomat Appreciation Receptionâ&#x201E;˘

relationship-building opportunities faceto-face with those most likely to benefit from their operations. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a huge undertaking to put together such a successful evening and Diplomatic Connections wishes to thank Mr. Aydan Karamanoglu, Mr. BarÄąs Tantekin, Mrs. Gorkem Kursunlu Karakus, Ms. Mine Ozgul and Mrs. Feriha Istar of the Embassy Turkish Culture and Tourism Office for their hard work and dedication. It was an honor for Diplomatic Connections to collaborate and co-sponsor this unprecedented event with Turkish Airlines and the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey. Embassies and/or International Organizations interested in collaborating with Diplomatic Connections on future events are invited to contact Dawn Parker at: DParker@DiplomaticConnections.com

Diplomatic Connections wishes to thank the following sponsors: Turkish Airlines The Fairmont Washington, D.C. Georgetown The Fairmont San Francisco The Hay-Adams The Ritz-Carlton Pentagon City The Peninsula New York and The Peninsula Beverly Hills InterState Logistics Moving CORT Furniture AFR Furniture Admiral Leasing BMW of Rockville Jewelmer and the Tiny Jewel Box Sandy Spring Friends School Voxgov Maison Culinaire Catering Concordia InTouch Wireless Communications UDR Apartments Dittmar Apartments

D I P L O M A T I C C O N N E C T I O N S B U S I N E S S edition | M a Y - J une 2 0 1 4

International Diplomat Appreciation Receptionâ&#x201E;˘

D I P L O M A T I C C O N N E C T I O N S B U S I N E S S edition | M a Y - J une 2 0 1 4

International Diplomat Appreciation Receptionâ&#x201E;˘

Celebrate.Cultivate.Collaborate.

With Helga’s Caterers, your parties succeed… and you shine. Our experienced chefs and event planners make entertaining a pleasure for you. Fresh ideas, gourmet food, ﬂowers, entertainment. We handle whatever you need – and at any location, including gorgeous mansions, museums, gardens, and historical settings in Washington, Maryland and Northern Virginia. Count on perfection. And count on our 30 years of experience serving Washington’s diplomatic community to turn even small budgets into big results.

Voted one of Washington’s Download our FREE guide at: www.HelgasCatering.com

Top 5 Caterers

6710 Old Dominion Drive, McLean, VA 22101 • Ph: 703-556-0780 • Fax: 703-790-0878

WE FLY TO MORE COUNTRIES THAN ANY OTHER AIRLINE. Non-stop daily flights from Washington Dulles Airport to many more destinations via Istanbul.

WASHINGTON DC

TURKISHAIRLINES.COM | 1800 874 8875 Voted Europe's Best Airline at the 2013 Skytrax Passengers Choice Awards

INTERCONTINENTAL CLEVELAND. WORLD-CLASS HOSPITALITY ON CLEVELAND CLINIC’S MAIN CAMPUS.

World-class hospitality meets world-class care. We are connected to Cleveland Clinic via skywalk and just minutes from museums, sports, shopping, theater, galleries and unique dining destinations. When you stay with us, you’ll experience exceptional accommodations and guest services that are unparalleled in the area. We welcome guests from across the country, and around the world, every day.

• 24 Spacious Suites • Multilingual Staff • Concierge Services • Club InterContinental® • 24 - Hour In-Room Dining • Award-Winning Table 45 Restaurant and Bar • Complimentary Fitness Center

Do you live an InterContinental life?

• Valet Parking

For more details, please call 877.707.8999, 216.707.4168 or visit hotelsclevelandclinic.com 96

T H E J O H N S H O P K I N S H O S P I TA L

#1 Hospital in the Nation in 2013 According to U.S. News & World Reportâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Annual Best Hospitals Edition #1 Ear, Nose & Throat #1 Geriatrics #1 Neurology & Neurosurgery #1 Rheumatology #1 Urology

#2 Psychiatry #3 Gastroenterology & GI Surgery #3 Ophthalmology #4 Cancer #4 Cardiology & Heart Surgery

#4 Diabetes & Endocrinology #4 Nephrology #5 Gynecology #6 Orthopedics #6 Pulmonology

The Johns Hopkins Hospital is the #1 hospital in the United States, and the only hospital in history to be ranked #1 in the nation for 21 years in a row by U.S. News & World Report. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been innovating patient care for over a century, including making your journey to us as easy as possible.

For appointments, trip planning and more

1.855.88.HOPKINS PROMISEof MEDICINE.ORG

LIVE THE LIFE. MOST HOTELS GIVE YOU A ROOM, WE GIVE YOU AN ENTIRE CITY.