CONSULAR | DIPLOMATIC
FORUM
©
FALL 2017 - VOLUME 4, NO. 2
The 2017 Annual Symposium November 15–17, 2017 PAGE 14
INSIDE… CONSULAR NEWS: MEET OUR ACTING DEAN, JOHN A. WRIGHT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MAKING OUR CASE: AZERBAIJAN: LAND OF HOPE,
. . . . . . . . . . . . PAGE 5
WASHINGTON SPOTLIGHT: CONSULAR AFFAIRS GETS NEW ASSISTANT SECRETARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . PAGE 7
DIVERSITY, TOLERANCE
& OPPORTUNITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PAGE 11
PROFESSIONAL ADVICE: SITE SEARCHES COMPONENT OF TRADE PROMOTION .
FROM COUNSEL: DEFAULT JUDGMENT IN U.S. COURTS AGAINST FOREIGN STATES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CONSULAR NEWS: A TRIBUTE TO DONALD PAFKO
. . . . . PAGE 8
. . . . . . . . PAGE 10
- AN INDISPENSABLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PAGE 20
LAST WORD: THE LOCAL CONSULAR CORPS AFTER ALL THESE YEARS .
- STILL IMPORTANT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PAGE 24
CONTENTS FROM THE DEAN
JOHN A. WRIGHT
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CONSULAR NEWS: Meet Our Acting Dean, John A. Wright
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CONSULAR NEWS: CCC Leadership September, 2017
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WASHINGTON SPOTLIGHT: Consular Affairs Gets New Assistant Secretary
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FROM COUNSEL: Default Judgment in U.S. Courts Against Foreign States LAINA LOPEZ
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FORUM© The Consular Corps College Quarterly Publication
CONSULAR NEWS: A Tribute to Donald Pafko
MARIT LEE KUCERA
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fall 2017 VOL. 4 NO. 2 • Written for Consular Officers
MAKING OUR CASE: Azerbaijan: Land of Hope, Diversity, Tolerance & Opportunity NASIMI AGHAYEV
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• Reaching over 1,200 career and Honorary Consulates across the fifty U.S. States and Puerto Rico, as well as the Embassies in Washington, D.C. and the U.N. Permanent Missions in New York City Publisher Consular Corps College (CCC)
THE 2017 SYMPOSIUM
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Editor Katherine Moss, Director General Editorial Assistant Krista Quicker Art Director Gina Marie BalogSartario
2017 CCC Symposium Agenda
PROFESSIONAL ADVICE: Site Searches An Indispensable Component of Trade Promotion JOE DAVID
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Consular and Diplomatic FORUM is published quarterly by The Consular Corps College, a nonprofit organization, and its members across the United States. All editorial inquiries should be directed to Katherine Moss at (240) 5439735, email: KMossCCCollege@gmail.com. Distribution is free to members in good stand ing of CCC; subscriptions are $19.95 per year.
LAST WORD: The Local Consular Corps - Still Important After All These Years KATHERINE MOSS
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Send address changes to: The Consular Corps College, 4804 Enfield Road, Bethesda, M.D., 20814. Allow four weeks for completion of changes. SUBSCRIPTION RATES: $19.95 U.S., Canada $45, International $110 annually.
CCC MEMBERSHIP FORM
Member Bulletin Board Forum© FALL 2017
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Inside Back Cover
TO ORDER call (240) 5439735, Email: KMossCCCollege@gmail.com. Consular and Diplomatic FORUM is a copyrighted publication of The Consular Corps College, 2017. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without written consent from the publisher.
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from the dean
John A. Wright HONORARY CONSUL OF SENEGAL, ST. LOUIS, MO
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AS ACTING DEAN, it is with great honor and pleasure that I bring you greetings from the Board of Chancellors and college administration. I want to first give thanks to our out-going Dean, Paulette Zonicle, Consul General of the Bahamas, for her outstanding leadership. We wish her well in her next endeavors. During her tenure as Dean, the Consular Corps College was able to made great strides in its goals of developing a closer relationship with the Department of State. We feel this is essential, if the CCC is going to provide its members with access to the latest information and knowledge that will enable them to better carry out their assignments. During this interim period, I would be remiss if I did not express my thanks to Louis J. Vella, Honorary Consul General of Malta, for agreeing to step-up and fill in as Acting Vice Dean, while I serve as Acting Dean. We now look forward to welcoming our new Dean, Siri Frette Allsted, Head of Consular Affairs for the Embassy of Norway. She is excited about joining the College leadership team in January. Dean Allsted brings with her energy, enthusiasm, commitment, and a deep appreciation for the College, its mission, and goals. I am also pleased to welcome and work with our newest three Chancellors, TH Krista Bard, Honorary Consul General of Lithuania, TH Mark Jackson, Honorary Consul General of Japan, and TH Eivind Heiberg, Honorary Consul General of Norway. As Acting Dean, I will be working with the Chancellors and Katherine H. Moss, Director General of the College, on the up-coming Symposium. This year, the CCC will be partnering with both the Department of State and the Department of Commerce to provide its members access to some of the most important and up-todate information. The programs, speakers, and presentations at the Symposium continue to improve each year, thanks to the efforts of Director General Kit Moss. The relationships with the Departments of State, Homeland Security, Justice, and now Commerce are critical to the continued success of the College. The willingness of these Federal Departments to engage and devote the time and resources of its senior leadership in addressing the Symposium attendees underscores the importance they feel regarding the CCC’s educational and outreach programs. During my association with the Consular Corps College, I have had the privilege to meet some of the most incredibly hard working and committed individuals. The Symposium has enabled me as Honorary Consul for Senegal to make some lasting friendships and has provided me with opportunities to share and gain insight from others, with whom I share common concerns and interest. As I look around, listen and read the news, I realize now more than ever that we are needed. As we fulfil our assignment representing our countries, its citizens here and abroad, we need to be armed with all the tools available to carry out our duties. I, like other members and past attendees, find the Symposium an essential part of our toolbox. If you have not registered, do so now. You can go online or use the form in this issue. I look forward to seeing you in Washington, DC at the Symposium in November.■
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consular news
Meet Our Acting Dean, John A. Wright HONORARY CONSUL FOR SENEGAL IN ST. LOUIS, MO TH JOHN WRIGHT ASSUMED THE DEAN’S GAVEL on July 31, 2017, when Dean Paulette Zonicle, Consul General of The Bahamas, ended her posting. He will serve in that position until January 1, 2018, when Siri Frette Allsted, Head of Consular Affairs at the Royal Norwegian Embassy, will become Dean. During his five-month tenure, one thing is sure: Acting Dean Wright will not just keep the seat warm. That is not who he is. Wright’s active involvement with the Consular Corps College, joining in 2009, serving on the Board of Chancellors since 2014, and being elected Vice Dean in 2015, has led to such major developments as the creation of the Certificate in Consular Training Program. For Acting Dean Wright, the CCC’s mandate to provide superior, cutting edge training and continuing educational opportunities is vital. Distinguished educator, Superintendent of Schools in the St. Louis, MO area, historian, author of 17 books, and so much more, Wright’s bio reads like an amalgam of at least four accomplished people’s curricula vitae, combined. Active in his Local, State, and even Federal spaces, Wright serves, or has served, on many state and local professional and charitable boards including the University City Board of Education, serving as President, the St. Louis County Board of Education and Board of Trustees for the St. Louis Community College District, President, the Missouri Humanities Council, past President, the Missouri History Museum, the Regional Arts Commission, Vice President, the United Methodist Church African American Heritage Center Board of Directors, Missouri United Methodist Church Archives
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and History Committee, Chairman, and the St. Louis Zoo Executive Committee. Those represent but a few of his affiliations. Acting Dean Wright’s international bona fides are equally extensive. He has traveled the world, visiting over 50 countries with his wife, Sylvia. Both served as delegates to the ICC Conference in Korea and Japan in 1986 and were part of the Peace delegation to Lyon, France in 2007. He participated in many educational exchanges, including as a Fulbright Scholar in Thailand. He helped to organize the Sister City agreement between St. Louis, MO and St. Louis, Senegal, and then pursued historical research and documentation on the cities’ connection to produce a book, More in Common Than Just a Name. Wright presented a copy of his work to the President of Senegal, which ultimately led to his being appointed Honorary Consul of the Republic of Senegal in 2008. He served on the boards of the St. Louis Center for International Relations, where he was President, the Board of the St. Louis World Trade Center, the St. Louis Consular Corps, past President, and the St. Louis, Missouri-Senegal Sister Cities Committee. Wright hasn’t finished yet; just recently, he was elected to the World Affairs Council of St. Louis. Interim officers often serve as placeholders, striving only to keep a steady course until new leadership takes over. Luckily for the Consular Corps College, Acting Dean John Wright doesn’t fit that mold. The Board of Chancellors is grateful to have him taking the lead and supporting our continuing growth and expansion through the end of 2017.■
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consular news
The Consular Corps College Leadership September, 2017 Acting Dean The Honorable John A. Wright Honorary Consul of Senegal in St. Louis, MO Acting Vice Dean The Honorable Louis J. Vella Honorary Consul General of Malta in San Francisco Director General Mrs. Katherine H. Moss
Chancellors, in Alphabetical Order: The Honorable Stefano Acunto Honorary Vice Consul of Italy in Yonkers, NY The Honorable Gayle Anderson Chief of Protocol for the City of Las Vegas The Honorable Berj K. Apkarian Honorary Consul General of Armenia in Fresno, CA The Honorable Krista Butvydas Bard Honorary Consul General of Lithuania in Philadelphia, PA The Honorable Kathleen Blakely Honorary Consul General of Japan in Las Vegas, NV The Honorable Ingrida Bublys Honorary Consul General of Lithuania in Cleveland, OH 6
The Honorable Christian Domeny Honorary Consul of Hungary in Charlotte, NC The Honorable Edward L. Fanucchi Honorary Vice Consul of Italy, Emeritus, in Fresno, CA The Honorable Eivind Heiberg Honorary Consul General of Norway in Minneapolis, MN The Honorable Mark Jackson Honorary Consul General of Japan in Birmingham, AL The Honorable Edward L. Paul, Jr. Honorary Consul of Belize in Wilmington, NC
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washington spotlight
Consular Affairs Gets New Assistant Secretary A FEW WEEKS AGO, the State Department announced its new Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs, Carl C. Risch. As a former Foreign Service Officer and US Consul with extensive experience at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Assistant Secretary Risch brings critical firsthand knowledge and experience to his position. The Consular Corps College looks forward to working with him in the coming years, and is pleased to share his official bio. Carl C. Risch was sworn in as Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs on August 11, 2017. Mr. Risch most recently served as the Acting Chief of Staff at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). He was previously the USCIS Field Office Director at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, South Korea. He
also worked as an immigration officer for USCIS at the U.S. Embassy in Manila, Philippines. He started his career with USCIS as an immigration officer in the Administrative Appeals Office. Mr. Risch is a former Foreign Service Officer with the Department of State, where he served as a consular officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Amsterdam. He had a highly regarded legal career in Pennsylvania in addition to his government service. Mr. Risch earned a BA from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania and a JD from Dickinson School of Law in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.■ As a member of the new leadership at the State Department, Mr. Risch has been invited to address the attendees of this year’s Symposium.
In Memoriam… THE CONSULAR CORPS COLLEGE and members lost a great friend and supporter when Chancellor and Honorary Consul of the Slovak Republic in Minnesota, TH Donald Pafko, passed away unexpectedly on September 9, 2017 at the age of 78. Stalwart, earnest, generous, and committed, Don was devoted to his two countries and peoples and was an exemplary Honorary Consul and a valued Chancellor. He believed strongly in the CCC, in its mission, and in the training it provides. As a Leadership Donor, he was also a great financial supporter. Don will be greatly missed by all.■
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from counsel
Default Judgments in U.S. Courts Against Foreign States Laina Lopez ATTORNEY, CCC Laina Lopez is an experienced attorney and Partner practicing law in Washington, D.C. at the boutique law firm, Berliner, Corcoran & Rowe LLP. She defends foreign nations, as well as their instrumentalities, embassies, heads of state, and officials, in court proceedings throughout the United States. She also publishes a blog, foreignsovereignblog, dedicated to issues relating to foreign sovereign immunity, and has spoken and written extensively on immunity issues. Please feel free to contact her with questions or comments at LCL@BCRDC.COM, or 2022939096.
A DEFAULT JUDGMENT is a judgment issued by a court when a defendant fails to appear or otherwise defend itself in a lawsuit. In default cases where the suing party (called the “plaintiff ”) has asked to be awarded a particular sum of money, the court generally will award that sum of money following adequate proof of damages. The resulting default judgment is binding on the defendant and may be enforced. Special rules apply, however, in cases where the defaulting defendant is a foreign state. First, in the event a defendant foreign (“AT THE THRESHOLD OF EVERY state fails to appear in a lawsuit, the ACTION IN A DISTRICT COURT court will nonetheless determine whether AGAINST A FOREIGN STATE, . . . THE the foreign state is immune from the COURT MUST SATISFY ITSELF THAT jurisdiction of the U.S. court under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act ONE OF THE EXCEPTIONS APPLIES, AS (“FSIA”). This is so because federal SUBJECT-MATTER JURISDICTION IN courts generally are obliged to consider ANY SUCH ACTION DEPENDS ON THAT their own jurisdiction, see Bender v. APPLICATION.”) (INTERNAL CITATIONS Williamsport Area School Dist., 475 U.S. AND QUOTATIONS OMITTED). 534, 541 (1986) (“every federal appellate court has a special obligation to ‘satisfy itself not only of its own jurisdiction, but also that of the lower courts in a cause under review,’ even though the parties are prepared to concede it.”), and because foreign states are presumed to be immune from U.S. courts’ jurisdiction unless an exception to immunity applies, see 28 U.S.C. §1604 (“a foreign state shall be immune from the jurisdiction of the courts of the United States and of the States except as provided in sections 1605 to 1607 of this chapter.”). See also Republic of Austria v. Altmann, 541 U.S. 677, 691 (2004) (“At the threshold of every action in a district court against a foreign state, . . . the court must satisfy itself that one of the exceptions applies, as subjectmatter jurisdiction in any such action depends on that application.”) (internal citations and quotations omitted). For example, in Davis v. Republic of Equatorial Guinea, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 120561 (D.D.C. Aug. 26, 2013), a law firm sued the Republic of Equatorial Guinea when the nation failed to pay the law firm’s fees. Although Equatorial Guinea did not appear in the lawsuit or otherwise participate in the 1 A similar article appears on Ms. Lopez’s blog, foreignsovereignblog.com
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from counsel
litigation, the court carefully that the U.S. Court of Appeals for A FINAL WORD OF CAUTION: ALTHOUGH adjudicated whether that nation the Third Circuit affirmed the trial FOREIGN STATES DO HAVE THE SAFETY NET was immune under the FSIA. court’s ruling in 2015). OF RULE 60(B) TO CORRECT ERRONEOUS Ultimately, it held that the case fell Even if a court finds that (a) it JURISDICTIONAL RULINGS, IT IS within the “commercial activity” has jurisdiction because the foreign exception because the lawsuit was nation is not immune, (b) the INCREDIBLY RISKY TO SIMPLY IGNORE A based upon a breach of a plaintiff ’s claim is meritorious, and LAWSUIT UNTIL IT GETS TO THAT POINT. commercial contract for U.S. legal (c) issuance of a default judgment FOREIGN STATES THEREFORE USUALLY services. Id. at *9-14. Thus, because is proper, all is not lost for the APPEAR IN LAWSUITS BROUGHT AGAINST the court found that it did have foreign state. Under Federal Rule THEM IN U.S. COURTS TO ENSURE VALID jurisdiction to hear the lawsuit, it of Civil Procedure 60(b), a court permitted the case to proceed even may relieve a party from a final AND MERITORIOUS DEFENSES ARE NOT though Equatorial Guinea was not judgment, order for the following LOST DUE TO WAIVER. participating. reasons: Second, even assuming an (1) mistake, inadvertence, exception to immunity does apply, a court still will not surprise, or excusable grant a default judgment in favor of the plaintiff, unless neglect; the plaintiff proves its claim in an evidentiary hearing. (2) newly discovered evidence that, with reasonable Indeed, FSIA §1608(e) provides that “No judgment by diligence, could not have been discovered in time default shall be entered by a court of the United States to move for a new trial under Rule 59(b); or of a State against a foreign state, a political (3) fraud (whether previously called intrinsic or subdivision thereof, or an agency or instrumentality of a extrinsic), misrepresentation, or misconduct by foreign state, unless the claimant establishes his claim or an opposing party; right to relief by evidence satisfactory to the court. . . .” (4) the judgment is void; Hence, in the Davis case, after considering whether it (5) the judgment has been satisfied, released, or had jurisdiction to hear the case at all, the court then discharged; it is based on an earlier judgment that considered documentary evidence submitted by the has been reversed or vacated; or applying it plaintiff law firm and concluded that, based upon that prospectively is no longer equitable; or evidence, Equatorial Guinea had breached the contract, (6) any other reason that justifies relief. The most common ground raised by foreign states entitling the firm to $141,941.11 in damages. See Davis, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 120561, at *17-25. The court seeking to undo default judgments is ground (4) – the also determined that the law firm was entitled to prejudgment is void. A court will declare a judgment to be judgment interest totaling $16,750.94, for a total “void” if the court lacked subject-matter jurisdiction to default judgment of $158,692.05. Id. at *25-29. With adjudicate the case in the first place. See Aurum Asset such a judgment in hand, the law firm would have been Managers, LLC v. Bradesco Companhia de Seguros, 441 permitted to try to attach assets of Equatorial Guinea Fed. Appx. 822, 823 (3d Cir. 2011). that were in the United States and were otherwise not A final word of caution: although foreign states do immune from attachment. have the safety net of Rule 60(b) to correct erroneous jurisdictional rulings, it is incredibly risky to simply By contrast, the trial court in Abdulla v. Embassy of Iraq, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 127914 (E.D. Penn. Sept. 9, ignore a lawsuit until it gets to that point. Foreign states 2013), found that, although FSIA jurisdiction existed therefore usually appear in lawsuits brought against them because the case involved a breach of contract subject to in U.S. courts to ensure valid and meritorious defenses the commercial activity exception, the plaintiff had not are not lost due to waiver. It is therefore best to consult a submitted evidence sufficient to demonstrate that the qualified attorney as early as possible if you are aware that Embassy had in fact breached the contract at issue. (Note your nation has been – or is about to be – sued.■ Forum© FALL 2017
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consular news
A Tribute to Donald Pafko By Marit Lee Kucera, Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic for Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, and South Dakota DON PAFKO’S LIFE CUT A WIDE SWATH across Minnesota and beyond. His passing on September 9 leaves a huge void. As an American of Slovak heritage, Don belonged to and led many organizations; he had many friends and was connected to even more groups and organizations. He wore many hats in his 78 years and he wore them well. My connection as Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic (Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, and South Dakota) to Don as Honorary Consul of Slovakia for Minnesota was unique and in many ways extraordinary. We often consulted each other. We each represented countries that had been neighbors for centuries under the rule of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, then were joined together in 1918 to become the independent state of Czechoslovakia which in the short span of seven decades went thru three political regimes (democratic, fascist, and communist). In 1989, a Velvet Divorce returned these two central European Slavic lands back into a democracy. On January 1, 1993, after a thousand years, the Slovaks created their own sovereign nation when they separated very peacefully from their Bohemian/Moravian/Silesian compatriots to become the Slovak Republic and the Czech Republic. Don was honored to be the Honorary Consul of Slovakia for Minnesota. He was very proud that he could help Slovak citizens as Honorary Consul. He was honored to represent Slovakia in many capacities here in Minnesota, as well as across the entire United States. He tirelessly promoted business opportunities for Slovakia in Minnesota. Not only could he speak the Slovak language, but also he could play the accordion like few others, and he could folk dance like no one else. He embodied the best of his Slovak heritage. I was privileged to have Don as a mentor when I became the candidate to become the Czech Honorary Consul for the upper Midwest in 2014. He took me under his wings of diplomatic experience. One of his earliest pieces of advice to me was to attend the Consular Corps College even before I was officially installed. This 10
MN Consular Corps at 2015 Symposium with Don Pafko at far right LEFT: Mark Ritchie, former Minnesota Secretary of State, and now president of Minnesota’s World’s Fair Bid Committee, with Don Pafko, HC of the Slovak Republic in MN and Marit Lee Kucera, HC of the Czech Republic in MN
has been, indeed, valuable advice. Don’s leadership role in organizations here in Minnesota included Minnesota Consular Corps, Czech and Slovak Sokol Minnesota, Czech and Slovak Cultural Center, and Immigration History Research Center (University of Minnesota) as well as Lipa Slovak Folk Dancers (which he founded) and also Domácí Czech Folk Dancers. He was a passionate advocate in preserving his cultural heritage. He was looking forward to helping Slovaks and Czechs worldwide celebrate a century of independence in 2018. He will be sorely missed. Don set very high standards with his dedication, leadership skills, creativity, discipline, and love of his Slovak heritage. We honor and remember him for all he accomplished and for the fine role model he was for all who knew him.■ Forum© FALL 2017
making our case
Azerbaijan: Land of Hope, Diversity, Tolerance & Opportunity By Nasimi Aghayev Consul General of Azerbaijan to the Western United States WHEN ONE THINKS OF AZERBAIJAN, it is easy to fall into stereotypical images of a country known for oil and natural gas exports. While such activities have contributed to a quickly growing economy, the true wealth of Azerbaijan is in its people and their steadfast practice of interfaith tolerance and commitment to celebrating the diversity that comprises their country. Azerbaijan, the Land of Fire, has existed at a crossroads of civilizations that has contributed to a rich, cultural
narrative as complex and beautiful as the carpets it is also known for. CULTURE OF TOLERANCE Within the borders of Azerbaijan, Muslims, Jews, and Christians live together side by side in harmony. This peaceful coexistence, practiced in a secular majority-Muslim country, is a trademark of Azerbaijani identity.
The Diverse Architecture of Azerbaijan’s Capital, Baku
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making our case
Today, around 95% of the population is of Muslim background, and most of the Muslims in Azerbaijan are Shiites. A continuing example of the unique power of the country’s cultural heritage of peace and tolerance is also in the way they view other Muslims. Most Azerbaijanis do not see a major difference between Sunni and Shiite Islam, and followers of both groups intermarry, and at some mosques, pray and worship together - a phenomenon rarely observed in the Muslim world. Approximately 5% of the population is Christian. As is the case with 30,000 Jewish citizens of the country, Christians pray openly, often celebrating events collaboratively with their Muslim brothers and sisters. Azerbaijan views diversity as a great national virtue and has worked to ensure that this culture of diversity and harmonious co-existence continues to blossom. These values transcend national boundaries also thanks to the diligent work of Azerbaijani diplomats who, in their international postings, share these practices with the foreign citizens they interact with. As the Consul General of Azerbaijan to the Western United States, myself and my team have been working to share these core Azerbaijani values with the residents of Los Angeles
and the whole Western region of the U.S. From interfaith dialogues, to concerts and performances, we have produced creative programming to ensure that California (among other states) properly ‘gets to know’ Azerbaijan. CELEBRATION OF CULTURE While interfaith tolerance is a cornerstone of Azerbaijan, we at the Consulate also work to share other traditional cultural elements. Azerbaijan’s beautiful natural surroundings and resources provide a backdrop for the fine arts. The folk arts of Azerbaijan are connected with the daily life and diversity of the people. Folk songs and dances have a special place in Azerbaijani musical heritage, which has developed along with literature since ancient times. Bringing together past and the present, Azerbaijani musicians have developed a unique fusion of jazz. The support of theatre contributed significantly to Azerbaijan’s cultural development, across various genres. Notably, Azerbaijan is where the first opera (1908), operetta (1913), and ballet (1940) in the Muslim world were composed and staged.
Goygol Lake in Azerbaijan
Traditional Azerbaijani Crafts and Instruments, including the Tar, Kamancha, Balaban (Wind Instrument) and Nagara (Drum) 12
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making our case
A Little Azerbaijani Girl in National Costume
Mugham (Mu am) is a highly complex art form that weds classical poetry and musical improvisation in specific local modes, associated with scales and an orally transmitted collection of melodies and melodic fragments used improvisationally. A record of Azerbaijani Mugham played in balaban, the national wind instrument, was included by NASA in 1977 in the Golden Record attached to the Voyager spacecraft as part of a small and exclusive collection of musical compositions representing the Earth’s musical heritage. In early May of 2017, we invited some of the most talented of Azerbaijani musicians to participate in concerts in California. From Mugham singers, to opera singers, to dancers, to instrumentalists, Los Angeles and San Diego were treated to a concert that exhibited the finest of Azerbaijani performing arts. This rich cultural legacy was shared with over 3,500 Californians who spent an evening immersed in Azerbaijani music. It was an event that transported the audience from California to the alpine peaks and deep canyons of the Caucasus mountains and to the shores of the Caspian Sea. Now more than ever, the story that a country shares with foreign audiences has become increasingly more important. In such divisive times, a country that is working to promote peace and mutual understanding— Forum© FALL 2017
especially in a tumultuous region such as the Caucasus, is a fresh and welcomed perspective. Azerbaijan’s brand is complex and far from perfect. However, myself and other Azerbaijanis remain hopeful that the values of tolerance and harmony we so believe in, will be more widely practiced throughout the world.■
Azerbaijani national dance, “Qazaghi“
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Annual Sy
November 15
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ymposium
5–17, 2017
This year’s Annual Symposium takes its cue from the new Administration’s emphasis on developing more bilateral trade.
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SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 15-17, 2017 in Washington, DC, the consular training this year will broaden its scope and concentrate one full day on Trade Promotion and Investment in and out of the United States. Enriching the Washington, DC Symposium experience, we have the honor of spending the first full day at the Embassy of Lithuania, thanks to the generous hospitality of HE Rolandas Krisciunas, Ambassador of Lithuania. Attendees will spend the second day in the spectacular George C. Marshall Conference Center in the Department of State’s main building. We will bring the 2017 Symposium to a close in that elegant space with our Vin d’Honneur and Awards Ceremony, with State officials joining us. The outstanding opening day agenda includes exceptional programs and training sessions that will help our participants hone and enhance their consular trade promotion skills and upgrade their trade promotion toolbox. Senior officials from the Department of Commerce, together with experts in the fields of international law and commercial real estate, will augment important panel sessions conducted by highly successful career and honorary consular officers, to examine the critically important, and multi-faceted, components of successful trade promotion and investment. The second day offers our attendees the opportunity to meet and hear from new leadership at the Department of State, learn what is new at the State Department, discuss lessons learned following Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, and acquire essential skills in detecting the newest sophisticated fraudulent documents through a hands-on course. Attendees present for the entire Symposium will earn their Certificate of Consular Training, Certificate of Advanced Consular Training, or Certificate of Continuing Advanced Training. Registrants must be current members of the CCC. Participants can register directly on line at www.consular-corps-college.org or complete and mail in the registration form at the end of this publication. We are pleased to share the agenda below, as it stands at printing.
Wednesday, November 15, 2017 1:00 – 4:00 pm
5:45 pm 6:30 – 9:30 pm
9:30 pm
Check In and Pick Up Registration Materials, Lobby of Holiday Inn, Central/White House
Bus from Holiday Inn, Central/White House to the Embassy of New Zealand Opening Gala Diplomatic Dinner, Embassy of New Zealand Keynote Speaker: His Excellency Timothy Groser, Ambassador of New Zealand, Invited Bestowing of the Award for Leadership in the Promotion of Consular Affairs in the United States
Bus from the Embassy of New Zealand to Holiday Inn, Central/White House
Thursday, November 16, 2017 7:50 am
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Bus from Holiday Inn, Central/White House to the Embassy of Lithuania, Pass through Security
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cover 9:00 – 9:05 am
First Day Opening and Housekeeping The Honorable John A. Wright, Acting Dean of the Consular Corps College and Honorary Consul of Senegal, St. Louis, MO
9:05 – 9:15 am
Welcome to the Embassy of Lithuania His Excellency Rolandas Krisciunas, Ambassador of Lithuania to the US
9:15 – 10:15 am
How the Department of Commerce Can Assist Consuls in International Trade Development Mr. Patrick Kirwan, Director, Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee, International Trade Administration, US Department of Commerce Ms. Anne McKinney, Trade Director, Select USA, International Trade Administration, US Department of Commerce
10:15 – 10:30 am
Break
10:30 – 11:45 am
The Role of Honorary Consuls In Promoting Trade Both In Their Countries and in the United States – Two Case Studies The Honorable Krista Bard, Honorary Consul General of Lithuania in Pennsylvania and CCC Chancellor The Honorable Ingrida Bublys, Honorary Consul General of Lithuania and CCC Chancellor
Moderator 11:45 – 12:00 pm 12:00 - 1:00 pm
Break Networking Lunch
1:00 - 2:00 pm
Consular Consulting: What It Involves, What Is Permitted, and the Difference Between a Consular Consultant and a Foreign Agent The Honorable Michael E. Scullin, Honorary Consul of France in Pennsylvania and Partner at McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter, LLP (MDM&C) Bruce Zagaris, Esq., Partner, Berliner, Corcoran and Rowe, LLP Laina Lopez, Esq., Partner, Berliner, Corcoran and Rowe, LLP
2:00 – 2:15 pm
Break
2:15 –3:00 pm
Effective Working Relationships Between Embassies and Their Consular Networks Ms. Siri Frette Allsted, Head of Consular Affairs, Embassy of Norway and Incoming Dean of the Consular Corps College, January, 2018 The Honorable Eivind Heiberg, Honorary Consul of Norway in Minneapolis and CCC Chancellor
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3:00 - 4:15 pm
4:30 pm
Essential Trade Promotion Resources: Experts in the Legal Climate and Location Searches, and Contacts in State and Local Business Development Agencies Donald E. King, Esq., Partner, McGuireWoods, LLC Mr. James M. Connelly, Principal, Summit Commercial Real Estate Mr. Dennis Donovan, Principal and Founder, Wadley, Donovan and Gutshaw The Honorable R. Scott Colson, III, Honorary Consul of the Ukraine in Alabama and Assistant to the Mayor of Birmingham, AL
Bus from Embassy of Lithuania back to Holiday Inn – Central/White House
5:00 – 6:00 pm
Members’ Annual Meeting, Mayor’s Room, Holiday Inn, Central/White House
6:00 – 7:00 pm
Informal Meet and Greet in the Hotel Bar
Rest of the Evening Free for Meetings with Embassy Officials, Etc.
Friday, November 17, 2017 7:50 am
9:00 – 9:05 am
Second Day Opening and Housekeeping The Honorable John A. Wright, Acting Dean of the Consular Corps College and Honorary Consul of Senegal in St. Louis, MO
9:05 – 9:15 am
Welcome to the Department of State The Honorable Rex Tillerson, Secretary of State, US Department of State, Invited
9:15 – 10:15 am
Updates from the Office of Foreign Missions Mr. Cliff Seagroves, Acting Director, Office of Foreign Missions, US Department of State
10:15 – 11:15 am
The Challenges of Consulate and Diplomatic Banking Mr. Oliver M. Moss, President, Global Business Consulting
11:15 – 11:30 am
Break
11:30 – 11:50 am
Meet the New Leadership in Consular Affairs Ms. Karen L. Christensen, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs, Bureau of Consular Affairs, US Department of State
11:50 – 12:00 am
Break
12:00 - 1:00 pm
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Bus from Holiday Inn, Central/White House to Main State Department Building, Pass through Security
Networking Lunch with Speakers and State Department Officials
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cover 1:00 – 2:45 pm
Detecting Fraudulent Documents Ms. Traci L. Moran, Physical Scientist, Counterfeit Deterrence Laboratory Bureau of Consular Affairs, US Department of State
2:45 – 3:00 pm:
Closing Remarks Senior Official, US Department of State
3:00 – 3:30 pm
Awarding of Certificates The Honorable John Wright, Acting Dean of the Consular Corps College and Honorary Consul of Senegal in St. Louis, MO The Honorable Louis Vella, Acting Vice Dean of the Consular Corps College and Honorary Consul General of Malta in San Francisco, CA
3:30 – 4:00 pm
Vin d’Honneur with Symposium Graduates and State Department Officials
4:00 pm
Bus from Main State to Holiday Inn-Central/White House
The Acting Dean, John Wright, the Director General, Kit Moss, and Board of Chancellors are looking forward to welcoming you to this year’s Symposium and the essential consular training it provides.
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professional advice
Site Searches – An Indispensable Component of Trade Promotion AN INTERVIEW WITH COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE SPECIALISTS, JAMES CONNELLY AND DENNIS DONOVAN by Joe David
James (Jamie) Connelly is a principal with Summit Commercial Real Estate in Washington, DC with 35 years of commercial real estate experience, specializing in property evaluation and lease negotiation. He has developed a broad spectrum of clients, including some of Washington’s major corporations and diplomatic groups, and has assisted many countries in both Washington, DC and in New York. www.summitcre.com
Dennis Donovan is the founder and principal of Wadley Donovan Gutshaw Consulting (WDGC) and a founding member of The Site Selectors Guild. He has developed an international presence by performing hundreds of corporate site selections with the ability to offer his clients a comprehensive choice of office location services anywhere in the world. WDGC’s impressive client list has included onethird of Fortune 500 businesses. www.dgconsulting.com
Messrs. Connelly and Donovan will speak further on this topic at the Symposium 20
THE REAL ESTATE MANTRA “Location, Location, Location” acquires a new level of meaning when applied to companies investing internationally. Whether an American company seeks to invest or expand abroad, or whether a foreign organization pursues investments in the United States, finding the appropriate location and facilities entails much more than simply choosing a desirable area with the requisite workforce and infrastructure. It requires an extensive knowledge and understanding of local labor and zoning laws, taxes, applicable bilateral treaties, licensing, pricing, transactional norms, cultural expectations, risk, WHETHER AN AMERICAN COMPANY SEEKS and more. TO INVEST OR EXPAND ABROAD, OR Honorary consuls are in a WHETHER A FOREIGN ORGANIZATION unique position to provide their Sending Nations and PURSUES INVESTMENTS IN THE UNITED industries with critical STATES, FINDING THE APPROPRIATE insights and guidance when LOCATION AND FACILITIES ENTAILS MUCH it comes to investing from MORE THAN SIMPLY CHOOSING A the US into their respective DESIRABLE AREA WITH THE REQUISITE countries, and vice versa. WORKFORCE AND INFRASTRUCTURE. Their deep knowledge of both the country they represent and of the United States makes them valuable advisors to large and small companies, alike. However, despite their trade promotion acumen, few honorary consular officers possess either the expertise or the time required to guide prospective investors to the most suitable areas, to find the most appropriate premises or facilities, or to help them negotiate the most advantageous agreements. For this, honorary consuls need to have specialized, commercial real estate experts in their trade promotion toolbox - specialists with whom they can collaborate and to whom they can refer their investor clients. Effective commercial real estate and location strategy advisors understand the landscapes into which international companies wish to invest. They help clients find and acquire the properties that complement their business image and meet their financial goals. Finding suitable Forum© FALL 2017
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properties in the right areas isn’t always easy, and it has been known to take time, lots of time! James Connelly, Director of Government Relations with Summit Commercial Real Estate, and Dennis Donovan, Founder and Principal of Wadley Donovan and Gutshaw Consulting (WDGC), specialize in this arena. Both men, individually and cooperatively, have aided Fortune 500 companies and international governmental entities locate and acquire real estate solutions, which not only strengthen their global, market presence, but also suit their public image. Recently, I spoke with Mr. Connelly and Mr. Donovan about their work and the expertise offered by commercial real estate advisory services. I asked them each several questions specific to the unique challenges international investors face when pursuing land transactions. Mr. Connelly provides insights from a regional, national, and diplomatic perspective, while Mr. Donovan presents a global perspective. Q: Mr. Connelly, what are some of the issues that the City of Washington and the US Department of State consider before allowing a negotiation with a foreign buyer to be consummated? A: Perhaps two of the most important concerns that need to be reviewed when dealing with a foreign buyer interested in obtaining a US business site are the local zoning laws and the reciprocity situation between the US and the foreign country that is looking to buy, build, or lease a property. Before any property in the States can be purchased by a non-US Government or Foreign Mission, the Department of State must carefully review any reciprocity issues with the buyer’s country. The terms for the purchase must match those that any US firm or citizen will face in the buyer’s country. For example, if the supply of electricity available to the American Embassy in a country’s capital city is less than what their government representative will get in Washington or New York, this can impact the deal. This applies to other concerns as well, such as land location, property size, leasing, ownership terms, and more. The other important concern deals with zoning laws. Every city district has its own special laws on the books Forum© FALL 2017
that relate to parking and occupancy limitations, noise and activity ordinances, and much, much more. Each one of these ordinances must be understood and respected. To ease the client through the maze that may confront them when searching for a suitable site location, a site searcher must be willing to lead the client, despite the obstacles, through this labyrinth to a successful finish. Q: How long does it normally take to get approval? A: Generally, a foreign government’s request to buy property can take the Department of State up to two months to approve or reject. Zoning approval requires a little longer, up to six months. Other important issues beyond what I’ve already mentioned may surface during the transaction and will also need to be addressed. Examples include sensitive political concerns and other timely matters of interest to the immediate community. In some cases, this can all be settled quickly; other times it may take years. For example, a client may need a special construction or remodeling permit, or an embassy may seek a grander location, such as something on Embassy Row or close to the White House. Whatever the situation may be, it is important that the agent remain focused, persistent, and skillful at coming up with suitable solutions. Q: While working with special clients, such as a country’s cultural center, do you sometimes get unusual requests that will make the property more difficult to purchase? A: It isn’t uncommon for a client to insist on special services or to have specific property requirements. This may include mini services on the property that will make the property more suitable for them. In those cases, where there is land availability, this may include a plan to include a “compound” with an activity center, medical facility, or even special classroom facilities. Other times it can be as simple as hiring an architect to redesign rooms to make them more functional for their specific needs. The site selector’s job is to identify the buyer’s needs, and satisfy them in whatever way possible to consummate the sale. In complicated matters, which go beyond the scope 21
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of one’s expertise, it is critical to have partners to whom one can turn for assistance.
WE ARE TRAINED TO UNDERSTAND A CLIENT’S NEEDS/REQUIREMENTS; ESTABLISH A SYSTEMATIC PROCESS FOR
Q: Mr. Donovan, has Global Site Selection changed significantly in the past 10 or 15 years?
APPLYING CRITERIA TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL LOCATIONS: ENGAGE IN ANALYSIS OF DISPARATE FACTORS TO
needed to do business. In such cases, it may be necessary for a company to circumvent the problem(s) by developing its own infrastructure from scratch. This can add significant cost to the venture. An expert site selection advisor who knows the country can assist in costing out whatever initial outlay a company would have to make if it goes into one area over another, or he can present other, more costeffective location options for consideration.
DETERMINE WHICH LOCATIONS WILL A: The location selection BEST SUPPORT LONG-RANGE SUCCESS OF process has not materially changed. Companies still follow a THE NEW FACILITY; AND CONDUCT structured process to identify, NECESSARY DUE DILIGENCE TO FINALIZE evaluate, and ultimately select the FDI DECISIONS. final location (country, city, property). There has been some shifting, however in prioritization of site selection Q: Career and honorary consuls can provide US factors. Among those that have assumed greater organizations with critical information about importance are: investing in their countries and often have many of • Talent pool availability the governmental connections necessary to facilitate • Supply chain risk investment. What additional expertise do global • Cybersecurity commercial real estate specialists offer companies • Intellectual property protection when they decide to invest a country? • Available buildings • Energy costs A: Commercial real estate and site selection advisors • Delivery time to markets provide expertise in process, analysis, and solutions. We Change has occurred in the geographic focus of are trained to understand a client’s needs/requirements; foreign direct investment. The U.S., with its sheer market establish a systematic process for applying criteria to idensize and wealth continues to be resilient, and several other tify potential locations: engage in analysis of disparate faclarge countries continue to attract manufacturing and tors to determine which locations will best support longservice industries. However, we have seen a few lower range success of the new facility; and conduct necessary cost countries become more visible players. due diligence to finalize FDI decisions. In addition, comOne major change: a large proportion of companies mercial, real estate and site selection advisors have develin developed countries placed operations offshore for oped proprietary databases, tools, and models to enhance cost reduction reasons 15 years ago. Today the majority viable outcome of location selection projects. of offshore players involve gaining market access. Companies may opt for a lower cost country within a Q: Gentlemen, at what point in a US company’s search region, but the driver for the new facility is to gain to invest internationally or a foreign company’s market share. investigation into expanding to the States would it Doing business in some parts of the world is rarely be the most advantageous for consular officers to easy. There is often lots of political red tape, disguised as bring in a site selector to assist? special licensing fees and other upfront arrangements. Equally important is the fact that some developing A: (Mr. Connelly) For a US company looking to countries may present significant physical and financial invest internationally or a foreign company looking to challenges for new businesses. These countries can lack invest in the US, it is most advisable to start as early as the essential economic base and infrastructure that is possible! 22
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professional advice
At a minimum, consular correct facilities. Site selectors are HERE IN THE US, ONCE A CONSULAR officers should have contact with experts in location dynamics OFFICER INTRODUCES A CEO OR CFO TO site selectors 2-4 years prior to a including commercial real estate, A PROFESSIONAL SITE SELECTOR, AND projected opening or launch, who provide geographical counsel, THAT CLIENT EXPRESSES INTEREST IN especially if the project is a build who know the regional and local to suit manufacturing facility or a laws and regulations, and who have EXPANDING THEIR MARKET SHARE INTO retro-fit of an existing structure. the skills to see a transaction through A CERTAIN REGION, OR EVEN MULTIPLE This time line would be for into completion. They supplement the SITES, AND PROVIDES A SCHEDULED bound to US or for out-bound consular officers’ advisory services TIME LINE, A SITE SELECTOR WILL ACT AS from US to overseas. and help companies realize their A SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT FOR THEIR While real estate locators can international investment plans. Of work on shorter time frames, it is greatest advantage for an expanding ORGANIZATION’S DESIGNATED PROJECT not optimal, especially if the company is having access to not one MANAGER OR FACILITY DIRECTOR. acquisition involves revamping of site selector, but to a strong team of existing office space or retail commercial real estate executives and facilities. Much of the work is determined by the their respective companies, which can combine skills availability of suitable site options in the desired and efforts to get the project underway and demographic area. concluded!■ Here in the US, once a consular officer introduces a CEO or CFO to a professional site selector, and that client expresses interest in expanding their market share Your core focus is keeping into a certain region, or even multiple sites, and provides a scheduled time line, a site selector will act as people healthy and safe a single point of contact for their organization’s Ours is supporting yours designated project manager or facility director. A: (Mr. Donovan) It is advisable for consular officers to establish, and stay in touch with leading site selectors. Once a company launches a facilities location endeavor, the optimal time for consular officers to reach out to a site selector would be when a company has expressed preliminary interest in a specific country. It is important for the consular officer to be able to furnish requested data/statistics, share value added knowledge about the country/specific cities, and arrange for appropriate contacts (e.g., government ministry or private sector company) to speak with the company as requested. The entire process of expanding internationally can be a lengthy and even painful process. There are minefields along the way. While honorary and career consuls provide much needed help and support in the way of insight, information, and connections, they do not have the time or specific expertise to guide companies to the most suitable locales or to acquire the Forum© FALL 2017
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the last word
The Local Consular Corps - Still Important After All These Years Katherine (Kit) Moss DIRECTOR GENERAL THE CONSULAR CORPS COLLEGE
Katherine Moss is the Director General of the Consular Corps College. In that capacity, she develops innovative training and outreach programs for the foreign consular community in the United States, while growing its national membership. Ms. Moss comes to the Consular Corps College from her position as Founder and Executive Director of The Diplomats’ Washington, Inc. She is also the President of the Potomac Exchange, a membership organization that brings newly accredited ambassadors together with senior Washington officials from major global corporations. A native Washingtonian, Ms. Moss has also lived and worked abroad in France and the United Kingdom and speaks French, German and Italian. She served on the Protocol Advisory Board for the Mayor of Washington, D.C. from 20012005, and has served as the Executive Director of the Society of White House Military Aides. Ms. Moss also sits on the Board of the Consular Corps of Washington, D.C.
Please feel free to contact me anytime. The Consular Corps College, 4804 Enfield Road, Bethesda, M.D., 20814
FOR MOST PEOPLE, the words “consular corps,” conjure up images of stately rooms filled with elegant figures clad in tails and colorful sashes, and a fitting soundtrack of clinking glasses and the murmuring of discreet conversation. In other words: a tableau out of the Edwardian age. For those in the know, of course, the phrase generally invokes a collegial, international assembly of dedicated professionals, of serious breakfasts and lunches with speakers, of networking and sharing best practices. In other words: a scene from the 1960’s. Today, almost two decades into the 21st century, the term “consular corps” often means a list of members, a static or out-of-date website, and few, if any, events sparsely attended. Like so many professional organizations across the US, many local consular corps experience great challenges. Many question their very relevance. Honorary consuls, seriously pressed for time, juggling both their professions and their consular duties, find it hard to justify the time and expense active membership requires. Potential new members sense the aging of an institution and do not perceive its value or benefit. Venerable as the consular corps organization may be, it does not have to fade into the past with waistcoats and sealing wax. A number of consular corps around the United States enjoy a thriving membership and feature a dynamic schedule. What animates those sister consular corps, and what depresses others? How does the first group stay so vibrant, while the second withers away? What can members from a moribund corps do to resuscitate it, and what determines whether a local consular corps stagnates or flourishes? Beginning with our next issue, the Consular Corps College will delve into this topic, examining the challenges and investigating solutions. In each issue, we will carry an article from one local sister consular corps, celebrating its successes and exploring its challenges. We will open up a national discussion, focus on solutions, and share our members’ insights on what works, what to try, and how to reformat outmoded elements of a consular corps to make it cutting edge. We look forward to this on-going project and to interacting with you. We all understand the importance and value of the local consular corps, and we refuse to see something so beneficial relegated to a quaint and genteel past.
Phone: (240) 5439735 Email: KMossCCCollege@gmail.com You can also send a message through our website: www.consularcorpscollege.org Click on “Contact us” to email your thoughts or questions directly to me. 24
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2017 Consular Corps College Symposium R gistration Form Re Participan p ts must be b current members of the Con o sular Corps p Colle o ge. 2017 Membership Dues ($125.00) are already included in the Sympposium registration fee. Be sure to complete both this Sy S mposium Registration Form m and the Membership Form on o the flip side and send this page in with your check. Cu C rrent members should deduct $125.00 from Syympposium price. Please make all checks out to The Consular Corps College. The cost of the 200 17 Sym posium is $7 75.00 per attendee. Th is in clu dees all prog rams and training sessions, two networking lunches, the opening D iplomatic Gala Dinner, all materials, and transportation to and from th he various venues from the Holiday Innn – Central/White House, the Symposium’s designated transportation central hotel. Reme m mber to deduct $125.00 ffrrom the cost if you have already paid your 2017 Annual Membership Dues. We welcome your g guest to come along g. Guests may register to attend the Gaala Dipplomatic Dinner. The price for the G ala Dinner guest is also listed.
Name:_____________________ _ _ ______ ______________________________ _ ______________________ _ _ ____________ _ ____ (First Name)
(L L a s t Na me )
Title and Country Represented:_______ _ ___________________ _ __________ _ ______________________ _ _ ____________ _ ____ Address:_________ _ _____________________ _ ____________________ _ _ _____ ________________________________________ _ Phone: (___)___________ Mobile: (___)________________ E-Mail:_______________________________ _ _ ________
For Consular Corp ps College Symposium Attendeee: Price is all-inclusive Symposium, includi dingg 2017 Membership ip
$775.00
$ ______.____
Symposium, 2017 Membership ip already paiid
$650.00
$ ______.____
$ 100.00 per guest
$ ______.____
For the Spouses and Guests: Gala Diplomatic Dinner, 11/15/17
Name of Spouse or Guest:____________________________________________________ TOTAL REGISTRATION COST:
$_______.____
Kindly send this registration fo form along with youur check in the correct amount to The Consular Corps Collegee, 4804 Enfield Road, Bethesda, MD 20814-3908. Checks shouuld be made out to the Consular Corps College. ACH paymen a nts may also be accepted. Contact Kit Moss at kmosscccollege@gmail.com to inquire about setting up electronic payment. a We have 2 room blocks set up, one at the Holiday Inn – Central/White House (the designated transporta t tion centtral hotel) and one at the Courtyard Embassy Row. Participants sho uld make their ow n reservation s by co ntacting the hotel dir ectly or using the listed links on ou r website. Ask f or the C on sular Cor ps C ollege Symposium rate.
The Consular Corps Colllege TH John A. Wright, Acting Dean n H Honorary ry Consul of Senegal, St. Louis, MO Ka atheri h rine H. Moss, Dire rect ctor Generall 240-543-9735
APPLICA P CATION FOR FU ULL ME EMBER E SHI HIP/R RENEWA WAL IN TH HE CON ONSUL ULAR AR CORP ORP PS COLLEGE GE For Year ar 2017 (Please print) Name:___ _______ _______ _______ _______ _____ ___________________ ____________ ________ _____ __ ______ Title:__ ____ _________ _________ _________ __________ _________ _________ _________ _________ ______ __ _____ Country/Aff ffiliation:__ _____ ________ ________ ________ ________ _________ ________ _________ _____ __ _______ Address:___ _______ _______ ________ _______ _______ _______ ________ _______ _______ _______ ________ ___________ ________________________________________________ ___________________ ___________ City/State/Zip:__ ______ ________ ________ ________ _________ ______________ ________ _______ _______ __ ____ Consulate/Business Phone:__________________________ _____________________ ____ __ _______ Mobile Phone:__ ____ _______ ________ _______ _______ _______ _______ ________ _______________ ___________ __ Telefa fax Consulate/Business:_ ______ _______ _______ ___________ ___________________ ___________ E-mail:__ ______ _______ _______ _______ ________ ______________ _ __ ___ ___________________ ___________ State a Department ID # :_________________________________________________ __________ __ _ I am a member of the Consular Corps in:__ ______ _______ ____________ _______ _______ ____ ______ __ ____ Kindly att ttach a check fo for $125.00 for the annual Membership dues, payable p to the Consular Co orps College, and send both in to 4804 Enffiield Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814. You will receive r a receipt fo for your membership. m
Member Bulletin Board THE CCC GET S E-C OM ME RCE Over this past year, the Consular Corps College began moving into the 21st century, accepting credit cards to renew memberships and to register for the Symposium and webcasts. As of this summer, the CCC has implemented full ecommerce capabilities. Now , joining, renewing one’s membership, registering for the Symposium, and even making donations to the CCC are as easy as going to the home page of our website, www.consularcorpscollege.org, and clicking on the desired button(s). It takes only a few minutes of your time and is so easy. We invite you to visit our website and give it a try. Chancellors ased to announce three new ple is s llor nce Cha of ard Bo The inning this September: were elected to the Board, beg Bard, TH Krista Butvydas eral en G Honorary Consul of Lithuania in Krista has Philadelphia, PA. nia represented Lithua 10. since October, 20
TH Eivin d J. Heib erg, Honorar y Consul G eneral of Norw ay Minn eapolis, MN. Eivin d appointe was d to repr esent Norway in June, 2015.
TH Mark B. Jackson, Honorary Consul General of Japan in Birmingham, AL. In addition to his election to the Board of Chancellors, Mark recently received the prestigious Samuel Ullman Award from the Japan America Society of Alabama for his service to the JapanAlabama relationship. Mark has represented Japan since July, 2014.
ATES D P U BER
MEM
TH Nasimi Aghayev, Consul General of Azerbijan in Los Angeles, was seated as the First Vice Dean of the Los Angeles Consular Corps, the largest consular corps in the world. Nasimi joined the diplomatic service in 1999 and was appointed Consul General of Azerbaijan in LA on April 12, 2012. His territory covers 12 western states.
TH Grant A . Gochin, Honorary Con Los Angele sul of Togo in s, CA, was seated as the Vice D ean of the Los An geles Cons ular Corps. Gra nt was appointed Honorary Consul of Togo in April, 2009 .
ANNOUNCEMENT–NB The Board of Chancellors is taking nominations for this year’s Award for Leadership in Promoting the Advancement of Consular Affairs in the United States to recognize and honor distinguished leaders for their commitment to advancing excellence in consular work through the sharing of information, resources, and best practices. Candidates may come from within the consular community or from State, Local, or Federal Government circles. Nominees must have a track record of working closely with consular officers and have a lasting, positive effect on the advancement of consular duties and responsibilities.
The Consular Corps College 4804 Enfield Road Bethesda, M.D., 20814
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Consular Corps College www.consular-corps-college.org