WD | Culture | Spotlight
Diplomatic Spotlight
June 2016
Passport DC Kickoff
Caravan Beirut
Cultural Tourism DC kicked off its ninth annual Passport DC festival, held in May, with a reception at Blair House, the official guesthouse of the U.S. president. Over a dozen ambassadors came out to toast the month-long international showcase that regularly is expected to draw 250,000 people and includes an Around the World Embassy Tour, in which the public can visit nearly 70 embassies; the European Union embassies open house day; Flower Mart at the National Cathedral; and the Embassy Chef Challenge Gala. Cultural Tourism DC is an independent nonprofit coalition of more than 230 organizations that works to showcase the city’s culture and heritage.
On April 8, over 2,000 people gathered to celebrate the launch of Caravan Beirut, a four-day pop-up shop hosted by Mariana Wehbe Public Relations and digital retail platform Bucolik, in partnership with the American Lebanese Chamber of Commerce. Thirty Lebanese designers set up a luxurious marketplace in Georgetown, bringing authentic fashion, accessories, jewelry, homeware, art and photography straight to D.C.
Steven Shulman, executive director of Cultural Tourism DC, welcomes guests.
Ambassador of Georgia Archil Gegeshidze and his wife Dea Gadua.
The Embassy of Albania’s Eni Juca, Daniela Kristo Nesho and Mamica Toska join Lendita Haxhitasim of the Embassy of Kosovo.
Mariia Budiakova of the Ukrainian Embassy, Allyson Browne McKithen of the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center and Olha Ivanova of the Ukrainian Embassy.
Ambassador of Ghana Joseph Henry Smith, Ambassador of Angola Agostinho Tavares Da Silva Neto, Ambassador of Cabo Verde José Luis Rocha, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Sri Lankan Embassy Gamini B. Keerawella, Jawauna M. Greene of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Ambassador of Mauritius Sooroojdev Phokeer and Ambassador of Swaziland Abednego Mandla Ntshangase.
Nour Khoury, CEO of Bucolik; Rudy Seikaly, partner in Bucolik; Chargé d’Affaires of the Lebanese Embassy Carla Jazzar; D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser; and Mariana Wehbe of Mariana Wehbe Public Relations attend a welcome dinner for designers as part of Caravan Beirut.
Ambassador of Barbados John Beale, Passport DC advisor Jan Du Plain, Leila Beale and Deputy Chief of Mission of the Lebanese Embassy Carla Jazzar.
Megan Harkovitch, Ambassador of Montenegro Srdan Darmanovic, Shahin Mafi of Home Health Connection Inc. and State Department Protocol Officer Katrina D. Chan.
Francesca Milingi, Christine Vest, Constance Whiteside, Sergio Lopez and James Barbour of the European Union Delegation to the U.S.
Ambassador of Mauritius Sooroojdev Phokeer, Ambassador of Malta Pierre Clive Agius and Ambassador of Swaziland Abednego Mandla Ntshangase.
Photos: Embassy of Lebanon
Arab League Farewell Ambassador of the Arab League Salah Sarhan and embassy liaison Jan Du Plain.
From left, Egyptian Embassy Defense Attaché Maj. Gen. Khaled Mogawer, outgoing Deputy Chief of Mission of the League of Arab States Embassy Sameh Alfonse, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia Prince Abdullah bin Faisal bin Turki and Dr. Ashraf Elfiky attend a farewell party for Alfonse hosted by Elfiky.
Photo: Samia AbdelWahed
Photo: Samia AbdelWahed
42 | THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT | JUNE 2016
Lubna Hashem of the League of Arab States, Aseel Albanna of the Iraqi Cultural Center, Ambassador of Sudan Maowia Khalid and Chargé d’Affaires of the Libyan Embassy Wafa Bugaighis.
Photo: Samia AbdelWahed