2010 Kazakhstan
African Union
Lebanon
Belgium
Sri Lanka
Ambassadors Directory
Contributing editors: Gail Scott and ROland Flamini Singapore
Micronesia
Guyana
Panama United Arab Emirates
Mexico
Estonia Antigua and Barbuda
Germany Ghana
Ghana
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
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Holy See
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special feature | ambassadors directory
Hungary
Republic of Congo
East Timor
Barbados
Libya
Democratic Republic of Congo
Afghanistan M. Ashraf Haidari Spouse: Lina Haidari Embassy & RESIDENCE: 2341 Wyoming Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-292-4297 chargé d’affaires:
African Union Amina Salum Ali Ali Mansour Vuai Embassy: 1919 Pennsylvania Ave. NW 20006 Telephone: 202-293-8006 Ambassador: Spouse:
Albania Ambassador:
Aleksander
Sallabanda Spouse: Sasha Sallabanda Embassy: 2100 S St. NW, 20008
-Spouses-
India
Telephone:
202-223-4942
Al0geria
Abdallah Baali Rafika Lakreche Baali Embassy: 2118 Kalorama Rd. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-265-2800 Residence: “The Elms,” 4040 52nd St. NW, 20016 Ambassador: Spouse:
Andorra Narcis Casal de Fonsdeviela Embassy: Two United Nations Plaza, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10017 Telephone: 212-750-8064 Ambassador:
Angola
Did You Know morocco On the Links
Want to get the ear of Italian sophisticate Maria Felice Cittandini Cesi Mekouar, wife of Moroccan Ambassador Aziz Mekouar? Talk golf. She’s a champion with armloads of silver trophies from three continents. This Italian aristocrat started playing at 18, holds a ten handicap, drives farther now than she did at 20 and plays Chevy Chase Club’s courses with her husband (whom she met at the Acquasanta di Roma, Italy’s oldest course).
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Iraq
Azerbaijan
Ambassador: Josefina Pitra Diakité Spouse: Mamadou Diakité Embassy: 2108 16th St. NW, 20009
Antigua and Barbuda Ambassador:
Deborah
Mae Lovell Embassy: 3216 New Mexico Ave. NW, 20016 Telephone: 202-362-5122
(The) Arab League Ambassador: Hussein Hassouna Spouse: Nevine Hassouna Embassy: 1100 17th St. NW, Ste. 620, 20036 Telephone: 202-265-3210 Residence: 3003 Van Ness St. NW, Apt. 1133, 20008
Argentina Minister José Perez Gabiondo Spouse: Alejandra Franco Embassy: 1600 New Hampshire Ave. NW, 20009 Telephone: 202-238-6400 Residence: 1600 New Hampshire Ave. NW, 20009 Chargé d’affaires:
Armenia Ambassador:
Tatoul
Markarian Spouse: Anahit Aghumian Embassy: 2225 R St. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-319-1976
Australia Ambassador:
Kim Beazley
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
Susie Annus 1601 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20036 Telephone: 202-797-3000 Spouse:
Embassy:
Austria Christian Prosl Patricia Prosl-Hurni Embassy: 3524 International Ct. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-895-6700 Residence: 2419 Wyoming Ave. NW, 20008 Ambassador: Spouse:
Azerbaijan Yashar Aliyev Margiz Shekimskaya Embassy: 2741 34th St. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-337-3500 Residence: 3131 Connecticut Ave. NW, Apt. 2502, 20008 Ambassador: Spouse:
Bahamas
Cornelius Smith Clara Smith Embassy: 2220 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-319-2660 Residence: 5100 Warren Pl. NW, 20016 Ambassador: Spouse:
Bahrain Houda Nonoo Salman Idafar Embassy: 3502 International Dr. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-342-1111 Residence: 4646 Hawthorne Ln. NW, 20016 Ambassador: Spouse:
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2010
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special feature | ambassadors directory
hello, neighbor! These ambassadors moved to Washington this past year.
Andorra
Dominica
Mali
Senegal
March 2nd, 2009
July 16th, 2010
March 23rd, 2010
March 25th, 2010
Australia
Gambia
Marshall Islands
South Africa
February 7th, 2010
May 10th, 2010
October 30th, 2010
August 4th, 2010
Brazil
Haiti
Mauritania
Swaziland
September 14th, 2010
July 28th, 2010
July 19th, 2010
Honduras
Moldova
Switzerland
September 7th, 2010
Has not presented credentials as of press time
Narcis Casal de Fonsdeviela
Kim Beazley Australia
Mauro Vieira January 11th, 2010
Hubert J. Charles
Alieu Ngum
Louis Harold Joseph
Mamadou Traore
Banny deBrum
Mohamed Lemine El Haycen
Fatou Danielle Diagne
Ebrahim Rasool Italy
Rev. Abednejo M. Ntshangafe
Brunei Darussalam
Dato Yusoff Abd Hamid
Bulgaria
October 2nd, 2009
Jorge Ramón Hernandez Alcerro
Bulgaria
June 9th, 2010
Elena Poptodorova
Dino Patti Djalal
Canada
Gary Albert Doer October 23rd, 2010 Chile Canada
Indonesia
August 4th, 2010
Arturo Fermandois June 21st, 2010
March 16th, 2010 Costa Rica China
Meta Shanon Figueres Boggs
Namibia
September 7th, 2010
Italy
September 3rd, 2010
Tonga
Giulio Terzi di Sant’agata
Dominica
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
Shanka Prasad Sharma
Jamaica
November 18th, 2009
May 26th, 2010
New Zealand
Jordan
August 5th, 2010
Audrey Marks
Alia Hatough Bouran September 14th, 2010 Kenya
July 27th, 2010
Zygimantas Pavilionis
Denmark
August 5th, 2010
2010
Mike Moore
Taumoepeau Tupou February 25th, 2010
New Zealand
Namik Tan February 18th, 2010 Ukraine
Nicaragua
Francisco Obadiah Campbell Hooker June 23rd, 2010
Aminata Maiga Djibrilla Toure
Olexander Motsysk June 24th, 2010 Uzbekistan
February 26th, 2010 Zambia
Paraguay
June 25th, 2010
Steve Matenje
Rigoberto Gauto-Vielman
September 10th, 2010
November 18th, 2009
Turkey
Ilhomjon Tuychievich Nematov
March 26th, 2010
Malawi
| washingtonlife.com
Sonatane Tu’akinamolahi
Turkey
Niger Lithuania
September 10th, 2010
| OCTOBER
Nepal
October 8th, 2009
Cyprus
September 1st, 2010
Martin Andjaba
Jamaica
Tanzania
September 14th, 2010
Elkanah Odembo
Peter Taksoe Jensen
Amelia Matos Sumbana
Mwandaidi Sinare Maajar
September 7th, 2010
Pavlos Anastasiades
Mozambique
Manuel Sager
November 2nd, 2009
China
Yesui Zhang
Igor Munteanu
Sheila Z. Siwela
Brazil
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Bangladesh Akramul Qader Rifat Qader Embassy: 3510 International Dr. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-244-0183 Residence: 4 Highboro Ct., Bethesda, Md. 20817 Ambassador: Spouse:
Barbados John Beale Leila Mol Beale Embassy: 2144 Wyoming Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-939-9200 Residence: 4850 Linnean Ave. NW, 20008 Ambassador: Spouse:
Belarus chargé d’affaires: Oleg
Kravchenko Spouse: Marina Kravchenko Embassy: 1619 New Hampshire Ave. NW, 20009 Telephone: 202-986-1604 Residence:4311 Embassy Park Dr. NW, 20016
Belgium Jan Matthysen Spouse: Agnes Matthysen Embassy: 3330 Garfield St. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-333-6900 Residence: 2300 Foxhall Rd. NW, 20007 Ambassador:
Belize Néstor Méndez Elvira Méndez
Ambassador: Spouse:
Ecuador
2535 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-332-9636 Residence: 1686 Chain Bridge Rd., McLean, Va. 22101
10001 Bent Cross Dr., Potomac, Md. 20854
Embassy:
202-342-2574 2233 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Ste. 212, 20007
Residence:
Telephone: Residence:
Brazil
Cambodia
Mauro Vieira 3006 Massachusetts Ave. NW 20008; 1025 Thomas Jefferson St. NW Ste. 300 West, 20007 (Temporary) Telephone: 202-238-2805 Residence: 3000 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Ambassador:
Hem Heng Savine Ek Embassy: 4530 16th St. NW, 20011 Telephone: 202-726-7742 Residence: 4500 16th St. NW, 20011
Embassy:
Benin S. Cyrille Oguin Hortense Oguin Embassy: 2124 Kalorama Rd. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-232-6656 Residence: 9901 Sorrel Ave., Potomac, Md. 20854 Ambassador: Spouse:
Ambassador: Spouse:
Brunei Darussalam
Cameroon
Dato Yusoff Abd Hamid Spouse: Datin Mahani Abu Zar Embassy: 3520 International Ct. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-237-1838
Joseph Foe-Atangana Veronique Foe Biloa Embassy: 2349 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-265-8790 Residence: 2825 Normanstone Dr. NW, 20008
Ambassador:
Bolivia chargé d’affaires: Minister-
Counselor Erika Angela Dueñas Embassy: 3014 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-483-4410 Residence: 3012 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008
Ambassador: Spouse:
Bulgaria Elena Poptodorova Georgi Petrov Embassy: 1621 22nd St. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-387-0174 Residence: 1621 22nd St. NW, 20008 Ambassador:
Canada
Spouse:
Bosnia and Herzegovina Mitar Kujundzic Lea Kujundzic Embassy: 2109 E St. NW, 20037 Telephone: 202-337-1500 Ambassador: Spouse:
Botswana Lapologang Caesar Lekoa Spouse: Mpho Gloria Bojelo Lekoa Embassy: 1531-1533 New Hampshire Ave. NW, 20036 Telephone: 202-244-4990 Ambassador:
Gary Albert Doer Spouse: Ginny Devine Embassy: 501 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, 20001 Telephone: 202-682-1740 Ambassador:
Burkina Faso Paramanga Ernest Yonli Araba Kadidiatou Yonli Embassy: 2340 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-332-5577 Residence: 6338 16th St. NW, 20011 Ambassador:
Cape Verde
Spouse:
Maria de Fátima Lima da Veiga Spouse: Manuel de Veiga Embassy: 3415 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-965-6820 Residence: 6509 Kenhill Rd., Bethesda, Md. 20817 Ambassador:
Burundi Angele Niyuhire Simeon Kirabisha Embassy: 2233 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Ste. 212, 20007 Ambassador: Spouse:
Burkina Faso
Austria
Japan
Israel
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Jamaica
Cape Verde
Iceland
Latvia
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
Ireland
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2010
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Gifts
to Give
After discovering that Thailand’s King Bhumibol was an accomplished saxophone jazz musician and composer, the Office of Protocol recommended that President Bill Clinton give him a collection of Herman Leonard’s photographs of American jazz artists over the past half century. The two leaders made an instant connection which simultaneously helped foster their diplomatic relationship.
Diplomatic gifts by Mary Mel French
D
iplomatic gift giving is often accompanied by signif icant anxiety, especia l ly at the highest levels of government, such as when a president or other government off icial must present a gift to a foreign leader. The meaning and significance of the gift increases exponentially in such a context; no longer a mere gift, items passed from one nation’s leader to another are rendered promises of a new relationship or become symbols of an existing relationship. There is always an implication that official gifts should be of the most unique, one-of-a-kind type when given at the presidential level. When gifts fail to match the occasion or the level of the relationship, diplomatic relationships may fail along with them. Mastering the art of gift giving is not easy; recognizing the nuances of official giving comes with experience and knowledge of how to approach the process. There are those in the Office of Protocol and others who have
a background in the official gift selection process with creative knowledge not only of what to give, but how gifts should be presented for certain occasions. Their knowledge can be extraordinarily helpful to those without experience in this area. Consulting such people could save those needing to select official gifts who have not been involved in gift giving at the diplomatic level much time, frustration, and embarrassment. Official gift choices, after all, are quite different from personal gift choices one makes when giving gifts to friends. In a diplomatic context, gifts have tremendous potential for forging friendships, establishing ties, easing tensions, and sometimes simply saying “thank you.” The protocol gift officer researches, recommends, selects, and prepares for presentation the gifts given by the president, vice president, secretary of state, and their spouses. Laura Bowen Wills served in this position during most of my time in office.
Mary Mel French served as U.S. chief of protocol from 1997 to 2001. This article is excerpted from her new book, United States Protocol: The Guide to Official Diplomatic Etiquette. (Rowman & Littlefield)
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It is crucial to become educated regarding Former Chief country customs and of Protocol and author traditions relating to Mary Mel French any gift given. Some research will ideally prevent mistakes that could ruin an event, dampen a trip, or even strain diplomatic relations with another country. Indigenous Gifts Selections that reflect the giver’s culture and background are appreciated. The key is to find one or two items highlighting a particular hometown, state, or country, and make those standard gifts. Example: a coffee table book with photographs featuring a particular city, state, region, or country. Gifts with Inscription Inscribing or engraving a gift will make even the most generic item unique to the recipient. However, care must be taken not to devalue the gift. Often, a card from the giver is more appropriate than inscription or engraving. Example: a silver picture frame with the principal’s picture and signature. Small Gifts These are thoughtful gestures and their quality is a factor not to be overlooked when making a gift choice. Examples: handmade wooden boxes, key rings, writing pens, and coins and stamps for collections.
Gifts to
Avoid
Alcohol Cultural considerations as well as potential pitfalls in someone’s personal background make this gift a risky choice. Difficult to Handle Items When the gift given is more of an inconvenience than a benefit, it should be avoided (i.e., flowers brought without a vase, which requires the recipient to stop and place them in water). Certain Flowers Red roses (for their romantic significance) and white flowers (because they are a funeral flower in some countries) should be avoided. Paintings What is considered appropriate and tasteful art in one country may not be viewed favorably in another. Portrait paintings and art depicting people, especially, are sometimes inappropriate because the artist’s interpretation of the subject could potentially be off-putting. Wrapping Paper Color choice should be made carefully; certain colors of wrapping paper may be associated with negative emotions or may be offensive in some countries.
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Angola
Eritrea
Monaco
Russia
Mexico
Kuwait
Central African Republic Ambassador: Stanislas Mouss-Kembe Embassy: 1618 22nd St. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-483-7800
Chad Mahamoud Adam Bechir Spouse: Nouracham Bechir Niam Embassy: 2401 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-462-4009 Residence: 16833 Harbor Town Dr., Silver Spring, Md. 20905 Ambassador:
Chile Arturo Fermandois Carolina Santa Cruz Embassy: 1732 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20036 Telephone: 202-785-1746
Finland
Comoros Mohamed Toihiri Embassy: 866 United Nations Plaza, Ste. 418, New York, NY 10017 Telephone: 1-212-750-1637 Ambassador:
Congo, Democratic Republic of Ambassador: Dr. Faida M. Mitifu Spouse: Dr. Maurice Shalishali Embassy: 1726 M St. NW, Ste. 601, 20036 Telephone: 202-234-7690 Residence: 1726 M St. NW, 20036
Congo, Republic of Serge Mombouli Stella Corine Mombouli Embassy: 4891 Colorado Ave. NW, 20011 Telephone: 202-726-5500 Residence: 10809 Riverwood Dr., Potomac, Md. 20854
Ambassador:
Ambassador:
Spouse:
Spouse:
China Yesui Zhang Naiqing Chen Embassy: 3505 International Pl. NW, 20522 Telephone: 202-495-2000 Ambassador: Spouse:
Colombia Ambassador: Gabriel Silva
Mariana Espinosa de Silva Embassy: 2118 Leroy Pl. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-387-8338 Residence: 1520 20th St. NW 20036 Spouse:
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Georgia
Costa Rica Meta Shanon Figueres Boggs Embassy: 2114 S St. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-234-2945 Ambassador:
Croatia Ambassador: Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic Spouse: Jakov Kitarovic Embassy: 2343 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Ste. F13, 20008 Telephone: 202-588-5899
France
Macedonia
Norway
-Spouses-
Did You Know Sweden Versatile Sport
Sporty Eva Hafström, wife of Swedish Ambassador Jonas Hafström, is as much at home raking leaves and changing the oil in their Volvo as she is riding her horse Halifax (“I’ve known him longer than my husband”); walking “Nalle” (“Teddy Bear” in Swedish), her beloved long-haired Jack Russell Terrier; or skiing black diamonds with her old school chums. Although this Swedish blonde looks gorgeous in chiffon, many don’t know she once wore a police officer’s uniform.
4871 Glenbrook Rd. NW, 20016
Residence:
Cuba Dagoberto Rodriquez Barrera Embassy: In care of the Embassy of Switzerland, Cuban Interests Section, 2630 16th St. NW, 20009 Telephone: 202-797-8518 Representatives:
Cyprus Pavlos Anastasiades Spouse: Maria Ambassador:
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
Antonopoulou-Anastasiades 2211 R St. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-462-5772 Residence: 2501 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Embassy:
Czech Republic Daniel Kostoval Nadesda Kostoval Embassy: 3900 Spring of Freedom St. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-274-9100 Residence: 3900 Spring of Freedom St. NW, 20008 Chargé d’Affaires: Spouse:
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2010
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special feature | ambassadors directory
Allison Ford and Kate Sullivan
Estella Gauto and Amb. Rigoberto Gauto of Paraguay
Motosada Matano and Chieko Matano
Amb.La Celia Prince of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Harold Doley III
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Paul Pelosi wl sponsored
Ambassadors Ball J.W. Marriott Photos by Alfredo Flores
Diplomatic
Difference: Guests dined, danced, and dazzled at the 32nd Annual Ambassadors Ball benefiting the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. This year’s honorees included Sens. Mike Enzi, and Dianne Feinstein and Reps. Norm Dicks and C.W. Bill Young, who were recognized for their vital contributions to the Congressional Multiple Sclerosis Caucus. This year, funds that would have been spent on flowers went to programs and service instead. Following the tributes and toasts, guests closed out an enchanting evening on the dance floor.
Real Housewives of DC’s Lynda Erkiletian and Ebong Eka Amb. Jamaludin Jarjis of Malaysia, Dr. Kalsom Ismail, and James Connelly
Norah O’Donnell, Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Sen. Mike Enzi Tony and Heather Podesta
View all the photos at www.washingtonlife.com!
Roger Klaffka and Veronika Folz
Annie Broullire and J. Christopher Broullire Maritza Hernandez, Amb. of Barbados John Beale, Leila Hernandez, and Ambassador Jorge Hernandez of Honduras
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
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| washingtonlife.com Rep. Ed Royce and Marie Royce, Shamim Jawad, and Amb. Said Jawad of Afghanistan.
39 Amb. Akramul Qader of Bangladesh, Rifat Akram, and Amb. Shankar Sharma of Nepal
special feature | ambassadors directory
Greece
Dominica
Grenada
Egypt
Romania
Denmark Ambassador: Peter Taksoe-Jensen Embassy: 3200 Whitehaven St. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-234-4300
Djibouti Ambassador: Roble Olhaye, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps Spouse: Amina Farah Ahmed Olhaye Embassy: 1156 15th St. NW, Ste. 515, 20005 Telephone: 202-331-0270 Residence: 10101 Sorrel Ave., Potomac, Md. 20854
Dominica Hubert J. Charles Sylvia Charles Embassy: 3216 New Mexico Ave. NW, 20016 Telephone: 202-364-6781 Residence: 17639 Charity Ln., Germantown, Md. 20874 Ambassador: Spouse:
Dominican Republic Roberto B. Saladin Bertha Nin de Saladin Embassy: 1715 22nd St. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-332-6280 Residence: 2930 Edgevale Terr. NW, 20008 Ambassador: Spouse:
East Timor Constâncio Pinto Gabriella Pinto Embassy: 4201 Connecticut Ambassador: Spouse:
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Morocco
Belize
Ave. NW, Ste. 504, 20008 202-966-3202
Telephone:
Ecuador Luis Benigno Gallegos Spouse: Fabiola Jaramillo Almeida Embassy: 2535 15th St. NW, 20009 Telephone: 202-234-7200 Residence: 2320 Bancroft Pl. NW, 20008 Ambassador:
Egypt Sameh Shoukry Suzy Shoukry Embassy: 3521 International Ct. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-895 5400 Residence: 2301 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Ambassador: Spouse:
El Salvador Chargé d’Affaires:
Franscisco
R. Altschul Fuentes Spouse: Melinda Delashmutt Altschul Embassy: 1400 16th St. NW, Ste.100, 20036 Telephone: 202-265-9671 Residence: 5171 Macomb St. NW, 20016
Equatorial Guinea Purificación Angue Ondo 2020 16th St. NW, 20009 Telephone: 202-518-5700 Residence: 4044 27th St. N. Arlington, Va., 22207 Ambassador: Embassy:
Armenia
Palau
3301 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-298-5800 Residence: 3001 Woodland Dr. NW, 20008 Embassy:
Eritrea Ghirmai Ghebremariam Azeb Gherezgiher Embassy: 1708 New Hampshire Ave. NW, 20009 Telephone: 202-319-1991 Residence: 7127 16th St. NW, 20012 Ambassador: Spouse:
France Pierre Nicolas Vimont 4101 Reservoir Rd. NW, 20007 Telephone: 202-944-6000 Residence: 2221 Kalorama Rd. NW, 20008 Ambassador: Embassy:
Estonia Väino Reinart Kaire Jürgenson Embassy: 2131 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-588-0101 Ambassador: Spouse:
Gabon Carlos Victor Boungou Spouse: Blandine Boungou Embassy: 2034 20th St. NW, Ste. 200, 20009 Telephone: 202-797-1000 Ambassador:
Ethiopia Tesfaye Yilma Sabo 3506 International Dr. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-364-1200 Chargé D’Affaires: Embassy:
European Union João Vale de Almeida Spouse: Ana Jara de Carvalho Embassy: 2300 M St. NW, 20037 Telephone: 202-862-9500 Ambassador:
Fiji Winston Thompson Queenie Pauline Verónica Thompson Embassy: 2000 M St. NW, Ste. 710, 20036 Telephone: 202-466-8320 Ambassador: Spouse:
Finland Pekka Lintu Laurel Colless
Ambassador: Spouse:
Comoros
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
Gambia
Alieu Ngum Aminatta Ngum Embassy: 2233 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Ste. 240, 20007 Telephone: 202-785-1379 Residence: 1941 Westchester Dr. Silver Spring, MD 20902 Ambassador: Spouse:
Georgia Batu Kutelia Sofia Barnabishvili Embassy: 2209 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-387-2390 Residence: 4701 Willard Ave. Chevy Chase, Md. 20185 Ambassador: Spouse:
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special feature | ambassadors directory
Diplomatic Scandals Embassy Row was in an uproar over news of these most peculiar affairs
The “Slap Flap”
the event the Americans entered the war, was soon intercepted and decoded by the British, who promptly gave it to President Woodrow Wilson. Newspaper revelations that the offer included promises of Mexico reclaiming territories it had lost in the Mexican-American War of 1848 caused major outrage that led, in part, to the U.S. declaration of war on Germany three months later.
Sondra Gotlieb, the wife of Canadian Ambassador Allan Gotlieb, made headlines when she slapped her social secretary Connie Gibson Connors in front of the assembled press for failing to immediately tell her that OMB Director Richard Darman had canceled his acceptance to a 1986 dinner honoring Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. Despite the embarrassment and controversy, the incident put the Gottliebs in the spotlight and le tout Washington was soon vying for invitation to the Canadians’ soirees.
Koreagate
U.S.-South Korean relations suffered after shady businessman/socialite Tongsun Park was accused in 1986 of bribing high officials, supposedly to help his country achieve goals that included reversing President Nixon’s decision to withdraw U.S. soldiers from South Korea, increasing American military aid, and reducing criticism of human rights violations. As many as 100 members of Congress were said to be involved, but only ten were seriously implicated. Two were acquitted, four were censured and reprimanded, and most of the rest resig ned their seats.
Controversial Caviar and Champagne
Ardeshir Zahedi, the Shah’s man in Washington, was famed for the mountains of caviar and oceans of Dom Perignon he dispensed nightly at some of the most lavish parties the capital had ever seen. After the Islamic revolution toppled the old order in 1979, more than a few well-known journalists and government officials were embarrassed to see their names on a previously confidential list of expensive gifts Ambassador Zahedi had bestowed to help ensure his boss was seen in a favorable light. The Zimmermann Telegram
Revelation of a German proposal to Mexico to declare war on the United States during World War I caused uproar in the capital of a nation still trying to maintain its neutrality. The German Embassy was already seething
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
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2010
Not-So-Secret Tunnel
with intrigue when the ambassador, Count Johann von Bernstorff, received an encoded message from foreign minister Arthur Zimmermann instructing him to forward it to Germany’s envoy in Mexico. Von Bernsdorff proceeded to break the cardinal rule of cryptology when he re-wrote it in a simpler code he knew his colleague would be able to decipher. The January 1917 telegram, which proposed a German-Mexican pact against the U.S. in
| washingtonlife.com
The complex tunnel system under the sprawling hilltop embassy overlooking the capital was part of overall U.S. efforts to eavesdrop on Russian diplomats and other personnel operating throughout the country. The joint FBI and National Security Agency operation was probably betrayed by longtime FBI agent Robert Hanssen, who was later convicted of espionage and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The tunnels were later abandoned.
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-Spouses-
Did You Know
special feature | ambassadors directory
Germany Ambassador: Dr. Klaus Scharioth Spouse: Dr. Ulrike Scharioth Embassy: 4645 Reservoir Rd. NW, 20007 Telephone: 202-298-4000 Residence: 18000 Foxhall Rd. NW, 20007
Guinea
Ghana Daniel Ohene Agyekum Rose Ohene Agyekum Embassy: 3512 International Dr. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-686-4520 Spouse:
Greece Ambassador:
Vassilis Kaskarelis Anna Kaskarelis Embassy: 2217 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-332-2727 Residence: 2221 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Spouse:
Mory Karamoko Kaba Spouse: Salematou Traore Kaba Embassy: 2112 Leroy Pl. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-986-4300 Residence: 2948 Edgevale Terr. NW, 20008 Guyana Ambassador: Bayney Karran Spouse: Donna Karran Embassy: 2490 Tracy Pl. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-265-6900 Residence: 6911 Bradley Blvd., Bethesda, Md. 20817
Haiti Louis Harold Joseph Embassy: 2311 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-332-4090
Ambassador: Gillian Margaret Susan Bristol Embassy: 1701 New Hampshire Ave. NW, 20009 Telephone: 202-265-2561 Guatemala Ambassador: Francisco Villagrán de León
The Holy See APOSTOLIC NUNCIO: Archbishop
Pietro Sambi Embassy: and Residence: 3339 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-333-7121
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
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Ambassador: Jorge Ramón Hernandez-Alcerro Spouse: Mariza Veiga Embassy: 3007 Tilden St. NW, Ste. 4M, 20008 Telephone: 202-996-7702 Residence: 5312 Portsmouth Rd. Bethesda, Md., 20816
Hungary Béla Szombati Zsuzanna Szombati Embassy: 3910 Shoemaker St. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-362-6730 Residence: 2215 30th St. NW, 20008 Ambassador: Spouse:
Iceland Hjálmar W. Hannesson Anna Birgis Birgisdóttir Caption2900 goes K St. NW, Embassy: Ambassador: Spouse:
Ste. 509, 20007 202-265-6653 Residence: 2443 Kalorama Rd. NW, 20008 Telephone:
India Meera Shankar Ajay Shankar Embassy: 2107 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-939-7000 Residence: 2700 Macomb St. NW, 20008 Ambassador: Spouse:
Indonesia Ambassador: Dino Patti
Djalal Embassy: 2020 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20036 Telephone: 202-775-5200 Iraq Ambassador: Samir Shakir
Guatemala
Sweden
Tajikistan
Marie and Rep. Ed Royce
Honduras
Ambassador:
Grenada
Croatia
After studying with Martha Graham disciples at UC-Berkeley, American-born Sally Oren became a “semi-professional” dancer in New York before moving to Israel where she met her husband while teaching modern dance. Today the athletic wife of Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren practices Tai Chi or yoga daily, plays a bit of tennis, and, on weekends, heads to the Potomac River with her spouse, who rowed for Colombia. -G.S.
Ambassador:
Ambassador:
Ghana
Israel – Dancer/Athlete
Donna Sue Eberwine Villagrán Embassy: 2220 R St. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-745-4952 Residence: 2839 Woodland Dr. NW, 20008 Spouse:
The Arab League
Botswana
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saudi Arabia
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special feature | ambassadors directory Mahmood Sumaida’ie Spouse: May Ying Yang Sumaida’ie Embassy: 3421 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20007 Telephone: 202-742-1600
di Sant’Agata Spouse: Antonella Cinque Embassy: 3000 Whitehaven St. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-612-4400
Ireland
The Ivory Coast
Michael Collins Marie Collins Embassy: 2234 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-462-3939 Residence: 2244 S St. NW, 20008
Yao Charles Koffi Adiaratou Diouf Koffi Embassy: 2424 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-797-0300 Residence: 5111 Broad Branch Rd. NW, 20008
Ambassador:
Ambassador:
Spouse:
Spouse:
Israel
Jamaica
Dr. Michael Oren Spouse: Sally Oren Embassy: 3514 International Dr. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-364-5500 Ambassador:
Audrey Marks Jassel Dunstan Embassy: 1520 New Hampshire Ave. NW, 20036 Telephone: 202-452-0660 Residence: 3103 Rolling Rd., Chevy Chase, Md. 20815 Ambassador: Spouse:
Italy Ambassador:
Giulio Terzi
Japan Ichiro Fujisaki Yoriko Fujisaki Embassy: 2520 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-238-6700 Residence: 4000 Nebraska Ave. NW, 20016 Ambassador: Spouse:
Jordan Alia Hatough Bouran Embassy: 3504 International Dr. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-966-2664 Residence: 1232 Perry Williams Dr., McLean, Va. 22101 Ambassador:
Kazakhstan Erlan A. Idrissov Nurilla Idrissova Embassy: 1401 16th St. NW, 20036 Ambassador: Spouse:
202- 232-5488 2910 Edgevale Terr. NW, 20008
Telephone: Residence:
Kenya Elkanah Odembo Spouse: Aoko Odembo Embassy: 2249 R. St. NW 20008 Telephone: 202-387-6101 Residence: 10201 Sorrel Ave., Potomac, Md. 20854 Ambassador:
Korea Han Duk-soo Ah Young Choi Embassy: 2450 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-939-5600 Residence: 4801 Glenbrough Ave. NW, 20017 Ambassador: Spouse:
Getting to Know Kenya’s Elkanah Odembo What does Kenya’s new constitution mean for Kenya/U.S. relations?
only enhance U.S./ Kenya relations.
Relations between Kenya and the U.S. have been good over the years. However, there have been moments of tension, most of which can be attributed to governance-related issues. The new constitution is the basis of a new Kenya and a new governance framework. The fact that the referendum leading to the constitution was conducted in a free and fair environment is significant. The high voter turnout (close to 75 percent) is also noteworthy. Following the referendum, I sensed a renewed enthusiasm toward Kenya, and a great deal of goodwill. This can
What are your main goals as Kenya’s representative in the U.S.?
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Increasing the size of existing U.S. i nvest ment i n Kenya, including developing new investments, especially in the service and agri-business sectors .We also want to increase the volume (and variety) of Kenyan products entering the U.S. market under AGOA and to develop a relationship with the U.S. Administration to enhance relations on various issues. We would like to increase the
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quantity and quality of American tourists v isit i ng Kenya, build partnerships between U.S. and Kenyan universities, and mobilize and u n it e K e n y a n s living in the U.S. for greater impact in both countries.
I am fortunate enough to have seen many lions and cubs and other wildlife in their natural environment in one of Kenya’s greatest attractions.
What are you looking forward to the most while living in Washington?
What three “must-do’s” should anyone visiting Kenya do?
Making new friends and enjoying all that Washington has to offer – art, music, culture, and politics.
Where do you go to get Kenyan food?
Swahili Village Restaurant, 10601 Baltimore Ave., Beltsville, Md. 20705.
A hike at the foot of Mountain Kenya, a visit to the Maasai Mara, and all you can eat meat at the Carnivore Restaurant, followed by dancing to African music.
What do you think of the new lion cubs at the National Zoo?
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Bahamas
China
United Kingdom
Kuwait Salem Abdullah AlJaber Al-Sabah Spouse: Rima Al-Sabah Embassy: 2940 Tilden St. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-966-0702 Residence: 2940 Tilden St. NW, 20008 Ambassador:
Kyrgyzstan Arslan Anarbaev Embassy: 2360 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-338-5141 Chargé d’Affaires:
Laos Seng Soukhthivong Somdy Soukhthivong Embassy: 2222 S St. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-332-6416 Residence: 2222 S St. NW, 20008 Chargé d’Affaires: Spouse:
Latvia Andrejs Pildegovics Elena Pildegovica Embassy: 2306 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-328-2840 Residence: 4525 Foxhall Crescent NW, 20007 Ambassador: Spouse:
Lebanon Antoine Chedid Nicole Chedid Embassy: 2560 28th St. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-939-6300 Residence: 2841 McGill Terr. NW, 20008 Ambassador: Spouse:
Lesotho David Mohlomi Rantekoa Mantsane Cecilia Rantekoa
Ambassador: Spouse:
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Djibouti
Dominican Republic
2511 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-797-5533 Residence: 7013 Lomond Dr., Bethesda, Md. 20817 Embassy:
Liberia Chargé d’Affaires: Edwin H. Sele Embassy:
5201 16th St. NW, 20011 202-723-0437
Telephone:
Libya Ali Suleiman Aujali Naima M. Bseikri Embassy: 2600 Virginia Ave. NW, Ste. 705, 20037 Telephone: 202-944-9601 Ambassador: Spouse:
Liechtenstein Claudia Fritsche Embassy: 2900 K St. NW, Ste. 602B, 20007 Telephone: 202-331-0590 Ambassador:
Lithuania Zygimantas Pavilionis 2622 16th St. NW, 20009 Telephone: 202-234-5860 Luxembourg Ambassador: JeanPaul Senninger Spouse: Louise Åkerblom Embassy: 2200 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-265-4171 Residence: 3933 Fordham Rd. NW, 20016 Ambassador: Embassy:
Macedonia Ambassador:
Zoran Jolevski
Bahrain
Rwanda
-Spouses-
Did You Know THE Netherlands Tweedy Welshman
No, he’s neither Dutch nor “British” as his accent suggests. Netherland Ambassador Raegina Jones-Bos’s husband, Dr. Richard Jones, is Welsh. Creating careers around hers, this Russian expert’s long CV includes stints as a BBC journalist, college professor and president, and director of the Clifford Chance Global Academy for the world’s largest law firm. This jolly diplomatic mate now consults for Virginia Tech when he’s not walking “Biggles,” their tri-color Shelty.
Spouse:
Suzana Jolevska
Embassy and Residence:
2129 Wyoming Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-667-0501
Madagascar Eulalie N. Ravelosoa Embassy and Residence: 2374 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-265-5525 Chargé d’Affaires:
Malawi
Telephone:
202-721-0270
Malaysia
Dr. Jamaludin bin Jarjis Dr. Kalsom Ismail Embassy: 3516 International Ct. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-572-9700 Ambassador: Spouse:
Maldives
Chargé d’Affaires: Abdul
Ghafoor Mohamed Maryam Khalida Embassy: 800 2nd Ave., Ste. 200E, New York, NY 10017 Telephone: 212-599-6195 Spouse:
Steve Matenje Isabel Matenje Embassy: 2408 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Ambassador: Spouse:
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special feature | ambassadors directory
Grace & Power Washington salutes the growing ranks of female ambassadors BY CHRISTIE FINDLAY AND ROLAND FLAMINI
T
he city is fast approaching an intriguing diplomatic milestone: its 30th female ambassador. Women heads of mission are still a minority in Washington’s populous foreign diplomatic corps of close to 200 envoys. Still, it’s a quantum leap from the mid-1990s, when the total number was five. From India’s foreign service lifer Meera Shankar to Jamaica’s spitfire Audrey Marks, there are now 28 women serving as their country’s “person in Washington,” the highest number ever. Marilyn Sephocle, who for the past 15 years has run an annual Women Ambassadors Conference at Howard University, where she is a teacher, and a Women Ambassadors Foundation dedicated to the increase of female diplomats worldwide, believes that what she calls “the tri-Secretary effect” – three female Secretaries of State out of the last four incumbents – has made it easier for foreign governments to send women ambassadors to the United States. This is done partly to show they are progressive – and perhaps in the hope that female ambassadors will have better access at State. Singapore Ambassador Heng Chee Chan, the longest serving chief of mission in Washington, says the increase in women ambassadors started during the Clinton administration in part because Hillary Rodham Cinton was an activist first lady with a high profile. Sephocle adds another contributing phenomenon: as the number of women graduates increases in many countries, they are entering diplomatic service in larger numbers. Inevitably, women ambassadors have attracted a high curiosity factor. This helps in Washington’s highly competitive political environment. Being a female in the job “opens doors for me,” as Humaina Sultan AlMughairy, the ambassador from Oman, said recently. “People are curious to see me.” Once
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inside, though, it’s down to business. “As a woman ambassador you get more access,” Heng Chee Chan agrees, “but then you’re on your own. If you don’t live up to expectations – if you don’t make your case effectively – you will be treated as any other ambassador. This is a very busy town, quite competitive, and you can’t waste people’s time.” But old assumptions die hard. Al-Mughairy recalls that when she was lobbying members of Congress to pass the U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement, visiting congressmen and senators would invariably make a beeline for the nearest male member of her staff, “certain that he was the ambassador. But it worked to my advantage. The member would be so embarrassed that I probably could have asked for the moon and gotten it, not just a simple vote.” As the numbers have grown, an informal network of women ambassadors covering all continents has taken shape. “We believe we have some strength in larger numbers,” says Chan, who presented her credentials in 1996. “We meet for lunch regularly, and we invite speakers. There is more camaraderie, and we have created more access. But, of course, our issues are very different.” The fact is that a female ambassador in Washington leads a double life. First there’s her day job, furthering the interests of her country. In the evening, she dashes home to act as hostess at her own dinner parties and receptions, having earlier discussed the menu with her chef, supervised the latest Costco run, and figured out which distinguished guest is allergic to fish, and that the papal nuncio shuns meat on Fridays. In other words, she takes on the role normally performed by the ambassador’s wife. (Female ambassadors’ husbands don’t always accompany their wives: their careers often require them to stay home.) Some women ambassadors say the political
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atmosphere on the diplomatic dinner circuit has recently become more strained as a new divisiveness has undermined Washington’s bipartisan tradition. “In the past I host a dinner and invite guests from the two parties,” Chan says. “I still do, but now I make sure they’re moderates from the center.” Liechtenstein Ambassador Claudia Fritsche
Claudia Fritsche set up Liechtenstein’s first Washington embassy in 2002, just as she had established her country’s first mission to the United Nations 12 years earlier. To help raise the profile of the tiny principality she represents, Fritsche (along with the then ambassador of Malta) launched an annual poetry reading by the ambassadors of small countries five years ago. The low-budget event gets a lot of attention. Netherlands Ambassador Renee Jones-Bos
A n accompl ished linguist and translator before joining t he Net herl a nd s’ foreig n ser v ice, she has translated T hom a s H a rd y’s novel “The Mayor of Casterbridge” into Dutch. When she’s in The Hague, this ardent biker cycles to the ministry of foreign affairs. Here in Washington, she shares our love for Bistro du Coin and listening to great jazz at Bohemian Caverns and Blues Alley. Dr. Richard Jones, her historian husband, earns kudos for attending the International Club meetings for embassy spouses.
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Bulgarian Ambassador Elena Poptodorova
Congo Ambassador Faida M. Mitifu
In a sense it’s déjà vu all over again for Poptodorova since she held the post once before from 2002 to 2008. After two years of senior jobs in the Bulgarian foreign ministry in Sofia, she is back for a second term as her nation’s ambassador to Washington. During her first tenure, she helped secure the release of five Bulgarian nurses falsely imprisoned in Libya and played a key role in negotiating Bulgaria’s entry into NATO. Jamaican Ambassador Audrey Marks
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell, whose parents were Jamaican, turned out to celebrate Marks’ confirmation during a June party at the Ritz-Carlton Pentagon City. She is an entrepreneur who has launched seven businesses, including Jamaica’s first multipayment agency and a 100-acre banana farm.
Mali Mamadou Traore Sarafing Traore Embassy: 2130 R St. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-332-2249 Residence: 2131 R St. NW, 20008 Ambassador: Spouse:
Malta Mark Anthony Miceli Spouse: Josette Miceli Embassy: 2017 Connecticut Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-462-3611 Residence: 4501 29th St. NW, 20008 Ambassador:
Marshall Islands Ambassador:
Banny
deBrum Embassy: 2433 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008
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The longest serving of Africa’s ambassadors, M it i f u hold s a degree in biochemistry from the Universit y of Kinshasa, a M a st er s f rom Auburn University and a Ph.D. in Romance Languages from the University of Georgia, where she subsequently taught French, African, and Caribbean literature. She made the transition to ambassador in 1999. She has testified before Congress on the political situation in her complex and troubled country. Singapore Ambassador Chan Heng Chee En poste
since 1996, one of Chan’s best memories was the standing ovation she received from the entire U.S. Congress when, as vice dean of the diplomatic corps, she entered the chamber
202-234-5414 3212 Brooklawn Terr., Chevy Chase, Md. 20815
Telephone: Residence:
Mauritania Mohamed Lemine El Haycen Spouse: Laaziza Houzali Embassy: 2129 Leroy Pl. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-232-5700 Residence: 2339 S St. NW, 20008 Ambassador:
Mauritius
Micronesia Yosiwo P. George Antilise Y. George Embassy: 1725 N St. NW, 20036 Telephone: 202-223-4383 Ambassador: Spouse:
Moldova
Outra Nayek Embassy: 1709 N St. NW, 20036 Telephone: 202-244-1491
Embassy:
Arturo Sarukhan Verónica
Ambassador: Spouse:
The first woman ambassador to the U.S. from an Arab nation, Al-Mughairy is an economist with an extensive business background – and the opposite of the stereotypical Arab woman
Valencia-Sarukhan 1911 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, 20006 Telephone: 202-728-1600 Residence: 4925 Loughboro Rd. NW 20016
Ambassador:
Mexico
Oman Ambassador Humaina Sultan Al-Mughairy
Embassy:
chargé d’affaires: Joyker Nayeck Spouse:
to listen to an address by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown in March 2009. Her many books include a prize-winning biog r aphy of Dav id Marshall, who played a major role in Singapore’s independence. India Ambassador Meera Shankar Shankar is the second woman ambassador to Washington from her country, but the first career diplomat in more than 20 years. Between 1991-1995 she served in the Washington embassy as the minister responsible for commercial affairs. In the interim, relations between her increasingly powerful country and the U.S. have undergone a sea change; and she has said she finds official Washington more welcoming the second time round.
Igor Munteanu 2101 S St. NW 20008 Telephone: 202-667-1130
Mongolia Ambassador:
Khasbazaryn Bekhbat Spouse: Gerelmaa Jamsran
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2833 M St. NW, 20007 202-333-7117 Residence: 1021 Irongate Rd., Potomac, Md. 20854 Embassy:
Telephone:
Monaco Gilles Noghès Ellen Noghès Embassy: 3400 International Dr. NW, Ste. 2K-100, 20008 Telephone: 202-234-1530 Residence: 2315 Wyoming Ave. NW, 20008 Ambassador: Spouse:
Montenegro Miodrag Vlahovic Natasa Vlahovic Embassy: 1610 New Hampshire Ave. NW, 20009 Telephone: 202-234-6108 Ambassador: Spouse:
Morocco
| OCTOBER
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special feature | ambassadors directory Aziz Mekouar Maria Felice Mekouar Embassy: 1601 21st St. NW 20009 Telephone: 202-462-7979 Residence: 9109 Clewerwall Dr., Bethesda, Md. 20817 Ambassador: Spouse:
Mozambique Amélia Matos Sumbana Spouse: Adrianos Sumbana Embassy: 1525 New Hampshire Ave. NW, 20036 Telephone: 202-293-7146 Ambassador:
Myanmar Han Thu Spouse: Mya Mya Wai Embassy: 2300 S St. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-332-3344 Residence: 2223 R St. NW, 20008 Chargé D’Affaires:
Namibia Martin Andjaba 1605 New Hampshire Ave. NW, 20009 Telephone: 202-986-0540 Ambassador: Embassy:
Residence:
4509 W St. NW, 20007
Embassy:
Nauru Marlene Moses 800 2nd Ave., New York, NY 10017 Telephone: 212-937-0074 Residence: 800 2nd Ave. Ste. 400A, New York, NY 10017 Ambassador: Embassy:
Nepal Shanka Prasad Sharma Kalpana Sharma Embassy: 2131 Leroy Pl. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-667-4550 Ambassador: Spouse:
Renee Jones-Bos Richard Jones Embassy: 4200 Linnean Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-244-5300 Residence: 2347 S St. NW, 20008 Spouse:
New Zealand Ambassador:
Mike Moore
Nicaragua Francisco Obadiah Campbell Hooker Embassy: 1627 New Hampshire Ave. NW, 20009 Telephone: 202-939-6570 Ambassador:
Niger Aminata Maiga Djibrilla Touré Spouse: Boubacar Toure Embassy: 2204 R St. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-483-4224 Residence: 3100 Argyle St. NW, 20011 Ambassador:
Netherlands Ambassador:
Yvonne Moore 37 Observatory Cir. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-328-4800 Residence: 27 Observatory Cir. NW, 20008 Spouse:
Nigeria Ade Adefuye Spouse: Catherine Adefuye Ambassador:
3519 International Ct. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-986-8400 Embassy:
Norway Wegger Christian Strommen Spouse: Rev. Cecilie J. Strommen Embassy: 2720 34th St. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-333-6000 Residence: 3401 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20007 Ambassador:
Oman Hunaina Sultan al-Mughairy Spouse: Amb. Fuad al-Hinai Embassy: 2535 Belmont Rd. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-387-1980 Residence: 2000 24th St. NW, 20008 Ambassador:
Pakistan Husain Haqqani Farahnaz Ispahani
Ambassador: Spouse:
RECLAIMING MISSING ART b y r o l a n d f l a mi n i
B
etween 1982 and 2009 a total of 41 director of the Cleveland Museum of Art separate claims were settled against following the unauthorized sale by a French U.S. museums and art dealers by family to the museum of a painting by Poussin. foreign governments, institutions, It took years of negotiation for Cleveland and and individuals seeking restoration of stolen the Louvre to work out a shared ownership of art. A third of them were brought by embassies the painting – and the director could travel to on behalf of museums in their respective Europe again without fear of imprisonment. countries; in many instances it was the by now More recently, Marion True, a member familiar story of seeking the return of art works of the curatorial staff at the Getty Museum looted by the Nazis during World War II that in Los Angeles, was arrested in Rome and “Bathsheba Bathing” by Jacopo Zucchi (1573) somehow subsequently found their way to the charged with acquiring, on behalf of the United States, but more recent art thefts were another factor. Getty, Etruscan artifacts said to have been looted from archeological Today there is great fervor for reclaiming missing art works as sites in Italy. True remained in jail even after the Getty returned about European countries in particular increase their vigilance of their 40 objects in question. cultural heritage. Many American museums have been having a hard The True case ref lects Italy’s robust effort to claim back missing time lately, as governments from France to Greece are demanding art works. Among recent successes are the return of Jacopo Zucchi’s the return of a long and varied list of art and ancient artifacts. This Bathsheba Bathing from the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford, Conn. intensified campaign is grist to the mill of Washington embassies. and Spring Sowing by the 17th century painter Jacopo Bassano from In one famous case a while back, the French government asked the Springfield Museums in Massachusetts – the latter to the Uffizi Interpol to issue a warrant for the arrest anywhere in Europe of the Gallery in Florence.
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What special relationship? Two seasoned British envoys reflect on the course of U.S.-U.K. diplomacy
E
arlier this year the British House of American business. Manning: We have a certain Commons released the transcript weight in the [U.S.] system. We of a special inquiry on the U.S.should not exaggerate, nor should we U.K. “special relationship” underestimate it. We should decide conducted by parliament’s Foreign Affairs what it is that we want to try and do, Committee. Among the diplomats, and then become part of the debate. ... government off icials, and specialists If we have a network, we should try to testifying were Sir David Manning, lately use it to that end. British ambassador in Washington; and Sir Greenstock: We had this fight with Jeremy Greenstock, a former ambassador [the Americans] over their policy on to the United Nations. Here, in their own Bosnia - a bitter division. In the end the words, is a sampling of their insights. Sir David Manning: Basically, the Americans decided that, actually, their Americans don’t do self-deprecation, so policy was not going to produce peace you better get up there, make your case, in the Balkans and that the Europeans and say why it’s a good one. I always felt actually had a ... possible solution to that the Embassy (in Washington) was the Balkans crisis. ... So suddenly, itself a lobby group. ... There is a lot of in August 1995, they came over to competition from within America itself, London first and said that they were as well as certainly from other countries. going to take over aspects of our policy Having access to the Hill, having access – but they were going to implement it to the White House, and having access themselves. Manning: I suspect to the media to make sure that you can that you have [in Barack get your message across to the whole Oba m a ] a P re sident United States through a network are all who, first of all, is new very important. It will not get any easier, Sir David Manning to foreign relations, and particularly when the regime has changed it quite hard to come to it is important for us in the United States. a conclusion themselves, Sir Jeremy Greenstock: The United States to understand that his tends to walk around with quite heavy boots, because there is such a background is completely cacophony of voices. Even and there are some sensitive f lowers in the different from that of his United Nations. The United Kingdom is a lot if the Administration do predecessors. He is a very come to a conclusion ... better at the tactical handling of other (U.N.) quick study ... but he does delegations and of language in drafting texts that doesn’t mean to say not come with knowledge and tactical maneuvering. We just happen to that the Hill will follow. of Europe and Britain that Greenstock: B ei n g be tidier, more experienced, and better at it. his predecessors would Manning: One of the things that the a superpower is quite have had. … The President Sir Jeremy Greenstock a lonely business the Embassy (in Washington) has to do all the also comes with a very way through is to try to assess who’s up, who’s Americans don’t have different perspective. He is many friends out there; they talk among down, and where the argument is actually an American who grew up in Hawaii, whose going. I don’t look back thinking that there themselves and, in fact, American decisions foreign experience was of Indonesia and who was a tremendous [U.S.] campaign to deceive on hard issues are always finally made among had a Kenyan grandfather. The sentimental us. ... I think it was much more a question, a Americans. ... Outsiders, even outsiders in ref lexes, if you like, are not there. lot of the time, of the Administration finding Washington, are not involved in it - it is an
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Poland
New Zealand
Suriname
Slovenia
Peru
Vietnam
3517 International Ct. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-243-6500 Residence: 2343 S St. NW, 20008
3001 Garrison St. NW, 20008
Embassy:
Residence:
Philippines Willy C. Gaa Spouse: Erlinda Gaa Embassy: 1600 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20036 Telephone: 202-467-9300 Residence: 2253 R St. NW, 20008 Ambassador:
Palau Hersey Kyota Lydia Shmull Kyota Embassy: 1701 Pennsylvania Ave. Ste. 300, 20006 Telephone: 202-452-6814 Residence: 2214 Creek Dr., Alexandria, Va. 22308 Ambassador: Spouse:
Poland
Jaime Eduardo Aleman
Spouse: Pilar de Aleman
2862 McGill Terr. NW, 20008 202-483-1407 Residence: 2601 29th St. NW, 20008 Embassy:
Telephone:
Portugal João de Vallera Margareda Vallera Embassy: 2012 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20036 Telephone: 202-328-8610 Residence: 2125 Kalorama Rd. NW, 20008 Ambassador:
Papua New Guinea
Spouse:
Ambassador: Evan Jeremy Paki Embassy: 1779 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Ste. 805, 20036 Telephone: 202-745-3680
Qatar
Paraguay
Ali Al’Hajri Spouse: Afra Al-Mansouri Embassy: 2555 M St. NW, 20037 Telephone: 202-274-1600 Residence: 4839 Indian Ln. NW, 20016 Ambassador:
Ambassador: Rigoberto Gauto-Vielman
Estela Espinola-Gauton Embassy: 2400 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-483-6960 Spouse:
Peru
Romania
Luis Valdivieso Spouse: Cecilia Valdivieso Embassy: 1700 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20036 Telephone: 202-833-9860
Adrian Vierita Spouse: Codrina Eugenia Vierita Embassy: 1607 23rd St. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-332-4829 Residence: 2500 30th St. NW, 20008
Ambassador:
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Robert Kupiecki Spouse: Malgorzata Kupiecki Embassy: 2640 16th St. NW, 20009 Telephone: 202-234-3800 Residence: 3101 Albemarle Ave. NW, 20008 Ambassador:
Panama Ambassador:
Nigeria
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Ambassador:
2010
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Syria
Philippines
Yemen
Russia Sergey I. Kislyak Natalia M. Kislyak Embassy: 2650 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 20007 Telephone: 202-298-5700 Residence: 1125 16th St. NW, 20036 Ambassador: Spouse:
Rwanda James Kimonyo Marie Murukatete Embassy: 1714 New Hampshire Ave. NW, 20009 Telephone: 202-232-2882 Residence: 1752 Sycamore St. NW, 20012 Ambassador: Spouse:
Saint Kitts and Nevis Ambassador: Dr. Izben Cordinal Williams Spouse: Shirmel Rosetta Williams Embassy: 3216 New Mexico Ave. NW, 20016 Telephone: 202-686-2636 Residence: 9700 Beman Woods Wy., Potomac, Md. 20854
Saint Lucia Dr. Michael Louis Greta Louis Embassy: 3216 New Mexico Ave. NW, 20016 Telephone: 202-364-6792 Ambassador: Spouse:
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines LaCelia Prince 3216 New Mexico Ave. NW, 20016
Ambassador: Embassy:
Telephone:
202-364-6730
Samoa
Ali’ioaiga Feturi Elisaia Spouse: Maria Lei Sam-Elisaia Embassy: 800 2nd Ave. Ste. 400G, New York, NY 10017 Telephone: 212-599-6196 Ambassador:
Sao Tome and Principe Ovidio Manuel Barbosa Pequeno Spouse: Leopoldina Pequeño Embassy: 1211 Connecticut Ave. NW, Ste. 300, 20036 Telephone: 202-775-2075 Residence: 3024 Covington St., Fairfax, Va. 20151 Ambassador:
Saudi Arabia Adel Al-Jubeir Farah Meshal D. Alfayez Embassy: 601 New Hampshire Ave. NW, 20037 Telephone: 202-342-3800 Ambassador: Spouse:
Senegal Fatou Danielle Diagne Embassy: 2112 Wyoming Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-234-0540 Residence: 4500 Linnean Ave. NW, 20008 Ambassador:
Serbia Ambassador:
Vladimir
Petrovic 2134 Kalorama Rd. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-332-0333 Embassy:
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DOWN TO THE SEA IN LAWYERS
B
Treasure hunters find submerged shipwrecks, embassies claim them
In 2007, the owners of the Tampa-based underwater treasure hunting group Odyssey Marine Exploration thought they had hit the jackpot with the discovery of a mother lode of gold and silver coins from a Spanish shipwreck. So far, however, its only prize has been a series of court battles against lawyers engaged by the Embassy of Spain in Washington on behalf of the Madrid government claiming ownership of the wreck and its contents. The wreckage was the warship Nuestra Senora de las Mercedes, intercepted in the Atlantic and sent to the bottom by a British frigate in 1804 while en route to Spain from Peru carrying 17 tons of specie worth an estimated $500 million. So far in 2009, the Florida courts have ruled that the coins and artifacts recovered from the Mercedes belonged to the Spanish government based on the principle of sovereign immunity. U.S. law regards a sunken warship the property of its country of origin virtually in perpetuity. Odyssey Marine Exploration, according to pending appeal documents, contends that no wreckage
Seychelles
Ronald Jumeau 800 2nd Ave., Ste. 400C, New York, NY 10017 Telephone: 212-972-1785 Ambassador: Embassy:
Sierra Leone Bockari Kortu Stevens Spouse: Musu Stevens Embassy: 1701 19th St. NW, 20009 Telephone: 202-939-9261 Residence: 4821 Colorado Ave. NW, 20008 Ambassador:
Singapore Chan Heng-Chee, Vice Dean of the Diplomatic Corps Embassy: 3501 International Pl. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-537-3100 Residence: 2620 Rock Creek Dr. NW, 20008 Ambassador:
Slovak Republic Peter Burian Spouse: Nina Burianova Embassy: 3523 International Ambassador:
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Ct. NW, 20008 202-237-1054 Residence: 7718 Carlton Pl., McLean, Va. 22102 Telephone:
Slovenia Roman Kirn Jovana Kirn Embassy: 2410 California St. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-386-6601 Residence: 2412 California St. NW, 20008 Ambassador: Spouse:
Solomon Islands Ambassador: Collin David Beck Spouse: Helen Beck Embassy: 800 2nd Ave. Ste. 400L, New York, NY 10017 Telephone: 212-599-6192
South Africa Ebrahim Rasool Roseida Shabodien Embassy: 3051 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-232-4400 Ambassador: Spouse:
was discovered, only its apparent contents. The Mercedes court case was one of several recent sunken ship claims instituted by foreign embassies against American high-tech treasure hunters. Between them, the seagoing nations of Europe have for years kept a handful of specialist Washington lawyers very busy. Other recent cases include the legal battle between France and the state of Michigan over ownership of the remains of Le Griffon, a ship believed to have sunk in a storm on Lake Michigan in 1679. Meanwhile, the British government recently made a deal with Odyssey Marine Exploration to share the recovered contents of HMS Sussex, an 80-gun warship lost in 1664 off the coast of Gibraltar. The hulk itself is too fragile to attempt bringing to the surface. There is as yet no agreement on the massive 18th century ship HMS Victory, which the Florida firm also claims to have located. They have brought up two cannons to prove it but the real prize that lies in the deep is said to be gold bullion.
Embassy:
Jorge Dezcallar Teresa Valente Dezcallar Embassy: 2375 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, 20037 Telephone: 202-452-0100 Residence: 2350 Foxhall Rd. NW, 20007 Ambassador: Spouse:
Sri Lanka Jaliya Wickramasuriya Spouse: Priyanaga Wickramasuriya Embassy: 2148 Wyoming Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-483-4025 Residence: 2503 30th St. NW, 20008 Ambassador:
Swaziland Rev. Abednejo M. Ntshangafe Spouse: Phindile Ntshangafe Embassy: 1712 New Hampshire Ave. NW, 20009 Telephone: 202-234-5002 Residence: 10804 Brickyard Ct., Potomac, Md. 20854 Ambassador:
Sweden Jonas Hafström Eva Hafström Embassy: 2900 K St. NW, 20007 Telephone: 202-467-2600 Residence: 3900 Nebraska Ave. NW, 20016 Ambassador: Spouse:
Sudan Akec Khoc Aciew Khoc Embassy: 2210 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-338-8565 Chargé D’Affaires:
Suriname Ambassador:
Eva Kross 4301 Connecticut Ave. NW, Ste. 460, 20008 Telephone: 202-244-7488 Residence: 6 Sotweed Ct., Potomac, Md., 20854 Spouse:
Spain
Jacques Kross
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Switzerland Manuel Sager Christine Sager Embassy: 2900 Cathedral Ambassador: Spouse:
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-Spouses-
Did You Know: Peru International Bridge
After an impressive World Bank career devoted to gender equality, economist Cecilia Valdivieso, wife of Peruvian Ambassdor Luis Valdivieso, can now focus on another passion: playing Bridge. With a partner here and in Peru, this “Bronze Life Master” twice represented her nation in the South American championships and won the “Swiss Teams” gold trophy. Living and raising two children here for the last 30 years, she still belongs to the same Bethesda book club that was founded around Carderock Springs’ baby pool.
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Tajikistan Abdujabbor Shirinov Gurg Shirinov Embassy: 1005 New Hampshire Ave. NW, 20037 Telephone: 202-223-6090 Ambassador: Spouse:
Tanzania Ambassador: Mwandaidi Sinare Maajar Embassy: 1232 22nd St. NW, 20037 Telephone: 202-939-6125
Thailand Kittiphong Naranong Embassy: 1024 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Ste. 401, 20007 Telephone: 202-944-3600 Ambassador:
Togo Moustapha Spouse: Dr. Rafif Al-Sayed Moustapha Embassy: 2215 Wyoming Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-232-6313 Residence: 2447 Kalorama
Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-745-7900 Residence: 2920 Cathedral Ave. NW, 20008
Syria Ambassador:
Dr. Imad
Limbiya Katangha Bariki Essozimana Balouki chancery: 2208 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-234-4212 Ambassador: Spouse:
Tonga
Ambassador: Sonatane Tu’akinamolahi Taumoepeau Tupou Embassy: 250 E. 51st St. New York, NY 10022 Telephone: 917-369-1025
Trinidad & Tobago Chargé d’Affaires : Donna Henry Embassy: 1708 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20036 Telephone: 202-467-6490 Residence: 7530 17th St. NW, 20012
Tunisia Tarek Ben Youssef Embassy: 1515 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20005 Telephone: 202-862-1850 Chargé d’Affaires:
Turkey Namik Tan Fügen Tan Embassy: 2525 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-612-6700 Residence: 1606 23rd St. NW, 20008 Ambassador: Spouse:
Hitting a High Note
B
Jerome Barry’s Embassy Series focuses on international music in the capital
oston native and acclaimed baritone singer Jerome Barry captures audiences across the nation as he performs in many languages. His skill is an enviable one, and he has transferred his international skills to his position as director of the Embassy Series, a successful series of chamber and vocal music concerts in Washington. Barry’s many talents were honed at Boston’s Northeastern University and Tufts University, as well as time spent at Rome’s Santa Cecilia Conservatory of Music. After performing throughout Europe, Barry started on a large-scale tour of Israel, performing at over 300 concerts with institutions such as the Israel National Opera and the Jerusalem Symphony. Upon his return to the States, his musical reputation brought him to some of the most renowned concert halls and recording companies
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in the country, and his appearances have included performances at Carnegie Hall and with the Boston Pops. His expansive career has garnered much attention, both in the United States and abroad. Now residing in Washington, Barry teaches music classes at George Washington University and American University. Through his work with the Embassy Series, he has produced programs for diplomatic events at the Russian Federation, Austria, Mexico, Canada, France, Romania, Hungary, Poland, and the Netherlands, just to name a few. His career extends into philanthropic endeavors through involvement with various embassies and other cultural organizations. Barry’s international artistry and humanitarian efforts combined with his booming baritone have made him a fixture in Washington’s cultural community.
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IT’S BACK TO SCHOOL FOR NEW AMBASSADORS (And Everybody Graduates)
Diplomats-in-training are surprised to discover that prepping for a new post involves much more than language lessons and protocol seminars BY ROLAND F LA M I N I
A
s prominent Washington real filled from outside the U.S. Foreign Service by for International Development (AID) and – estate developer Stuart Bernstein White House appointees. inevitably – the CIA. remembers it, he was sitting in a “The purpose of the course is really to help Newly appointed career ambassadors are bus looking out at the tree-lined nominees to learn about the ambassadorial role also required to take the course, creating a mix road when the vehicle scraped to a sudden they are going to play,” says Tracey Jacobson, can be an awkward experience, but, according halt. Armed men with ski masks covering their deputy director of the Arlington-based Foreign to participants, rarely is. State Department faces forced open the door and burst into the Service Institute, which holds the seminar. In professionals have long resented a political bus, shouting and menacing the passengers accepting to serve as American ambassadors system that hands out the plum posts to with their weapons. But this was Fort Bragg, most of the nominees are as much venturing major campaign contributors and presidential N.C., and the terrorist attack had been staged into the unknown as if they were walking into friends. This is not to say that many non-career to give the dozen or ambassador s have so newly nominated distinguished U.S. ambassadors in themselves in the past, and how to deal with people, but the seminar got me the bus a foretaste of and continue to do so. to know the way the system works.” what could happen But career diplomats in their respective “understand from Stuart Bernstein, former ambassador to Denmark, on the effectiveness foreign posts (but early on that there is of the State Department’s Ambassadorial Seminar. hopefully would not). not much chance we Even knowing it was are going to get a call a simulation, recalls Bernstein – a George W. a dark room; the course helps them to locate for an embassy in Europe,” declares Thomas Bush ambassador to Denmark – the attack “was the light switch. B. Robertson, a former ambassador who until still very real. The Special Forces who carried The amount of information packed into the recently was a senior member of the Foreign out the hostage-taking and the rescue did a two weeks is voluminous – rather like trying Service Institute. wonderful job.” to speed read “Moby Dick.” Participants are “There is a little bit of tension,” concedes Fort Bragg was then the envoys’ field day briefed on foreign policy by an undersecretary attorney Sue McCourt Cobb, a former George (now it’s McGill Air Base, Tampa) in a two- and attend a two-day media course that W. Bush ambassador to Jamaica and a oneweek crash course officially known as the includes facing hostile reporters at a mock time co-chairman of the seminar. “But the Ambassadorial Seminar, but referred to at press conference, making a speech before an ambassador’s role is all about leadership. The the State Department somewhat derisively as unfriendly audience, and learning to handle outside intake (i.e., political appointees) brings “The Charm School.” The seminar is crucial television appearances. They also meet top tremendous leadership from other areas. Leaders because since the Kennedy presidency around officials from other government agencies have skills that are transferable.” She and others 30 percent of ambassadorial posts are regularly with overseas interests, such as the Agency say blending career nominees with political
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I L LU ST RAT I O N BY J.C . S UAR È S
“I know how to run a business,
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appointees in the course has been mutually beneficial. Careerists get a fresh perspective, and the political appointees pick up useful information from the professionals. A variation of the bus hijacking that really pumped the adrenalin was a mid-air hostage taking attack described by Penne Korth Peacock, George H.W. Bush’s ambassador to Mauritius. Shortly after taking off in a small plane to Jekyll Island, Ga., for the security part of the course, “the toilet door was suddenly whacked open,” she recalls. An armed man clad in black raced down the aisle, yanked her to her feet, and forced her to read aloud an authentic sounding statement denouncing the U.S. government. “Intellectually you know they’re trying to make you aware of the dangers you might face,” Korth says, “but it was still very frightening.” Bernstein recalls “being taken into a room where there were four chairs. I sat on one, and they placed dummies on the other three. Then the room went black, there were a lot of gun flashes, and when the lights came back on the dummies were lying on the floor.” Then-Senator Barack Obama caused a flutter of anticipation during the 2008 presidential campaign by saying that, “Too often ambassadorships have served as political rewards for unqualified candidates.” Many took this to mean that he planned to end the diplomatic spoils system as part of his proclaimed climate
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people, but the seminar got me to know the way the system works,” he says. But Kathryn Proffitt, a former communications executive from Denver who was Clinton’s nominee as ambassador to Malta, feels the program was short shrift. “It was good: it gave us a real working knowledge of how the State Department works, what happens in a crisis and what to do about it – and the networking was invaluable,” was her summing up. “We were in a class of about 20 nominees, and we really bonded.” Yet despite the volume of information, “the program is pretty minimal, and not that intense. There were many more things that we needed, like protocol. We had a lecture about it, but it wasn’t country specific. Not enough time was spent focusing on such issues as the of change. But the key words – the lawyer’s importance of the political opposition. By the escape clause – were “unqualified candidates.” end of the seminar you hadn’t learned enough The Obama White House has doled out as to ask the right questions.” many ambassadorships to political appointees Proffitt said each nominee had to as previous administrations had done, and for supplement the course with a lot of personal pretty much the same reason. According to an interviewing and research to be up to speed analysis by the Center for Responsible Politics, – and not everyone did. She thinks the seminar 21 ambassadorial nominees, including wives and should be twice as long, four weeks instead children, contributed of two. Alternatively, $117,100 to Obama, there should be a and bundled follow-on six months around $4 million later. for his presidential And here’s an campaign. amazing fact about The course is the seminar: in more as American ambassadors most than four decades of obligatory, Jacobson says, because the ambassadorial courses, of the nominees are as much nominees “get the not one nominee has venturing into the unknown best infor mation, ever said, “This is as if they were walking into a the best contacts too much for me: I dark room; the [Ambassadorial want to go back to – and food for thought.” A former Seminar] helps them to locate Goldman Sachs (or career ambassador wherever).” Perhaps the light switch.” to Turkmenistan if the two weeks at and Tajikistan, she the Foreign Service is an alumna of the Institute were more seminar. But is it enough to turn a neophyte of a screening, as well as a learning process, into one of the nation’s ambassadors? some of the less successful (let’s not be coy: Bernstein, a long-time fund raising disastrous) ambassadors, political or careerist, powerhouse for the Republicans, says the would never have reached their posts to do course “opened up a new world. I know damage both to their country’s image and how to run a business and how to deal with reputation and to the system.
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“In accepting to Serve
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Turkmenistan Meret Orazov Spouse: Irina Orazova Embassy: 2207 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-588-1500 Ambassador:
Uganda Perezi Kamunanwire Spouse: Carolyn Hubbard Kamunanwire Embassy: 5911 16th St. NW, 20011 Telephone: 202-726-0416 Residence: 4000 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20016 Ambassador:
Ukraine Olexander Motsysk Spouse: Natalia Terletskaya Embassy: 3350 M St. NW, 20007 Telephone: 202-349-2920 Residence: 4744 Foxhall Cres. NW, 20007 Ambassador:
United Arab Emirates Yousef Al Otaiba Abeer Al Otaiba
Ambassador: Spouse:
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3522 International Ct. NW, Ste. 400, 20008 Telephone: 202-243-2400 Embassy:
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Sir Nigel Sheinwald Spouse: Lady (Julia) Sheinwald Embassy and Residence: 3100 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-588-6500 Ambassador:
Uruguay Ambassador: Carlos Alberto Gianelli Spouse: Maria Monica Nari Lloveras Embassy: 1913 I St. NW, 20006 Telephone: 202-331-1313 Residence: 9001 Clewerwall Dr., Bethesda, Md. 20817
Uzbekistan Ilhomjon Tuychievich Nematov Spouse: Gulnara Rashidovna Embassy: 1746 Massachusetts Ambassador:
Ave. NW, 20036 202-887-5300
Telephone:
Venezuela Ambassador:
Bernardo
Alvarez Margarete de Alvarez 1099 30th St. NW, 20007 Telephone: 202-342-2214 Residence: 2443 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Spouse:
Embassy:
Vietnam
Zambia Sheila Z. Siwela 2419 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-265-9717 Ambassador: Embassy:
Zimbabwe Machivenyika Mapuranga Shupikayi V. D. Mapuranga Embassy: 1608 New Hampshire Ave. NW, 20009 Telephone: 202-332-7100 Ambassador: Spouse:
Le Cong Phung Nguyen Thi Nhan Embassy: 1233 20th St. NW, Ste. 400, 20036 Telephone: 202-861-0737 Ambassador: Spouse:
Yemen Ambassador:
Abdulwahab Al-
Hajjri Saboura AlHajjri Embassy: 2319 Wyoming Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-965-4760 Residence: 4850 Glenbrook Rd. NW 20016 Spouse:
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