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THE WORLD MEETS AT INTERCONTINENTAL
Whether your destination is New York City or Washington D.C., dignitaries from around the world
experience unsurpassed hospitality at The Barclay and The Willard.
©2010 InterContinental Hotels Group. All rights reserved. Most hotels are independently owned and/or operated.
For New York travel and events:
Nicole McClure
212-906-3267
1401 Pennsylvania Ave NWWashington, DC 20004washington.intercontinental.com
111 East 48th StNew York City, NY 10017intercontinentalnybarclay.com
For Washington travel and events:
Kirsten Ste. Marie
202-637-7316
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InterContinental Los Angeles, 2151 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles, CA 90067Tel: 310 284 6500 • [email protected] • www.intercontinentallosangeles.com
The renowned landmark of InterContinental Los Angeles resides on the prestigious Westside of the ‘City of Angels’.
This luxurious sanctuary is minutes away from Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills and close to the Mid-Wilshire district.
The hotel’s location is the perfect base for discovering the best of Los Angeles.
The InterContinental Los Angeles has a distinguished history of hosting high-ranking delegations from all over the world.
We also offer a wide variety of function space, ideal for receptions or meetings. Nearly half of our guestroom
inventory is comprised of spacious suites, all with balconies and panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean,
the LA skyline or the Hollywood Hills.
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INTERCONTINENTAL CLEVELAND.WORLD-CLASS HOSPITALITY ONCLEVELAND CLINIC’S MAIN CAMPUS.
World-class hospitality meets world-class care. We are connected to Cleveland Clinic via skywalk and just minutes from museums, sports, shopping, theater, galleries and unique dining destinations. When you stay with us, you’ll experience exceptional accommodations and guest services that are unparalleled in the area. We welcome guests from across the country, and around the world, every day.
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2209 Massachusetts Avenue, located on embassy road in Washington, DC, has been the home of the United Arab Emirates and currently serves as the Georgian Embassy.
LPC Commercial Services, Inc. in cooperation with Hollywood Real Estate Services, LLC will conduct the sale. Sealed Bid offers from prospective bidders must be received by September 15, 2011 and may be submitted at any time up until that date.
Bids should be sent to the Washington office of:Lincoln Property Company
101 Constitution Ave., NW • Suite 325 EastWashington, DC 20001
James Connelly, VP of LPC Commercial Services, Inc. has been involved in numerous acquisitions and sales in the Embassy Row area involving Governments such as Portugal, Mozambique, Italy and Tanzania. Connelly observed “The property with its ornate ceiling heights and finishes would make an incredible embassy, private residence or perhaps other uses. It has twenty three rooms, six bathrooms and a state of the art security system. It is also serviced by separate off-street parking. The building is 9,000 square feet. The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago recently acquired the 13,942 square foot building located at 1714 Massachusetts Avenue for $11,984,000
James Kazunas, President Hollywood Real Estate Services, LLC commented “This is a unique property that presents a rare opportunity for a variety of embassy and non embassy uses. The asking price has not been set and the property will be sold in a sealed bid format, with the Seller entertaining any and all viable offers from bidders.”
Complete terms and conditions of sale are available by contacting LPC Commercial Services, Inc.
Email: [email protected]
James Connelly, VP, Government Services LPC Commercial Services, Inc.
(202) 491-5300
lPC CommerCial serviCes, inC.
(202) 513-6700
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DIPLOMATIC CONNECTIONS
COVER STORY PAGE 66
Admiral Leasing 51Amtrak 102Angelina Jolie - Goodwill Ambassador to the UNHCR 66
Boeing & Mongolian Airlines 112Boeing & Saudi Arabian Airlines 118 & 119British - President Obama’s State Visits 14British - Prince William and Duchess Catherine 82British School of Washington 43
Canadian Embassy - Spinal Cord Injury Research 52
DC Livery 41Denmark - Nordic Foods 120Denmark - Queen Margrethe II 42Diplomatic Connections’ Reception at the Four Seasons 56[The] Donatello Hotel in San Francisco* INSIDE BACK COVER
Elysian Hotel in Chicago 13
[The] Fairfax at Embassy Row 6 & 7Finland - Nordic Foods 120First Lady Michelle Obama and Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II 42Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts 10 & 56
Hay Adams 11, 124 & 125Helga’s Catering 123Hungary - Herend 96
Iceland - Nordic Foods 120InterContinental New York Barclay 1InterContinental - Willard InterContinental Washington, DC 1InterContinental Los Angeles Century City 2
InterContinental Cleveland 3InTouch USA Wireless Communications 117
Jim Coleman Cadillac 22 & 23Jumeirah Essex House in Manhattan, New York 128
LPC Commercial Services, Inc. - Real Estate 4 & 5
New Zealand, Embassy of 110Norway - Nordic Foods 120
[The] Peninsula Beverly Hills* INSIDE FRONT COVER, 77, 126 & 127[The] Peninsula Chicago* INSIDE FRONT COVER [The] Peninsula New York* INSIDE FRONT COVER & 86
Saudi Arabian Airlines 118 & 119Sofitel Chicago Water Tower 8 & 9Sweden - Nordic Foods 120Swissotel Hotels and Resorts Chicago* BACK COVER & 109
United Nations, Ban Ki-moon’s Reappointment 33United Nations, Naomi Watts & Alicia Keys 100US Limo System 41
Washington Hospital Center 55White House, President Obama’s State Visits 14White House, Defense Secretary Gates leaving office 36White House, Mongolian President Elbegdorj 112White House, President Obama welcomes German Chancellor Merkel to Washington 44
Wings Jets 6 & 7
EDITOR-IN-CHIEFDawn Parker
AssIsTANTs TO THE EDITORChanel Cherry
Ashley Gatewood
ADVERTIsING EXECUTIVEsDwight Boswell, Sara Doremus, Kendra Edmonds,
Reina Gabbud, Erin Ladd, Steve Yarborough
EXECUTIVE AssIsTANTKyle Byram
DEsIGN & CREATIVEKDG Advertising, Design & Marketing
Laura Socha – [email protected]
DIPLOMATIC CORREsPONDENTsand CONTRIBUTING WRITERs
Roland Flamini, James Winship, PhD, Mark KennedyMichelle Parish, Caroline Barker
To contact an advertising executiveCALL: 202.536.4810FAX: 202.370.6882
EMAIL: [email protected]
DIPLOMATIC CONNECTIONs WEBsITE DEsIGN & DEVELOPMENT
IMS (Inquiry Management Systems)304 Park Avenue South, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10010TOLL FREE: 877.467.8721 X701
Website: www.ims.com
Marc Highbloom, Vice [email protected]
Maria D’Urso, Project [email protected]
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERsChristophe Avril, Gustavo Gargallo,
Tahgrid Elbaba, Maja Thyssen Raaberg
To order photos from the events go to:www.diplomaticconnections.com
Send any name or address changes in writing to:Diplomatic Connections
4410 Massachusetts Avenue / #200Washington, DC 20016
Diplomatic Connections Business Editionis published bi-monthly.
Diplomatic Connections does not endorse any of the goods or services offered herein this publication.
Copyright 2011 by Diplomatic ConnectionsAll rights reserved.
Cover photo credits: Main photo on cover of Angelina Jolie, Claire Truscott/AFP/Getty Images; Photo above of Angelina and Brad, Francois Guillot/AFP/Getty Images; President Obama with German Chancellor Merkel, Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images; Chinese vice-president Xi Jipping and Mongolian prime minister Sukbaatar Batbold, Liu Jin/AFP/Getty Images; President Obama and Queen Elizabeth, Chris Jackson - WPA Pool/Getty Images; Naomi Watts, Hugh Jackman and Isla Fisher, Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic; Ban Ki-moon takes oath, UN photo/ Eskinder Debebe; Prince William, Duchess Catherine and Prince Harry, Indigo/Getty Images; Alicia Keys and Tinie Tempah performing, Dave J Hogan/Getty Images; Mongolian Airlines President and CEO Orkhon Tseyenoidov (L) and Kim Pastega, Boeing Commercial airplanes Vice President and General Manager of the 767 program shaking hands, Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images; Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt visit refugees in the village of Medjedja, Bosnia, Amel Emric/AFP/Getty Images; Joseph Richter, Four Seasons Hotel, Christophe Avril, Diplomatic Connections.
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Rarely have two nations been so fixated over defining their bi-lateral relations as Britain
and the United States. President Barack Obama’s state visit to London with First Lady Michelle Obama in June was the occasion for both sides to trot out several variations on the familiar theme. An op-ed page article in The Times of London, signed jointly by the president and Prime Minister David Cameron, spoke of “a special relationship,” “an essential relationship,” and a “natural partnership.” Speaking at the lavish state banquet given for the Obamas at Buckingham Palace, Queen Elizabeth II came up with a triple flavor special. The relationship, the queen said, “is tried, tested, and very special.” The ties that bind the United Kingdom and
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President Barack Obama and First
Lady Michelle Obama attend a State
Banquet hosted by Queen Elizabeth
II at Buckingham Palace in London,
England, May 24, 2011.
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Left to right: Queen Elizabeth II, U.S. President Barack Obama, his wife Michelle Obama and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh pose in the Music Room of Buckingham Palace ahead of a State Banquet on May 24, 2011 in London, England. The 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama, and his wife Michelle were in the UK for a two day State Visit at the invitation of HM Queen Elizabeth II. During the trip they attended a state banquet at Buckingham Palace and the President addressed both houses of parliament at Westminster Hall.
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President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama talk with the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, U.S. Ambassador Louis Susman and Mrs. Margaret Susman at Winfield House in London, England, May 24, 2011.
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President Barack Obama, assisted by members of the U.S. military, lays a wreath at the Grave of the Unknown
Warrior at Westminster Abbey in London, England,
May 24, 2011.
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its former North American colony, the queen said, were
rooted in “our shared history, common language, and our
strong intellectual and cultural links.”
In her nearly 60 years on the throne, Queen Elizabeth
has met every U.S. president since Harry Truman; still, the
Obama state visit, which is defined by specific ceremonial
including a big, white-tie banquet, is only the third by an oc-
cupant of the White House in 100 years.
The Obamas spent two nights as the queen’s guests at
Buckingham Palace – another aspect of a state visit by a for-
eign leader – and the president’s “thank you” for the banquet
was a dinner in the queen’s honor at Winfield House, official
residence of the U.S. ambassador to Britain, Louis Susman.
Celebrity guests included Tom Hanks, Oscar winning Brit-
ish actor Colin Firth, soccer star David Beckham, and Harry
Potter author J.K. Rowling. And also, the Mayor of London
Boris Johnson who more or less jokingly asked the president to
pay the huge amount in fines for driving in central London un-
paid by U.S. embassy staffers (the embassy refuses to pay the
new charge designed to reduce congestion, citing diplomatic
immunity). “Could you please write me out a cheque for five
million pounds?” Johnson asked the president.
The president also addressed both houses of the Brit-
ish parliament. Presidents Reagan and Clinton had done the
same, but not in the famed, 600-year-old Westminster Hall –
a signal honor.
Obama covered a range of topics including Afghanistan,
the death of Bin Laden, human rights, and the environment.
He called the Anglo-American relationship “indispensible,”
and said the United States and Britain “remain the greatest
catalysts for global action.”
An audience that included Prime Minister David
Cameron who leads Britain’s coalition of Conservatives and
Liberal-Democrats, Nick Clegg, the deputy prime minister
and Liberal-Democrat leader, and three ex-prime ministers
Gordon Brown, Tony Blair and John Major, laughed when
Obama observed that the trans-Atlantic relationship “got off
on the wrong foot with a small scrape about tea and taxes.
There may also have been some hurt feelings when the White
House was set on fire during the War of 1812. But fortunate-
ly, it’s been smooth sailing ever since.”
When the Obamas toured Westminster Abbey, scene of
the recent marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton, the
president laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown soldier.
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President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama receive Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, prior to a dinner in the Queen’s honor at Winfield House in London, England, May 25, 2011.
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President Barack Obama and Queen Elizabeth II greet guests, including actor Colin Firth, at a dinner in honor of the Queen at Winfield House in London, England, May 25, 2011. Firth received an 2010 Academy Award for his portrayal of the Queen’s father, King George VI, in The King’s Speech.
President Barack Obama offers a toast to Queen Elizabeth II during a dinner held in the Queen’s honor at Winfield House in London, England, May 25, 2011. Actor Tom Hanks is pictured at left.
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama talk with Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, before they depart Winfield House in London, England, following a dinner in honor of the Queen, May 25, 2011.
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First Lady Michelle Obama greets
soccer star David Beckham at a
dinner in honor of Queen Elizabeth
II at Winfield House in London,
England, May 25, 2011.
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Besides the pomp and circumstance of a state visit, Obama and
Cameron had bi-lateral talks on common issues, including finding
a political solution in Afghanistan. It was revealed recently that the
Obama administration has had preliminary talks with the Taliban.
Both leaders agreed on the need to persuade other NATO allies to join
the military offensive in Libya in the hope of pressuring Libyan leader
Col. Moammar Gaddafi to step down. Another item on their agenda
was the eternal Israeli-Palestinian standoff in which the Cameron
government is tougher than the White House on Israel’s position,
including building more settlements on the occupied West Bank.
The Obama’s European trip had started in Ireland where the
president had words of encouragement for the Irish facing an eco-
nomic crisis, visited the village of Moneygall, home of his maternal
great-great-grandfather, and quaffed Guinness in a Moneygall pub.
Obama’s other stops were Deauville, France, to attend a meet-
ing of the G8 – the eight richest industrial nations -- and Poland.
In Deauville, the focus was on the current turmoil in the Arab
world. The meeting decided to aid Tunisia and Egypt as both coun-
tries prepared for their first free democratic elections in decades.
And Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev volunteered his govern-
ment as a mediator between Gaddafi and Libyan rebels, and the
offer was accepted.
The president wrapped up his European tour in Warsaw, where
he reassured a gathering of Eastern European leaders that his efforts
to “reset” relations with Russia would not come at the expense of the
security of Poland or other nations in the former Iron Curtain area. n
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President Barack Obama talks with British Prime Minister David Cameron following their joint press conference at Lancaster House in London, England, May 25, 2011.
President Barack Obama and British
Prime Minister David Cameron walk
together following their joint press
conference at Lancaster House in
London, England, May 25, 2011.
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President Barack Obama
works on his speech to
Parliament, at Buckingham
Palace in London, England,
May 25, 2011.
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President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama talk with Irish President Mary McAleese and Dr. Martin McAleese during a courtesy call in the Drawing Room at the President’s residence in Dublin, Ireland, May 23, 2011.
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama greet Henry Healy, the President’s distant cousin, after arriving in Moneygall, Ireland, May 23, 2011. The President and First Lady were also welcomed by Counselor Danny Owens, Chair Offaly County, and Counselor John Kennedy, Chair Tipperary County, center.
Above: President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama arrive in Moneygall, Ireland, May 23, 2011.
Right: First Lady Michelle Obama greets local residents on Main Street in Moneygall, Ireland, May 23, 2011.
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President Barack Obama talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister David Cameron before the start of the working G8 dinner in Deauville, France, May 26, 2011.
President Barack Obama jokes with Ben Rhodes, Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communication, aboard Air Force One en route from London, England, to the G8 Summit in Deauville, France, May 26, 2011. Mike McFaul, Senior Director for Russian and Central Asian Affairs, left, and Director of Communications Dan Pfeiffer laugh with them.
President Barack Obama, French
President Nicolas Sarkozy, and European Commission President
José Manuel Barroso greet people on the
street before attending the G8 Summit in
Deauville, France, May 26, 2011.
President Barack Obama talks with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev during the G8 Summit in Deauville, France, May 27, 2011.
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President Barack Obama and President Bronislaw Komorowski of Poland participate in the arrival ceremony in the courtyard of the Presidential Palace in Warsaw, Poland, May 28, 2011.
President Barack Obama meets with President Bronislaw Komorowski at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw, Poland, May 27, 2011.
Above: President Barack Obama talks with family members of the victims of the Smolensk plane crash during his visit to the Field Cathedral of the Polish Military in
Warsaw, Poland, May 28, 2011.
Right: President Barack Obama and President Bronislaw Komorowski of Poland greet young people during a democracy discussion event at the Presidential Palace
in Warsaw, Poland, May 28, 2011.
Director of Protocol Krzystof Krajewski
and Ambassador Lee Feinstein, right, wave to President Barack Obama
as boards Air Force One before departing
Warsaw, Poland, May 28, 2011.
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Ban Ki-moon (centre right) takes the oath of office administered by
Joseph Deiss (centre left), President of the sixty-fifth
session of the General Assembly, as he is sworn
in for a second term as Secretary-General.
Standing to the right of Mr. Ban is Desmond Parker,
UN Chief of Protocol.
The General Assembly re-appointed Mr. Ban by acclamation for a
five-year term, to begin January 1, 2012.
34 w w w. d i p l o m at i c c o n n e c t i o n s . c o m
pon the unanimous recommendation of the United
Nations Security Council, including all five permanent
members – China, France, the Russian Federation, the United
Kingdom, and the United States – the 192 members of the
United Nations General Assembly voted by consensus to reap-
point Ban Ki-moon to a second five-year term as United
Nations Secretary General. His new term of office will officially
begin January 1, 2012 and end on December 31, 2016. Mr.
Ban immediately took the oath of office with his right hand
raised and his left hand on the original copy of the United
Nations Charter signed at the San Francisco Conference on
June 26, 1945. This copy of the Charter was provided through
the courtesy of the National Archives of the United States.
General Assembly President, former Swiss President
Joseph Deiss, saluted Mr. Ban’s “loyalty, discretion, and
conscience.” “These are the qualities that you swore to exercise
when you took your oath of office. These qualities were not
just words. For the past five years, on a daily basis, they have
truly guided you in your work.” Gabon’s Ambassador Noel
Nelson Messoe, who held the rotating Security Council presi-
dency for the month of June, introduced the draft resolution to
re-elect Ban by praising the Secretary General’s determination
to work on every continent to promote peace and develop-
ment, justice, and international security “remarkably and with
all objectivity and independence…sometimes in particularly
difficult and trying circumstances.”
Procedurally, the selection process was identical with the
procedures followed in the selection of former Secretary Gen-
eral Kofi Annan’s successor in 2006. Then, too, Ban Ki-moon
emerged as the unanimous, save one abstention, recommen-
dation of the Security Council and was duly approved by the
General Assembly without dissent. Politically, however, the
two selection processes could not have been more different.
This year there were no other candidates for the Secretary
General’s position. But, in 2006, as the charismatic Kofi Annan
was preparing to leave office, there were seven contenders for
what the first United Nations Secretary General, Trygve Lie
of Norway, described to his successor Dag Hammarskjold of
Sweden as “the most impossible job in the world.”
Then, Mr. Ban was the lone survivor from a selection
process that attracted a solid pool of talent and a months-long
unofficial campaign for office that saw potential Secretary
General’s vying for support from major world governments and
members of the Security Council. Included among that list of
candidates were: career United Nations diplomat and author,
Sashi Tharoor of India; Jayanthi Dhanapala, a Sri Lankan
diplomat with long experience at the United Nations; Ashraf
Ghani, former finance minister in the Afghan government;
Prince Zeid al-Hussein, Jordan’s ambassador to the United
Nations; Surakiart Sathirathai, former deputy prime minister
of Thailand and backed by the ten nations of the Southeast
Asian regional bloc – ASEAN; President Vaira Vike-Freiberga,
President of Latvia; and Mr. Ban, then South Korea’s Minister of
Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Members of the Security
Council adopted by acclama-
tion a resolution recom-
mending Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon for a second
term of office, starting on
January 1, 2012 and ending
on December 31, 2016.
Under Article 97 of the UN
Charter, the Security Council
makes a recommendation
and then the General
Assembly makes a decision
on the appointment on
June 17, 2011.
Yoo Soon-taek (centre), wife of Ban Ki-moon, is pictured in the audience as the General Assembly re-appoints Mr. Ban to a second term as UN Secretary-General.
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In 2006, Ban became the consensus choice of the Secu-
rity Council only as a series of informal straw polls made it
clear that he had the most consistent and widespread support.
Now, in 2011, Mr. Ban was the unchallenged candidate of all
the major powers and each
of the regional groupings
at the U.N. – with only the
briefest reluctance expressed
by the Latin American
group, praised for his
“bridge building” and travel
intensive diplomatic style,
respected for his initial ef-
forts at reform of the United
Nations administrative
system, and valued for his
insistent efforts to bring cli-
mate change to the forefront
of international attention.
Ambassador Susan
Rice, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations,
welcomed Secretary General Ban’s reappointment. “No one,”
she noted, “understands the burdens of this role better than he,
and my government is grateful that he is willing to continue
to take them on.” “Secretary Ban,” she continued, “has been a
champion of peace and security, an advocate for development,
and a voice for universal human rights. He has spoken out
with compassion for Haiti, for democracy in Côte d’Ivoire, and
for the responsibility to protect in Libya. He has urged us all
to confront the common challenge of climate change. He has
already made important changes, such as hiring more women
for senior posts and proposing the deepest reduction in the
U.N.’s budget in more than a decade. Under his leadership,
the United Nations has launched the Global Field Support
Strategy, created an ethics office, and merged four disparate
bodies into the important new agency UN Women. But far
more work awaits the Secretary General in his second term.
We look forward to working with him and his senior leader-
ship team.”
In his remarks to the General Assembly immediately after
his reappointment, Secretary General Ban began by thanking
the representatives of all the member states. “Standing in this
place, mindful of the immense legacy of my predecessors, I am
humbled by your trust and enlarged by our sense of common
purpose.” He then proceeded to catalog the achievements of
his first term and to set an agenda for the second. Noting that,
“A clear time frame lies ahead: the target date for the Millenni-
um Development Goals in 2015, next year’s Rio +20 (Climate)
Conference, the high-level meeting on nuclear safety in Sep-
tember and the Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul next year,”
Mr. Ban insisted that “our ultimate power is partnership. Our
legacy, such as it may be, will be written in alliance – the lead-
ers of the world, leading in
common cause.” He indi-
cated that he would reach
out to member states for
their views and ideas on the
way ahead and promised
to deliver a “broad long-
term vision to the General
Assembly in September”
followed by “a detailed ac-
tion plan for realizing those
goals” as he begins his new
five-year term in January.
Though not known for
his sense of humor, Mr. Ban
was able both to induce a
bit of laughter and introduce a trenchant insight into the work-
ings of the United Nations during his brief acceptance speech.
Noting that he had taken the oath of office on the original
signed copy of the United Nations Charter, he recalled how
at the time of its signing, the document had been flown from
San Francisco to Washington outfitted with its own parachute.
“No such consideration,” Ban noted, “was given to the diplo-
mat accompanying it; he had to take his chances.” Perhaps the
same could be said of Secretary General’s position today? The
UN Charter is a treasured foundational document of interna-
tional law, but the Secretary General has to confront a tumultu-
ous world without a parachute! n
Joseph Deiss (right), President of the sixty-fifth session of the General Assembly, meets with Ban Ki-moon after swearing in Mr. Ban for a second term as UN Secretary-General.
Ban Ki-moon (front, right) waits with Desmond Parker (beside Mr. Ban), UN Chief of Protocol, to be sworn in before the General Assembly for a second term as UN Secretary-General.
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President Barack Obama and Cabinet members
applaud Defense Secretary Robert Gates on the
successful mission against Osama Bin Laden,
during a Cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room
of the White House, May 3, 2011.
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The most unexpected alliance within the Obama Administration has been
the double act of Hillary Clinton, U.s. secretary of state, and Defense secretary Robert Gates. Coming after the open hostility of Donald Rumsfeld’s Pentagon towards Foggy Bottom, the level of cooperation between Republican Gates and Democratic presidential candidate Clinton raised eyebrows in Washington political circles. The Washington Post called them “Washington’s Odd Couple.” The two secretaries traveled together to Moscow and elsewhere in the interests of Barack Obama’s foreign policy. “We didn’t get the memo that we were supposed to be diametrically opposed on everything,” secretary Clinton said recently. Gates has even taken the unheard of step for a Defense secretary of appearing before Congress in support of the state Depart-ment budget. Aside from the obvious personal chemistry, Gates had a distinct purpose in supporting the American diplomatic effort. He recognized – as he said at the conservative think tank The American
By Roland Flamini
importance of diplomacy is solving problems,” and thus in
avoiding further demands on American military resources
already stretched almost to the limit by two major wars, and
— as seen in the Libyan situation — reluctant to take on more
conflicts.
Gates stepped down in June after four and a half years as
Defense Secretary. President Obama has picked Leon Panetta,
lately director of the Central Intelligence Agency, to be Gates’s
successor. It remains to be seen whether Panetta and Hillary
Clinton can replicate the same rapport that she enjoyed with
Gates. But meanwhile, in remarks prior to his departure Gates
laid the broad lines of his legacy — and in so doing set out the
problems facing the 23rd civilian head of America’s military
establishment.
At AEI, Gates did not mention Panetta, but opened his
remarks with what could be a warning to his successor of
what to expect from the military. “From the early months,”
Gates said, “I ran up against institutional obstacles in the
Pentagon — cultural, procedural, ideological — to getting
done what needed to get done on behalf of those fighting
the wars we are in, whether it was outpatient care for the
wounded; armored troop transports; medevac; ramping up
intelligence; surveillance and reconnaissance support; or any
number of urgent battlefield needs.”
The narrative of Gates’ tenure is in two phases: the first
being management of the Iraq and Afghan conflicts — the
successful troop surge against the insurgency in the first, but
mixed results despite increased U.S. and NATO numbers and
second, with the later and more challenging phase being —
putting in place the mechanism to meet President Obama’s
imposed goal of cutting $400 billion out of the defense budget
over the next 12 years as part of the administration’s economic
recovery effort — a tall order considering that the defense
budget this year is $530 billion, the highest since World War
II, adjusted for inflation.
None of these issues is being handed to Panetta signed,
sealed and delivered by Gates. Though the Iraq withdrawal
is underway, the Obama administration (Gates says) is still
hoping for a last minute invitation from the Baghdad govern-
ment to retain a sizeable U.S. force in Iraq to strengthen the
country’s own military, reassure Iraq’s Gulf neighbors, and
frustrate any plans that Iran might have to extend its influence
further in Baghdad.
In Afghanistan, the internal debate over a full-blown of-
fensive to pacify the country versus more limited
38 w w w. d i p l o m at i c c o n n e c t i o n s . c o m
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President Barack Obama waits in the Blue Room of the White House before announcing personnel changes in the East Room, April 28, 2011. Standing
with the President, from left, are: Vice President Joe Biden, Ambassador Ryan Crocker, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and General David Petraeus.
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counterinsurgency operations against al-Qaida was still
going on in the administration even as the president had
set a pullout date of 2014.
As for defense budget cuts, the most obvious ones have
already been made. Gates said at AEI that he had launched
a reform of “the (Defense) department’s buying culture.” His
main target was the spending spree “with no questions asked”
following 9/11. The low hanging fruit, the most obviously
vulnerable weapons programs that had unproven technology
or “did not pass the test of rationality” had “not only been
plucked, they have been stomped on and crushed,” he said.
In this way, thirty weapons programs were cancelled
that would have cost $300 billion to complete, including the
Army’s $200 billion (so far) Future Combat System which
relied on flat-bottomed, lightweight vehicles hugely vulnerable
to improvised explosive devices, plus the airborne missile
defense laser, and the controversial presidential helicopter.
That Army stalwart the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, together
with the Apache attack helicopter, and the F-15 fighter – all
products of an earlier, Reagan-era weapons build-up – still
define today’s American military. But they are worn out
from use in Iraq and Afghanistan -- though still better than
what any foreign army can deploy in the same category. New
investments have to be found for a new refueling tanker for
the Air Force (“The ones we have are twice as old as many of
the pilots flying them”), a new strike fighter, an Army ground
combat vehicle, and more ships for the depleted U.S. Navy –
but using “proven technology that can be produced on time
and on budget.” Even so, expenditure remains astronomical.
The new submarine due to enter service cost $5 billion per
submarine and the U.S. Navy would have 12 of them.
In looking for further deficit-reduction targets, Gates
continued, there can be “no sacred cows.” High levels of
compensation and retirement benefits, though deserved, are
unsustainable and will have to be looked at – as will the cost
of health services because “everybody knows that we’re being
eaten alive by health care.” Gates said, “Massive administrative
and support bureaucracies” both within the Pentagon and at
other military centers would also have to shrink.
Even so, Gates said the way to do it was not by across-
the-board cuts as had happened in the past. “Math exercises,”
he said, should be replaced by the more rational approach
of “identifying options.” A Pentagon review ordered by Gates
will look at those options and make further cost-cutting rec-
ommendations.
But whatever the approach, Gates conceded the reality
that a pared down military “will be able to go fewer places
and be able to do fewer things.” For decades, the cornerstone
of U.S. military thinking has been the ability to fight two
simultaneous wars. This is what is happening now. But will
this thinking survive the anticipated reductions in defense
spending? “If we are going to reduce the resources and the
size of the U.S. military, people need to make conscious
choices about what the implications are for the security of the
country, as well as for the variety of military operations we
have around the world if lower-priority missions are scaled
back or eliminated,” Gates declared. “They need to under-
stand what it could mean for a smaller pool of troops and
their families if America is forced into a protracted land war
again -- yeah, the kind that no secretary of defense should
recommend anytime soon, but one we may not be able to
avoid. To shirk this discussion of risks and consequences
and the hard decisions that must follow, I would regard as
managerial cowardice.”
On the face of it, Europe, especially western Europe,
looks like a good candidate for serious reductions. The
United States no longer has a Soviet enemy to guard against.
Threats against the United States are more mobile and
less state-based. Yet interestingly, Gates didn’t think any
defense cut-backs would greatly affect American bases in
Europe where three U.S. combat brigades are deployed. The
investments have already been made in Europe, he argued.
“bringing (the troops) home and setting them up” would only
require further expense.
Almost his last act as secretary was to travel to Singapore
to reassure a meeting of such worried U.S. allies as Japan and
South Korea that America “will continue to play an indispens-
able role in the stability of the region.” But the assurances from
Gates for the future were somewhat overshadowed by
a present reality. Present at the meeting was a high-level
delegation from China which is expanding its military
capabilities even as the United States is reducing its own. n
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42 w w w. d i p l o m at i c c o n n e c t i o n s . c o m
When the Danish Royal Ballet performed “A Folk Tale”
at Washington’s Kennedy Center in June the audience
included one of the company’s former costume designers, who
also happens to be Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II. She and
husband Prince Henrik had timed a U.S. trip to coincide with
the ballet’s Washington appearance and were on hand for a
rehearsal as well as the first performance.
“A Folk Tale’ has a special significance for Queen Margrethe.
An accomplished artist, she designed the costumes for an
earlier production of the work, one of the best known Danish
alternatives to classical ballet’s mainstream repertoire, such
as “Swan Lake” and “Les Sylphides.” The costumes of the
“Folk Tale” performed in Washington, however, were of a
more recent vintage and the work of another designer.
As this was not a state visit no meeting with President
Obama was envisioned. Still, the royal couple’s itinerary in-
cluded a brief visit to the White House for coffee with First Lady
Michelle Obama: They also toured the Phillips Collection (and
later the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in New York), and
took in the Library of Congress where they were shown early
editions of Hans Christian Anderson’s fables. The House Minor-
ity Whip, Maryland Democrat Steny Hoyer, whose father was
Danish-born, was their guide on a tour of the Capitol.
On June 9th, Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik
travelled to New York to visit the United Nations and tour
the Trusteeship Council Chamber, which is currently being
refurbished as part of the United Nations Capital Master
Plan. The Chamber was designed by the Danish architect
and designer Finn Juhl (1912-1989) and was furnished by
Denmark in 1951 and opened in 1952. On December 10,
2010, Denmark donated US$3 million for the renovation.
Then as the queen returned home, Prince Henrik crossed the
United States to enjoy the theme park-like Solvang, near Santa
Barbara, California, that replicates a small town in Denmark. n
Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II Visits Washington, DC and New York
First Lady Michelle Obama has coffee
with the Queen Margrethe II of Denmark in the
Yellow Oval Room of the White House,
June 8, 2011.
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Making a Worldof Difference
The British School of Washington offers a high-quality, British-style education to children ages 3-18, preparing students to meet the growing challenges of a rapidly changing world. We encourage independence and self-discipline in an atmosphere of mutual respect and appreciation of diverse opinions and cultures.
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British School of Washington
d i p l o m at i c c o n n e c t i o n s B U s i n e s s e d i t i o n | J U lY - a U G U s t 2 0 1 1 43
Left: Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (left) and Queen Margrethe II of Denmark.
Below: Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (front, left) and Michael Adlerstein (front, right), Executive Director of the Capital Master Plan (CMP), accompany Queen Margrethe II of Denmark (centre) through a tour of the Trusteeship Council Chamber, which is being renovated as part of the United Nations CMP. The Trusteeship Council Chamber, designed by the Danish architect and furniture designer Finn Juhl (1912-1989), was furnished by Denmark in 1951. It opened in 1952. On 10 December 2010, Denmark donated US$3 million for the renovation of the Chamber.
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US President Barack Obama (R) and First Lady Michelle Obama (2nd-L) greet German Chancellor Angela Merkel (2nd-R) and her husband Joachim Sauer (L) at the North Portico of the White House in Washington, DC, on June 7, 2011 for the State Dinner. Obama warned Europe’s debt crisis must not destabilize the global economy, as he laid on a lavish and warm White House welcome for Merkel. Obama said he and Merkel had extensive talks about the plight of debt-stricken Greece, which needs a second huge financial bailout, despite some reluctance from some eurozone members to stump up fresh funds.
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German Chancellor Angela Merkel [pronounced ahn-GAY-la M-AIR-kl,
according to the Voice of America pronuncia-tion guide] received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama in a recent official visit to Washington, D.C. Her visit to Washington included meetings with Obama, highlighted by a surprising dinner for two at 1789 in Georgetown the evening before the official state dinner, discussions with other high ranking U.S. government officials, as well as the formal White House state dinner served al fresco, to the steaminess of an early summer heat wave Je
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46 w w w. d i p l o m at i c c o n n e c t i o n s . c o m
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US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama greet
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her husband Joachim Sauer at the North Portico of the White
House in Washington, DC, on June 7, 2011 for the State Dinner.
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and the emerging stars in a darkening sky. While the stated
reason for the visit was to receive the Medal of Freedom
Award, the clear purpose was to renew and strengthen rela-
tions between the United States and Germany at a time when
Germany and its strong economy are taking an increasingly
important leadership role in the European Union and among
the G8 and G20 economies.
The Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian honor
bestowed by the United States, presented to individuals who
have made especially meritorious contributions to the secu-
rity or national interests of the United States, to world peace,
or to cultural or other
significant public or private
endeavors. Commenting at
the time the awardees were
announced in November
2010, President Obama
observed that, “all of them
have lived extraordinary
lives that have inspired
us, enriched our culture,
and made our country and
our world a better place.”
Among the international
recipients of the award have
been Pope John Paul II (Vatican), Nelson Mandela (South
Africa), Margaret Thatcher (United Kingdom), Vaclav Havel
(then, Czechoslovakia), Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (Liberia), John
Howard (Australia), Mary Robinson (Ireland), and German
Chancellor Helmut Kohl.
Angela Merkel is the first woman to serve as Chancellor
of Germany and the first Chancellor to have come from the
former East Germany. She was educated in East Germany
and studied physics at the University of Leipzig, subsequently
earning a doctorate in quantum chemistry from the Central
Institute for Physical Chemistry of the Academy of Sci-
ences in Berlin. As a student, Merkel was active both in the
government-sponsored Free German Youth Movement (FDJ)
and in unofficial student groups. After the fall of the Berlin
Wall in 1989, she joined the new political party Democratic
Awakening, eventually emerging as the deputy spokesperson
for the pre-unification East German caretaker government.
In the first post-unification general elections, Merkel was
elected to the Bundestag from a constituency in the former
East Germany, which has remained her electoral district
throughout her political career. After her political party
merged with the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), she
quickly became a protégée of German Chancellor Helmut
Kohl, serving first as Minister for Women and Youth and
subsequently as Minister for Environment and Nuclear Safety.
Following the defeat of the Kohl government in 1998, Merkel
emerged as Secretary General of the CDU and something
of an oddity – a Protestant leader in a party and a coali-
tion traditionally led by men and with deep Catholic roots
in western and southern Germany. Merkel first assumed
the Chancellor’s position in 2005 after a virtual dead heat
election that left both of Germany’s major parties claiming
victory but neither of them able to successfully assemble a
ruling coalition. After
three weeks of wrangling,
Merkel emerged at the
head of a grand coalition
government in which she
was named Chancellor but
the parties agreed to divide
the major government
ministries equally. She
was reelected in the 2009
German elections with a
larger majority and was
able to form a center-right
governing coalition with
the Free Democratic Party, without the support of the Social
Democratic Party.
In his after dinner remarks honoring the Chancellor,
President Obama reflected, “Tonight we honor Angela Merkel
not for being denied her freedom, or even for attaining her
freedom, but for what she achieved when she gained freedom.
Determined to finally have her say, she entered politics – rising
to become the first East German to lead a united Germany, the
first woman Chancellor in German history, and an eloquent
voice for human rights and dignity around the world.”
Responding to the President’s remarks, Chancellor
Merkel recalled that the first political event she remembered
was the building of the Berlin Wall fifty years ago. “I grew up
in the part of Germany that was not free, the German Demo-
cratic Republic. For many years I dreamt of freedom, just
as many others did.” But, she continued, “The yearning for
freedom cannot be contained by walls for long. It was this
yearning that brought down the Iron Curtain that divided
Germany and Europe, and indeed the world, into two blocs.
Also today, the yearning for freedom may well make totalitar-
ian regimes tremble and fall. Freedom is indivisible. Each
and every one has the same right to freedom, be it in North
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Africa or Belarus, in Myanmar or Iran.”
As he welcomed Chancellor Merkel to
Washington, President Obama noted that,
“Today marks the first official visit and State
Dinner for a European leader during my
presidency. It’s only fitting. The transatlantic
alliance is the cornerstone — the heart — of
our efforts to promote peace and prosperity
around the world. And Germany — at the heart
of Europe — is one of our strongest allies. And
Chancellor Merkel is one of my closest global
partners.” Chancellor Merkel responded in an
unusually personal tone, referring to President
Obama and the First Lady as “dear Barack”
and “dear Michelle,” and displaying a warmth
between the two leaders that has not always
been apparent as the United States and Germany
have on occasion disagreed on critical questions
of regional diplomacy and international security.
At their joint press conference, Chancellor
Merkel thanked President Obama for his warm
reception and remarked that, “Without the Unit-
ed States of America, I would in all probability
not be able to stand here before you today. Over-
coming the Cold War required courage from the
people of Central and Eastern Europe and what
was then the German Democratic Republic [East
Germany, then under Communist Party rule],
but it also required the steadfastness of Western
partners over many decades when many had long
lost hope of integration of the two Germanys and
Europe. But the then-President George Herbert
Walker Bush said German unity, European unity,
is indeed something that deserves our support.”
In response to a question posed to
President Obama asking whether the award
of the Presidential Medal of Freedom to
Chancellor Merkel represented not only an
acknowledgement of her accomplishments in
the past but also an expression of the expectations he would
have for the future of U.S.-German relations, the President
responded that, “the Medal of Freedom certainly is a recogni-
tion of the Chancellor’s remarkable career. I think not only
has she been an excellent steward of the German economy
and the European project, but she represents the unification
of Europe through her own life story and the capacity to
overcome the past and point toward a brighter future.”
“Fortunately,” the President continued, “she’s going to be
around quite a bit longer. Her leadership will be critical
on economic issues in the Euro zone. And I very much
compliment her on the courage with which she approaches
very difficult political issues, at some significant political
costs to herself.”
While many issues were discussed during the Chancellor’s
Washington visit, two emerged as central to the conversation
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US President Barack Obama speaks during a State Dinner for German Chancellor Angela Merkel in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, DC, June 7, 2011.
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— the looming financial crisis in Europe as the Greek,
Portuguese, and Irish economies face severe debt problems
requiring bailouts from the European Central Bank and
challenging the solidarity of the European Union itself; and
the question of Germany’s reluctance to support NATO oper-
ations designed to bring about the fall of the Gaddafi regime
in Libya. Chancellor Merkel and President Obama finessed
whatever tensions might exist between their countries with
careful responses that bridged any differences of opinion.
In response to questions from the press, Obama stressed
the critical relationship between the economic difficulties
confronting Europe and the economic stress under which
the American economy has found itself in recent years. He
expressed concern that the European Union agree to take
action to further assist Greece in its debt crisis and observed
that Germany “is going to be a key leader in that process.”
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For her part, Chancellor Merkel acknowledged the interde-
pendence of the global economy and the importance of the
stability of the Euro. “If a country is in danger and thereby
endangers the Euro as a whole, it is in each and every coun-
try’s vested interest to see to it that this common currency is
not endangered. And we will act in such a way that sustain-
ability is guaranteed.”
On the Libya question, President Obama acknowledged
Germany’s expanded role in Afghanistan and noted that this
made it possible for other NATO countries to make greater
contributions to the Libyan effort. He added that, “It is
important to note that this is a NATO operation that’s fully
integrated, which means you have German personnel who
are involved actively in these activities in their NATO role.”
Chancellor Merkel reiterated Germany’s support for the United
Nations resolution calling for President Gaddafi to step down.
“Gaddafi needs to step down and he will step down.” Asked
whether the Libyan situation has “burdened” U.S.-German
relations, the Chancellor observed that though there may be
differences of opinion between friends and partners, “What’s im-
portant is that we wish each other every success. For example,
we [Germany] participated in UNIFIL
[United Nations operations in Lebanon]
where the United States is not partici-
pating. Without mixing things up here,
there will be areas in the world where we
shoulder different responsibilities.”
In a lighter vein, both leaders
made elliptical references to alleged
tensions between them arising from the
2008 American presidential campaign
when Obama brought his campaign
operation to Germany for a major foreign
policy speech, and Chancellor Merkel
denied him the dramatic backdrop of the
Brandenburg Gate – where both Presi-
dents Kennedy and Reagan had made
their now famous speeches of solidarity
with the people of Berlin and Germany.
At that time, the Chancellor made clear
that she disapproved of employing this
iconic image of German division and
reunification as a campaign backdrop.
Subsequently, President Obama turned
down an invitation from Merkel to at-
tend ceremonies observing the twentieth
anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall,
an action many Germans interpreted as a snub to Merkel and
a diplomatic misstep.
Noting that Obama had been to Germany several times,
Merkel offered that, “Berlin opens its arms to him every day.”
Obama riposted that the last time he had been in Berlin, “We
had a lot of fun. And I’m sure that I’ll have a wonderful time
the next time I’m there as well. And I appreciate you assum-
ing that I’ll have another term. So I’ll have plenty of time to
be able to put Berlin on my schedule.” Not to be cheated
out of the last word, Merkel assured the President that “the
Brandenburg Gate will be standing for some time more.”
Chancellor Merkel wrapped up her Washington visit
very nicely in her exchange of toasts with President Obama.
“We see,” she reminded her audience, “that living in freedom
and defending freedom are two sides of one and the same
coin, for the precious gift of freedom doesn’t come naturally
but has to be fought for, nurtured, and defended time and
time again. Sometimes this may seem like an endless fight
against windmills. But, you see, my personal experience is
quite a different one. What we dare to dream of today may
well become reality tomorrow.” n
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ABC News host Diane Sawyer stands alongside Google chairman Eric Schmidt (L) during a State Dinner for German Chancellor Angela Merkel hosted by US President Barack
Obama in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, DC, June 7, 2011.
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52 w w w. d i p l o m at i c c o n n e c t i o n s . c o m
O n June 22, 2011, Canadian Ambassador Gary Doer hosted a reception in honour of Mr. Rick Hansen,
Canada’s Man In Motion, and three distinguished guests: Dr. susan Harkema, Dr. Robert Grossman and Ms Judith Heumann. At 15 years of age, Rick Hansen sustained a spinal cord injury that paralyzed him from the waist down. Undaunted, he adjusted his dreams and went on to win 19 international wheelchair marathons and six medals as a Paralympian, among many other achievements. In 1985
By Caro l ine Barker
Embassy of Canada
Rick Hansen, Gary Doer, Canada’s Ambassador to the United States, Shannon-Marie Soni, Cultural Counsellor, Embassy of Canada
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d i p l o m at i c c o n n e c t i o n s B U s i n e s s e d i t i o n | J U lY - a U G U s t 2 0 1 1 53
he set a new goal: raising awareness of the potential of people with
disabilities. Through his Man In Motion world tour, Rick wheeled
more than 24,800 miles through 34 countries – including the
United States. Along the way, he raised $26 million for spinal cord
research and opened new doors for people with disabilities. Upon
his return, he established the Rick Hansen Foundation to advance
innovation in scientific research for
spinal cord injuries and accessibility.
In celebration of the 25th anniver-
sary of the Man In Motion world tour,
Rick returned to five countries from his
original tour: Australia, China, Israel,
Jordan and the United States. In each
country, he has recognized individuals
who have made significant contributions
in the areas of accessibility, inclusivity,
research & development and service
above self, through the presentation of
“Difference Maker Awards.”
While at the Embassy, Rick recog-
nised three outstanding Americans with
his Difference Maker Award: Dr. Susan
Rick Hansen and Judith Heumann (Center), Special Advisor for International Disability Rights at the US Department of State and recipient of Rick Hansen’s Difference Maker Award
Dr. Susan Harkema, Director of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation’s Neurorecovery Network and the Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research Centre, received Rick Hansen’s Difference Maker Award on Wednesday evening at a reception at the Embassy of Canada.
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Harkema, Dr. Robert Grossman and Ms Judith Heumann. Dr.
Harkema is the Director of the Christopher and Dana Reeve
Foundation’s Neurorecovery Network and the Kentucky Spi-
nal Cord Injury Research Centre. She is a pioneer of locomo-
tor training whose research may provide strategies that can be
used by physical therapists for the rehabilitation of walking
for patients after neurologic injury.
Dr. Robert Grossman is the co-founder and Director of
the Methodist Neurological Institute. He is also a leading
voice in the development of guidelines for the conduct of
clinical trials for treatments of spinal cord injuries. The North
American Clinical Trials Network, which he formed, tests
new therapies for spinal cord injuries.
Ms. Judith Heumann is the Special Advisor for Inter-
national Disability Rights at the U.S. Department of State.
She helped draft the Americans with Disabilities Act, widely
recognised as one of the most important pieces of civil rights
legislation in past decades. n
For more information about Rick Hansen,
the Rick Hansen Foundation and
Difference Makers, please visit:
www.diplomaticconnections.com
and click on: www.rickhansen.com
Judith Heumann (Center), Special Advisor for International Disability Rights at the US Department of State and recipient of Rick Hansen’s Difference Maker Award
Look past the monuments and the museums and you’ll fi nd one of the nation’s top hospitals.
Located just three miles from the nation’s capitol is another national treasure —
Washington Hospital Center. With 1,600 dedicated physicians, the Hospital Center
is a leader in the research, diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular and neurological disease,
cancer, endocrine disorders, kidney disease, and geriatric and respiratory care. All this plus
convenient services like valet parking make a trip into the city well worth your while.
For an appointment with an experienced specialist, call our International Services offi ce at (202) 877-2102.
www.WHCenter.org
WHC6492_USnews_8.5x11.indd 1 11/4/09 2:55:09 PM
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Sixty events a week means mountains of hors d’oeuvres and every season is a busy one for the Four Seasons Hotel catering department
When Joseph J. Richter, Director of Catering at Washington’s Four seasons Hotel, talks about “doing the wave” he doesn’t mean the rippling salute performed by fans in soccer stadiums. “The wave” is also a term of art to
describe the choreography of serving food (and some-times drinks) at a reception. Waiters enter the room in pairs, separate to move in opposite semi-circles offering canapés and hors d’oeuvres to the guests, and come together again with empty platters to exit on the opposite side. Twenty-five percent of the Four seasons’ cater-ing business is with Washington’s foreign
d i p l o m at i c c o n n e c t i o n s B U s i n e s s e d i t i o n | J U lY - a U G U s t 2 0 1 1 57
Joseph J. RichterDirector of CateringFour Seasons HotelWashington, D.C.
embassies – national day receptions and other functions -
a fact that helped protect the area’s hotels from the worst
setbacks of the global recession. But – says Richter –
business is picking up in other sectors as well.
Joseph J. Richter: I handle all the event business that
comes from embassies, but that’s only a part of what we do.
I have a department of seven people that actually sells all the
events and meetings that take place in the hotel but do not
have guest rooms attached to them. One group handles the
Middle East and diplomatic business, and the other handles
the rest of the world.
Diplomatic Connections: What is that in terms of
numbers of events?
Joseph J. Richter: We do anywhere between 20 and 60
events a week. That could be receptions, private dinners or
weddings; and that’s all within 17,000 square feet of space on
two lower floors of the hotel. We also do parties outside and
in the spa.
Diplomatic Connections: Do you use the same kitchen
staff that services the hotel guests?
Joseph J. Richter: We have a whole separate catering
service. Wherever you’re going to eat, whether you’re up one
level at the Bourbon Steak restaurant for dinner, or down
two levels for a catered event, the food is all the same. All the
cooks are cross-trained. So someone who does a brunch on
a Sunday could jump in and do a banquet, and then could
work on the line in Bourbon Steak.
58 w w w. d i p l o m at i c c o n n e c t i o n s . c o m
From the editor: Diplomatic Connections partnered with the Four Seasons Washington to host another incredibly successful Diplomat Appreciation Reception in May of 2011. Nearly 500 Diplomats and Staff Representatives from Embassies and International Organizations were in attendance.
The Four Seasons excels at creating incredibly lavish and stunning events for their clients. They exemplify the pinnacle of professionalism and with the polished and immaculately refined skills of their talented staff, this unprecedented event represented commend-able execution and grace that unequivocally equaled the dignity of the high-level and distinguished guests who were in attendance.
The illustrative atmosphere and world-class cuisine was an embodiment of impeccable and exquisite style that exceedingly comprised the magnitude of their iconic, world-renowned reputation.
The Four Seasons Washington represents the epitome of perfection and ensures their clients and guests have an experience that is superbly peerless.
For these reasons, Diplomatic Connections joins with Four Seasons in hosting our annual Diplomat Appreciation Reception and Trade Show; one we consider magnificently prosperous far beyond just one evening!
Diplomatic Connections: Do you actually do a lot of
weddings?
Joseph J. Richter: We do Persian weddings, Hindu
weddings, ethnic weddings, same sex weddings – it’s all on
our Website. This year we’ll do about 55. We have no more
Fridays or Saturdays left for the rest of the year -they’re all
taken by weddings. The big, splashy weddings went away
for a while, but they’re back. We do a lot of weddings with
planners and they’ll take up to 36 hours to decorate the hall.
This is the best year for catering in the hotel’s 32-year history.
Diplomatic Connections: Why is that?
Joseph J. Richter: Washington is insulated because the
government is here. As far as corporate business, many local
businesses are doing a lot more meetings. What has changed
is the time-frame. They used to make long term arrangements,
anything up to 12 months. Now, 30 percent of our business
books for the same month. We’ve seen that in the past 18
months. Big conventions coming into town – that business
is down; people are staying closer to home, teleconferencing,
and things like that. But then groups from New York that had
stopped using us, like financial groups, seem to have come
back to life.
Diplomatic Connections: How about the diplomatic
market?
Joseph J. Richter: The first year is very tough when you
bring in a new embassy, and there’s kind of a mistrust because
they don’t know us, or they’ve never been to this hotel. They
know the brand; but not us. Once trust is established, it takes
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a phone call and about five seconds - we know what they
like. I would have a Middle Eastern embassy call, or Russia,
and I’ll know exactly what to do and what not to do. They all
are very, very specific about what they want.
Diplomatic Connections: For example…
Joseph J. Richter: There are groups that say, “We want the
party to start at seven o’clock, but you know nobody will show
up before nine. Then, there are groups that say they’ll start at
seven and they’re camped outside at four o’clock. There are
many cases where there are a hundred chiefs and two Indians.
Some groups have to have a certain type of table cloth, or they
don’t like a modern look. You know what kind of flowers not
to use for certain embassies because it’s an insult.
Diplomatic Connections: How so?
Joseph J. Richter: Well, with some Asian countries you
can’t use white flowers because that’s a sign of death. I’ve
been in rooms five minutes before a party and they’re ripping
flowers out of an arrangement because somehow the wires
got crossed.
Diplomatic Connections: Any other problems you want
to mention?
Joseph J. Richter: Well, this happens consistently: one
person will book an event, and on the telephone they can say,
“I love that idea, I love that idea, Yes, go with that.” They’ll
sign off on a proposal, and then someone else will take
charge and they’ll say, “That’s nice, but we’re not serving that,
and we want this…” But we’re used to it. Sometimes, you
cannot judge who’s going to walk through that door and be
in charge.
Diplomatic Connections: What about special food
requirements?
Joseph J. Richter: Our kitchens have staff from many
countries, so we can do phenomenal Thai food, we can do
Russian food, authentically – and if we can’t, we’ll research
it and still blow their socks off. But I will tell you, all Middle
Eastern countries, if they’re having a stand-up reception will
have 90 percent Western food, and they will bring in their
chef from the ambassador’s residence to do one dish – lamb,
things like that.
Diplomatic Connections: Is the preference for Western
food because it’s an experience?
Joseph J. Richter: Exactly, the last thing they want to do is
to come here and have a bad version of their own cuisine.
Diplomatic Connections: What is the largest group that
you’ve had to accommodate?
Joseph J. Richter: 1,200, and we’ve done it for more than
one national day embassy celebration. Embassies rarely take
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the entire space we have available; they would rather have the
room look crowded for a reception because then it looks more
successful.
Diplomatic Connections: What about security?
Joseph J. Richter: We have a very large security staff at the
hotel. If there’s a distinguished foreign guest coming to the
party, the Secret Service is likely to be involved.
Diplomatic Connections: Have you ever had the president?
Joseph J. Richter: I actually can’t tell you that. It’s our
policy; we’re really not supposed to say who has been here.
People find out: we cannot verify it.
Diplomatic Connections: Any incidents that you would
care to mention – a fight breaking out at a reception?
Joseph J. Richter: Never had one. I’ve seen the bride kiss
the wrong guy – a little too long, but never a fight.
Diplomatic Connections: Thank you, Mr. Richter. n
If you would like to contact Joseph J. Richter, Director of Catering, for a future event, email:
[email protected] or call: 202.944.2020
66 w w w. d i p l o m at i c c o n n e c t i o n s . c o m
US actress and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie gives a press conference in Islamabad. Jolie visited Pakistan’s northwest to draw the world’s attention towards the plight of 21 million people affected by the country’s worst-ever floods. It was the 36-year-old actress’ fourth visit to Pakistan since she became a UNHCR goodwill ambassador in 2001.
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Angelina Jolie may be a major screen star, among the sexiest women in the world, co-star her life with Brad Pitt, and mother to an “assembled” family of
six children – three of them fathered by Pitt and three of them adopted from around
the world, but she has also served as a leading advocate for the cause of refu-gees, displaced persons, and victims of war for the last decade. Named a Goodwill Ambassador for the United
Nations Commission on Refugees (UNHCR) in 1991, Jolie has spent the
past decade traveling the world, often to conflicted and dangerous areas, to highlight
the plight of refugees and displaced persons and the work of UNHCR. “It is critical that all parties respect the fundamental right of people in danger to
Focusing Attention on
Global Refugees in Tunisia and Afghanistan
By James A. Winship, Ph.D
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flee to safety – whether civilians caught in conflict in their
own country or refugees and asylum seekers caught in new
conflicts,” she noted in a recent statement. “All I’m asking is
that civilians be protected and not targeted or harmed.”
Jolie’s peripatetic schedule may find her amid the glamour
of the Cannes Film Festival promoting her new animated film,
Kung Fu Panda 2, with Jack Black and Dustin Hoffmann, and
sharing in the advance showing of Brad Pitt’s new film, “Tree
of Life,” directed by Terrence Malick, which won the coveted
Palme d’Or award. But, it may equally well find her travel-
ing with her entire family in Namibia, working on new film
projects in Bosnia, or visiting refugee camps in Afghanistan
and Tunisia. Altogether, Jolie has visited camps in more than
twenty countries around the world, including Cambodia,
Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Russia,
Bosnia, Jordan, Chad, Lebanon, Thailand, Syria, Iraq, India,
Costa Rica, Haiti, and even Arizona – where she visited
facilities for asylum seekers detained by the United States gov-
ernment. Repeatedly asked why she undertakes these
missions, Jolie has said she seeks to increase “awareness of
the plight of these people. I think they should be commended
for what they have survived, not looked down upon.”
Visiting Afghanistan for the second time this spring, Jolie
was particularly concerned to highlight the on-going needs
of children, women, and displaced persons in that country
now ten years into the aftermath of the post-9/11 toppling of
the Taliban and the long-term presence of American military
forces seeking to stabilize the Afghan government of Hamid
Karzai and to expand the territory effectively controlled by
his central government. Her visit focused on the problems
of returned Afghan refugees still struggling to survive and re-
integrate ten years after returning from exile. “As the world’s
attention shifts to the newest refugee crises,” Jolie pointed
out, “we need to remember that if we don’t support people in
the long term to really get back on their feet – to feed, shelter
and educate their families, to earn a living with dignity, and
to participate in meaningful ways in their societies – we will
see a continued cycle of instability and new crises.”
Jolie’s visit to Tunisia was designed to highlight Tunisia’s
critical role in accepting waves of refugees fleeing the violence
in Libya as the internal conflict between rebel forces seek-
ing to oust long-time Libyan ruler Col. Muamar Gaddafi and
forces loyal to him drags on and intensifies under pressure
of intensified NATO bombings of Gaddafi’s strongholds and
68 w w w. d i p l o m at i c c o n n e c t i o n s . c o m
UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, Angelina Jolie presents education materials to both local Headteacher, Gul Rahman, and young schoolgirls in the village of Qala Gudar, Qarabagh District February 2011 some 28km outside Kabul, Afghanistan. Angelina Jolie was visiting the site where she will fund a new girls’ primary school. Girls are only currently studying part of the year in the open air grounds of a local mosque and limited to Grade 4 due to the lack of a proper school building.
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Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees
(UNHCR) Angelina Jolie (L) talks with an Afghan family at the Kacha Ghari
Repatriation Centre outside Peshawar. Oscar winning US actress Angelina Jolie
has taken her mission to Pakistan to focus world attention on the plight of over three million Afghan refugees.
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UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) representative and Hollywood actress & UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie (R) meeting with 64-year-old Zenul Hawa, a flood affected victim, in the village of Mohib Bandi, on the outskirts of Nowshera, Pakistan.
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expanded international economic sanctions. Though she
visited with Tunisian leaders, praising them for their efforts
to receive large numbers of refugees even in the midst of
dramatic political change in their own country, the primary
focus of Jolie’s trip was to visit the Choucha Refugee and
Resettlement Camp on the Tunisia-Libya border. The camp has
been home to over 4,000 migrant workers and refugees – most
of them Somalis, Eritreans, Bangladeshis, and Sudanese – who
had fled the spreading conflict in neighboring Libya. Since Jolie’s
visit, the camp itself has been the site of looting and violence,
involving clashes between groups in the camp as well as the local
Tunisian population.
More than 400,000 people have escaped the violence in Libya
in recent months, and Tunisia has accepted more than half of them.
Egypt, too, has been especially responsive to receiving this new
wave of refugees as have Niger, Algeria, Chad, and Sudan. Many of
these refugees represent the large migrant labor force that Libya
employed but others represent people from other war-torn countries
in the region who had been received in Libya and are unable to
return home. These people “are waiting here with little hope, un-
able to return home and unsure of what’s to come,”
Jolie observed. “This constant cycle of
displacement must come to an end.”
Sub-Saharan African refugees
attempting to flee Libya are
particularly at risk because
they are often accused of
being foreign mercenar-
ies hired to support
the Gaddafi regime.
Just as Jolie
was preparing to
leave Tunisia, word
was received of the
reported drowning of
213 refugees loaded on
a small boat attempting
to reach southern Italy
from Tunisia. The group,
including Somalis, Eritreans,
and Ivoirians was attempting to
reach the Italian island of Lampedusa in
the Mediterranean when their boat foundered.
Stunned by this loss of life, Ms. Jolie observed, “Having
just spent time with similar families fleeing the violence
in Libya, I am deeply saddened by the large loss of life
of people who were simply trying to escape war and find
UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, Angelina Jolie, meets with Khanum Gul, 35, a mother of 8 and her youngest son, Samir at their makeshift home at Tamil Mill Bus site February 2011, in Kabul city, Afghanistan. When Angelina last visited Khanum Gul, Samir was a newly born baby of 14 days, now he’s two and a half years old, but having medical problems. Tajik and Pashtun families live side by side without any major conflict at the Tamil Mill Bus site. Over 70 percent of the families are returnees from the period of 2002-2004 who were unable to achieve sustainable reintegration in their places of origin and subsequently drifted to Kabul City in search of work. A nearby school is accessible to the children but the poor economic circum-stances of the many families oblige them to send their children out to work. Low levels of literacy, particularly amongst the women, limit their access to employment other than the lowest paid daily labor wage. Ja
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UNHCR goodwill ambassador Angelina Jolie (L)
and actor Brad Pitt visit refugees in the village
of Medjedja, near the eastern Bosnian town
of Visegrad, 70 kilometers (43 miles) east of
Sarajevo. Film stars Angelina Jolie and her
husband actor Brad Pitt flew into Bosnia on a
surprise visit to meet refugees still suffering
from the brutal 1992-1995 civil war.
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Actress and
UNHCR Goodwill
Ambassador Angelina
Jolie arrives for a meet-
ing with Pakistani Prime
Minister Yousaf Raza
Gillani at the prime
minister’s house in
Islamabad.
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refuge. It is all
the more devas-
tating knowing
the children
were on board.”
United Nations
High Commissioner
for Refugees, António
Guterres, noted that, “These
people were refugees twice.
They fled war and persecution in their
own countries and now, in their attempt to seek
safety in Italy, they tragically lost their lives.”
The United Nations High Commission on Refugees
observes its 60th Anniversary this year, having been founded
in December 1950 to help Europeans displaced during World
War II. Initially, it was expected to be in existence for only
three years. Now, decades later, it has been responsible for
encouraging a series of international treaties intended to
protect the rights of refugees and displaced persons, assists
millions of people around the world, and has an open–ended
mandate to aid in dealing with the human results of conflict
and economic migration wherever the need arises. UNHCR’s
operating budget is entirely funded by contributions from
national governments, regional entities, international orga-
nizations and businesses as well as individuals. The 2011
needs-based budget is estimated at $3.3 billion. The United
States is substantially the largest single donor to the UNHCR
budget, distantly followed by the European Commission,
Japan, and Sweden.
Making direct contributions to the efforts of UNHCR,
the Jolie-Pitt Foundation has covered the costs for a flight of
177 persons to return to their countries of origin from their
temporary status in Tunisia and bought an ambulance to help
support Tunisian efforts on the border to assist the injured
arriving from Libya. The foundation has also made contribu-
tions to establishing schools for girls, children in Afghani-
stan and elsewhere, HIV-AIDs clinics in Ethiopia, wildlife
preservation programs in Namibia, and rural development
programs in Cambodia. Most recently, the foundation has
announced a $500,000 grant to assist in the rebuilding of
lives and homes in tornado-struck Joplin, Missouri.
UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador and actress Angelina Jolie meeting an elderly refugee, one of 1,300 trapped at the makeshift Al Waleed camp inside Iraq, unable to leave the country for neighboring Syria. Over the years, Jolie has travelled to Iraq and Syria to see first-hand the plight of four million people uprooted by the ongoing conflict in Iraq.
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Actress and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie (C, in black scarf) leaves after a visit to a make-shift camp for Pakistanis displaced by floods in the Mohib Bhanda area of Nowshera district, Pakistan.
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Actors Angelina Jolie (L) and Brad Pitt depart ‘The Tree Of Life’ premiere during the 64th Annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 16, 2011 in Cannes, France.
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Angelina Jolie (L)
and Brad Pitt attend
‘The Tree Of Life’ premiere
during the 64th Annual
Cannes Film Festival
at Palais des Festivals
on May 16, 2011 in
Cannes, France.
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80 w w w. d i p l o m at i c c o n n e c t i o n s . c o m
Angelina Jolie will make her directorial debut with a
drama about the Bosnian War, now titled In the Land of
Blood and Honey, for which she also wrote the script.
The film was shot last October in Eastern Europe
and tells the story of a young Serbian man and a
Bosnian-Muslim woman who begin a romance only
to have their relationship pulled apart by the ethnic
war of 1992 that ravages the former Yugoslavia.
Interviewed by entertainment reporters while still
shooting scenes from the story, Jolie explained that,
“The film is about the experience that a lot of different
people, on all different sides, have as war takes its toll.
A couple that maybe would have lived a certain life, had
the war not begun, end up having a very different story because
of the war.” Here the impact of her work with UNHCR in Bosnia
on Angela Jolie’s art is immediately visible. Currently, the film is
scheduled for release on December 23, 2011.
It would be tempting to see Angelina Jolie’s latest theatrical
release Kung Fu Panda 2, in which she reprises her role as the voice
of Master Tigress. This educational and entertainingly fun film is
animated, 3-D eye and ear candy carefully designed to be family
friendly – PG-rated but with a star studded cast of voices designed
to attract adults as well as children. The movie has already been
one of this summer’s box office winners, but it is also a heart-
warming morality play that confronts real life dilemmas as ugly
as genocide, technological arms races, and loss of biodiversity.
Ironically, the story line also deals with experiences of rejection,
separation, and adoption of parental figures by key characters
who have been orphaned. Asked about how her children
reacted to the film and its themes, Jolie replied that the whole
family loved the film alternately laughing, crying, and be-
ing afraid for the characters. But none of the film’s themes
disturbed the children “because in our family we talk about
things like orphanages and adoption all the time. For us
these are good words.” And, Jolie added, “Today more than
ever we really understand that family comes in all different
ways, two mothers, two fathers, single parents, different
races, some are adopted and so family is where the love is.
Family is where you find loyalty and friendship.”
Clearly, Angelina Jolie is far more than just another
pretty face or an action-game hero. She is a woman of
conscience, creativity, and commitment who acts on her
beliefs in shaping her family, in supporting the work of
UNHCR, and in confronting real threats to the quality
of life for all human beings in some of the world’s most
dangerous places. That places her - among the real
world heroes. n
Actress Angelina Jolie and US
actor Brad Pitt pose on the red carpet
before the screening of ‘The Tree of
Life’ presented in competition at the
64th Cannes Film Festival on
May 16, 2011 in Cannes.
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82 w w w. d i p l o m at i c c o n n e c t i o n s . c o m
O n average, three million U.K.
citizens visit the United states
every year, but until July 8 Kate
Middleton, now the Duchess of Cambridge,
was not one of them. That changed when
Prince William and his bride arrived in
Los Angeles following their week-long tour
of Canada. The U.s. trip was tacked onto
the Canadian itinerary mainly because the
Duchess of Cambridge had never before
visited the United states.
Royal Tours – official royal travel – are
By Roland Flamini
d i p l o m at i c c o n n e c t i o n s B U s i n e s s e d i t i o n | J U lY - a U G U s t 2 0 1 1 83
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge walk hand in hand from Buckingham Palace the day after their wedding, on April 30, 2011 in London, England.
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President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama talk with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in the 1844 Room at Buckingham Palace in London, England, May 24, 2011.
d i p l o m at i c c o n n e c t i o n s B U s i n e s s e d i t i o n | J U lY - a U G U s t 2 0 1 1 85
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d i p l o m at i c c o n n e c t i o n s B U s i n e s s e d i t i o n | J U lY - a U G U s t 2 0 1 1 87
Prince William, Prince Harry and Duchess Catherine attend Derby Day at the Investec Derby Festival at Epsom racecourse on June 4, 2011 in Epsom, England.
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Prince William and Duchess Catherine
attend the 10th Annual ARK (Absolute Return for Kids) Gala Dinner at Kensington Palace
on June 9, 2011 in London, England.
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carefully choreographed, with the program designed to give
the visiting members of the royal family maximum exposure,
and the trip usually has a specific purpose. In this instance,
the tour introduced a new element in the British royal family
— the Kate factor.
Twenty years ago, Prince William’s mother gave a boost
to the British monarchy’s popularity — until, that is, Princess
Diana emerged as com-
petition to the family.
Compared to Diana’s
caring personality and
natural elegance the rest
of the group was made to
seem staid and remote.
There are indications
that Buckingham Palace
is hoping the Kate factor
will arouse some fresh
interest in an aging royal
house: Queen Elizabeth
II is 85; her husband,
Prince Philip, is 90;
Prince Charles, the heir
to the throne is 62.
The former Kate
Middleton is off to a
flying start. Unlike
Diana who was a shy
19-year-old, she is ten
years older and more in
control of the situation.
Her broad, easy smile
says she is having the
time of her life. She has
been Prince William’s
partner since college
and the couple has had
time to develop a close
relationship. In a remarkably short time
she has emerged as a sparkling personality
in her own right and a fashion icon, with a
youthful taste that is more Main Street than
haute couture.
Following their April 29 marriage, the
young duchess fitted remarkably smoothly
into the royal family’s public rituals – whether it was the
star-studded evening gala for the children’s charity ARK
(Absolute Return for Kids), the start of the horse racing
season at Epsom, or watching her robed husband walking in
procession in the more arcane annual church service of the
Knights of the Garter at Windsor. She was at the Trooping
of the Color ceremonial parade to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s
official birthday (the queen’s real birthday is in April), riding
to and from the festive event in an open carriage, waving
cheerily to the crowd,
and then taking her
place on the Bucking-
ham Palace balcony in
the familiar royal family
tableau. She and Prince
William were also on
hand to greet President
Barack Obama and
the First Lady on their
state visit to London.
The newlyweds had a
10 minute conversa-
tion, mainly about
their wedding, with the
president. The Obamas
occupied the same
six-room suite in Buck-
ingham Palace used
by Prince William and
Kate on their wedding
night, but a palace aide
was quoted as saying,
the presidential couple
“may not have had the
same bed.”
For Kate, starting
her foreign travel as
a royal with a trip to
America was a huge
challenge. Los Angeles
is the quintessential media city and she was
bound to be subjected to the pressure of
intense scrutiny. Their three-day program
(July 8-10) included a charity polo game,
promoting Anglo-American trade, attending
a couple of events with a Hollywood flavor,
visiting an inner city school and a job fair
for vets, plus some sightseeing.
Prince William’s program included playing in a fund-
Prince William and Duchess Catherine stand on the balcony of Buckingham Pal-ace after the Trooping the Colour parade on June 11, 2011 in London, England. The ceremony of Trooping the Colour is believed to have first been performed during the reign of King Charles II. In 1748, it was decided that the parade would be used to mark the official birthday of the Sovereign. More than 600 guards-men and cavalry make up the parade, a celebration of the Sovereign’s official birthday, although the Queen’s actual birthday is on April 21.
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Members of the royal family join HM Queen Elizabeth II to celebrate her official birthday by taking part in the Trooping the Colour parade on June 11, 2011 in London, England. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge joined other members of the royal family to take part in the ceremony which marked the official birthday of the British sovereign since 1748.
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raising polo game organized by the
American Friends of the Foundation of
Prince William and Prince Harry at the
exclusive Santa Barbara Polo Club. The
royal brothers’ joint charity provides
funds to help underprivileged children
and backs wild life preservation. A
chance to hobnob with the stars was a
black tie dinner given by the Los Angeles
branch of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts
of which Prince William is president. Guests included 42
young British talents who were making a
name for themselves in television, film,
and video games. Another reception at the
residence of the British Consul General in
Los Angeles, Dame Barbara Hay, brought
together local businessmen.
Not that the Canadian visit was
any easier. Close to half a million people
were at the July 1 Canada Day celebra-
tions in Ottawa, the capital, at which Prince William and his
duchess were present. The couple’s tour took them from one
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Prince William and Duchess Catherine leave with other members of the royal family after a church service to mark Prince Philip’s 90th birthday on June 12, 2011 in Windsor, England.
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Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and his father, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (R) are watched by their wives Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall while walking in the procession for the annual Order of the Garter Service at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle on June 13, 2011 in Windsor, England. The Order of the Garter is the senior and oldest British Order of Chivalry, founded by Edward III in 1348. Membership in the order is limited to the sovereign, the Prince of Wales, and no more than twenty-four members.
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end of the vast country to the other, ending in Calgary,
Alberta, where another huge crowd awaited them at the
famous Calgary Stampede, rodeo’s richest and roughest ride.
The British government had hoped that the wedding
Prime Minister David Cameron called “unadulterated good
news” would be a welcome distraction from the current
austerity measures, job cuts and soaring prices, and it was.
“The mood is largely benevolent,” observed The Guardian
newspaper on the big day. “Any wedding is a statement of
hope about the future: the grandest and most public wedding
of this generation inevitably makes a bigger statement.”
How long that benevolence will last is another matter. The
couple decided to postpone going on a honeymoon until a
later date, but the truth is that they are enjoying a honeymoon
with the British public. In addition to the government, the
royal family would also like the Kate factor to continue to gen-
erate good will — at least until 2012 when the queen marks
her diamond jubilee: 60 years on the British throne. The old
sovereign will be very visible as the jubilee is celebrated with
festivities throughout the country, and the public’s reaction will
be a measure of the monarchy’s continued popularity. The royal
couple’s traveling team included Sir David Manning, advisor to
Prince William and Prince Harry and no stranger to the United
States. He was lately British ambassador in Washington. n
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge attend the annual Order of the Garter Service at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle on June 13, 2011 in Windsor, England.
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Master Painter Tamás Klein from Herend, Hungary flew to Washington, D.C. to introduce a great collection of Herend China, to celebrate the 185th anniversary of the Manufactory during the EU presidency of Hungary.
An exclusive Herend porcelain exhibition was recently hosted at the Embassy of Hungary by Ambassador Gyorgy Szapary and
Ms. Lotti Letanoczky, spouse of DCM András Bácsi-Nagy. It was a unique opportunity to meet master painter Tamás Klein, who made a special trip from Herend, Hungary to Washington, D.C. to make an exclusive appearance at the embassy just for this event and celebrate Hungary’s EU presidency while simultane-ously recognizing the Manu-factory’s 185th anniversary. The exhibited masterpieces impressed the guests from the Washington diplomatic social community, who not only observed Tamás’ painting in complete appreciation,
Herend painting lessons at the Embassy of Hungary
d i p l o m at i c c o n n e c t i o n s B U s i n e s s e d i t i o n | J U lY - a U G U s t 2 0 1 1 97
Ambassador Gyorgy Szapary with Mrs. Aniko Gaal Shott and Mrs. Nina Pillsbury during a unique
presentation about the royal dinnerware set by Master Painter Tamas Klein from Herend, Hungary
98 w w w. d i p l o m at i c c o n n e c t i o n s . c o m
but also tried their hand at this task. They admired the
different dinnerware sets, of which perhaps the most inter-
esting was a new line that UK Prince William and his wife,
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, received for their wedding
recently. This was the very first time that this pattern could
be seen outside of Hungary by anyone other than the royal
couple. Besides these sets, other extraordinary pieces also
attracted attention, such as a rare porcelain reproduction of
the crown of the former kings of Hungary, bracelets, animal
figurines and golf balls made of porcelain. Timothy Albrecht
- a Herend collector, and seller of Herend porcelain at his
Consider It Done boutique in Bethesda, MD – arranged the
rare pieces graciously provided by Martin’s Herend Imports.
Master painter Tamás Klein explained the history of
the different patterns and the unique motifs featured on
the exhibited pieces. For those who appreciate meticulous
craftsmanship and true luxury, it was a spectacular oppor-
tunity to see the process of art being made. As participants
also learned, it takes at least 10-15 years to become a master
in this profession. The manufactory has its own vocational
school where the most gifted candidates can acquire the
tricks of the trade. Tamás’ family has been working in the fac-
tory for two generations; it was not a question for him what
career to choose.
The manufactory’s name is derived from the small Hun-
garian village of Herend, located not far from Lake Balaton.
In 1826, the company was started with a few employees; cur-
rently 850 painters are working on the porcelain sets, making
the manufactory the second largest of its kind worldwide.
And with almost 200 years of existence, it is the second old-
est porcelain factory in the world. All of the pieces are hand-
painted; this fact makes Herend products truly exceptional
and invaluable. The guests of the Embassy enjoyed refresh-
ments and pastries created by Embassy Chef Viktor Merényi
- served on Herend china, of course.
Herend porcelain became internationally celebrated
throughout the world when at the London World Exhibition in
1851 Queen Victoria ordered a large table service for Windsor
Castle. Decorated with a Chinese design of flowers and butter-
flies, it has since become famously known as the Queen Victo-
ria pattern. Many aristocrats followed the Queen’s example and
Herend continued to prosper. The company’s first exposure to
the American market came in 1853, with their medal-winning
entry at the New York Exhibition of Industrial Arts.
The special hand-painted Herend dinner set made by the
factory and presented to Prince William and Duchess Cath-
erine at their wedding puts a modern interpretation on this
pattern, and had been named the Royal Garden. It is specu-
lated that they may have used some pieces of the china when
serving their wedding cake (see photo). The original, richly
Guests of the special event after the presentation (from left to right): Mrs. Noemia Prada, Mrs. Lori Clarke, Ms. Sheila Clarke, Mrs. Lotti Letanoczky, Mrs. Laurie Owen, Ms. Kathy J Trenholm and Mrs. Deborah Carstens
The guests, like Mrs. Asmeret Demeter-Medhane, tried their hand at painting some pieces. Here Curator of the State Department Ms. Virginia
Shore and Master Painter Tamas Klein are observing the process.
d i p l o m at i c c o n n e c t i o n s B U s i n e s s e d i t i o n | J U lY - a U G U s t 2 0 1 1 99
colored Chinese-style pattern of butterflies and flowers
has been toned down to purple, green, turquoise, delicate
rose and yellow hues with golden accents and rims, with
monochrome-rimmed dinner plates.
Besides the royal couple, Franz Joseph, Queen
Elisabeth II, Alexander von Humboldt, John Paul II, Lady
Diana and Benedict XVI received several wonderful pieces
from the manufactory. n
With the traditional meth-ods of manufacturing and
the more than 200 year long heritage, Herend
porcelain shows modern patterns with new and
extraordinary colors and motifs
The eight tiered wedding cake made by Fiona
Cairns and her team, awaits the newlyweds
Prince William and Kate Middleton, in the Picture
Gallery of Buckingham Palace in central London
on April, 29, 2011.
Cake
pho
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100 w w w. d i p l o m at i c c o n n e c t i o n s . c o m
Actress Naomi Watts attends
the 2011 CFDA Fashion
Awards at Alice Tully Hall,
Lincoln Center on June 6,
2011 in New York City.
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d i p l o m at i c c o n n e c t i o n s B U s i n e s s e d i t i o n | J U lY - a U G U s t 2 0 1 1 101
he Washington Post calls them
“celebvocates” — show business
and sports stars who lend their
support to worthy causes ranging from
curing cancer to saving whales. But
long before they became a fact of life on
the Hill testifying before congressional
committees and holding press
conferences, star activists flourished
at the United Nations. Audrey Hepburn
was a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF
in the 1960s, as was the actor Peter
Ustinov. The late Elizabeth Taylor was
an early supporter of the global fight
against HIV/Aids.
In June, a new generation of
committed celebrities participated in a
three-day United Nations Summit on
HIV/Aids — Anglo-Australian actress
and Oscar nominee Naomi Watts, U.N.
goodwill ambassador in the world
organization’s HIV/Aids campaign,
R&B singer Alicia Keyes, and scottish
singer Annie Lennox. They joined heads
of state, Aids groups and activists from
more than 30 countries to mark the
Larr
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Dim
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mbo
uris
/Get
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ages
for V
euve
Clic
quot
Pol
o Cl
assi
c
(L-R) Naomi Watts, Hugh Jackman and Isla Fisher attend the Veuve
Clicquot Polo Classic at Governor’s Island to benefit Hope, Help
and Rebuild Haiti on June 5, 2011 in New York City.
104 w w w. d i p l o m at i c c o n n e c t i o n s . c o m
30th anniversary of the discovery of Aids, review progress (such as it is) at
halting the pandemic and set new targets eradicating it.
Addressing the meeting, Naomi Watts — mother of two — described
her meetings with HIV infected pregnant mothers in Africa. She said the
U.N. needed to make “a giant leap” to “stop Aids and raise an HIV-free
generation.” Alicia Keyes stressed the importance of increasing access to
treatment, a key theme of the conference. “We must do everything in our
power to keep our promises with a very bold plan for universal access” she
said. “We must commit up to $22 billion by 2015 to prevent 12 million
infections and save 7 million beautiful lives. Fifteen million on AIDS
treatment by 2015! We CAN create the future.”
The UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, called for a global commitment
Queen Noor of Jordan and Matt
Dillon pose for a photo during the
Refugees International’s 32nd
Anniversary Dinner at Andrew
W. Mellon Auditorium on May 5,
2011 in Washington, DC.
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British actress Naomi Watts speaks at the special event to remember more than 25 years of AIDS, at UN Headquarters in New York.
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106 w w w. d i p l o m at i c c o n n e c t i o n s . c o m
Alicia Keys and Tinie
Tempah perform at the
Keep a Child Alive Black
Ball 2011 at Camden
Roundhouse on June 15,
2011 in London, England.
d i p l o m at i c c o n n e c t i o n s B U s i n e s s e d i t i o n | J U lY - a U G U s t 2 0 1 1 107
to eliminate Aids by 2020. “That is
our goal — zero new infections, zero
stigma and zero Aids-related deaths,”
Ban said to a round of applause. To that
end, the summit concluded with the
adoption of a declaration that by 2015
seeks to double the number of people
on antiretroviral (ARV) treatment to 15
million, end mother-to-child transmission
of HIV, halve tuberculosis-related deaths
in people living with HIV, and increase
preventive measures for the “most
vulnerable populations”.
Naomi Watts was also among the raft
of celebrities who the same week took in
the fourth annual Veuve Clicquot Polo
Classic on New York’s Governors Island,
to benefit Hope, Help & Rebuild Haiti.
Along with her watching the polo-match-
with-a-cause were Isla Fisher, Julianna
Margulies, Wyclef Jean, Donna Karan,
and Marc Jacobs, with Hugh Jackman as
master-of-ceremonies.
Watts — star of Mulholland Drive, 21
Grams, and King Kong — wore a gold
gown for the annual Council of Fashion
Designers of America awards. By then,
Alicia Keyes was in London to attend a
fund raising gala for Keep A Child Alive,
the charity she helped found to help
children and families whose lives have
been affected by HIV/Aids.
Meanwhile in Washington, the
Refugees International’s 32nd anniversary
gala showed that two celebrities on
hand are better than one. When actor
Sam Waterston, the long-time presenter
of this, one of the season’s major fund
raising events ($675,000), was delayed
by traffic and arrived late, Matt Dillon,
a member of RI’s executive committee,
stepped in and the two stars shared the
podium for the rest of the evening —
a double act that is likely to become a
fixture of the event. n
Dave
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Alicia Keys (R) and Swizz Beatz attend the Keep A
Child Alive Ball at The Roundhouse on June 15, 2011 in London, England
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The Convergence of Luxury at Every AngleWELComE To ThE SWiSSôTEL ExpEriEnCE
Hosting world leaders and dignitaries for years has made Swissotel Chicago the preferred choice for diplomatic guests. We invite you to pamper yourself with the award-winning hospitality at Swissôtel Chicago, which sets the standard for downtown Chicago hotel accommodations. precise Swiss service – combined with midwest hospitality and European elegance – make this distinctive four-diamond landmark the perfect place for distinguished tastes.
323 East Wacker Drive | Chicago, iL 60601 p: +1 312 268 8219 | F: +1 312 268 8202www.swissotel.com
Diplomatic Contact:Kerry Johnson | p: +1 312 268 8211
Stua
rt W
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/Get
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The New Zealand Embassy in the United States hosted the annual
Washington D.C. Pacific Night in late June,
which celebrates and raises awareness of
the Pacific in America’s capital city.
The event had spirit, style and substance.
Prior to the reception, a seminar focusing
on Pacific Issues was held, in collaboration
with the East West Center. Ambassadors
and representatives from American Samoa,
Australia, Federated States of Microne-
sia, Fiji, Guam, Hawaii, Marshall Islands,
Nauru, New Zealand, Northern Mariana Island, Palau, Papua New Guinea,
Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu all came together for
both the seminar and reception.
Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Dr. Kurt
Campbell and Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization
Affairs Dr. Esther Brimmer spoke at the event. Dr. Campbell, who has
travelled to the Pacific region, spoke of the friendship that the United
States has with Pacific Island nations, adding that the U.S. intends to step
up its engagement in the region.
By Miche l le Par ish
Embassy of New Zea land
Ambassador Jim McLay, New Zealand Ambassador to the United Nations, Assistant Secretary Rt. Hon. Kurt
Campbell, Assistant Secretary Dr. Esther Brimmer.
d i p l o m at i c c o n n e c t i o n s B U s i n e s s e d i t i o n | J U lY - a U G U s t 2 0 1 1 111
Following speeches, guests enjoyed New Zealand
and Australian wine and food, as well as dishes such
as Chicken Estufao from Guam, Fish Kokonda from
Fiji, Hawaiian Lomi Salmon, Bobo Rice from the
Marshall Islands, Chicken Calderetta and Grilled
Milk Fish from Papua New Guinea, and Cooked
Plantain with Baked Fish from Micronesia.
“Pacific night was a stunning success at every
level,” said New Zealand Ambassador to the United
States, Rt. Hon. Mike Moore.
“It was more than just a great party. For the first
time, we had the UN Ambassadors with us, as well
as a serious seminar, which allowed us to drill down
into the substance of our region’s real needs.”
Throughout the night, guests were entertained
by a continuous stream of performers including
dancers and artists from New Zealand, Samoa, Fiji,
Australia and Hawaii. n
Above: Rt. Hon. Mike Moore New Zealand Ambassador to the United
States and Mrs Yvonne Moore.
Right: Kahurangi with guests James Turner (second from left)
NOAA, Tom Hourigan NOAA, Elizabeth McLanahan NOAA and Lesley McConnell New Zealand
Ministry of Science and Innovation on the far right.
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d i p l o m at i c c o n n e c t i o n s B U s i n e s s e d i t i o n | J U lY - a U G U s t 2 0 1 1 113
On his first official visit to Washington, D.C. as the democratically elected
President of Mongolia, Tsakhia Elbegdorj (pronounced tsah K-YAH ELL-beg-dor-zh,
according to the Voice of America Pronunciation Guide; note also that the first name in Mongolian is generally not used), sought to draw greater American attention to his country, its democratic
political transformation, and its economic future. Elbegdorj was a leader
of the early democracy movement in Mongolia, which took its inspiration
from the emergence of perestroika reform policies in the then-soviet Union and the
democracy initiatives sweeping Eastern Europe. He twice served as Prime
Minister, and was elected President in 2009, defeating President Enkhbayar in
Seeks to Extend His Country’s ‘Third Neighbor’ Policy
Mongolian Airlines President and CEO Orkhon Tseyenoidov (L) and Kim Pastega, Boeing Commercial airplanes Vice President and General Manager of the 767 program, shake hands during a signing ceremony as Mongolia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Zandanshatar Gombojav (L), and US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke look on June 16, 2011 at Blair House, in Washington, DC.
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d i p l o m at i c c o n n e c t i o n s B U s i n e s s e d i t i o n | J U lY - a U G U s t 2 0 1 1 115
Chinese vice president Xi Jinping (R) and Mongolian prime minister Sukhbaatar
Batbold (L) attend a meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on June 17,
2011. China pledged to help resource-rich Mongolia develop its economy, offering
visiting Prime Minister Sukhbaatar Batbold a 500 million USD loan and support for the
key mining and energy sectors.
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116 w w w. d i p l o m at i c c o n n e c t i o n s . c o m
the first instance of an incumbent president losing a
Mongolian election.
Mongolia is a fledgling democracy sandwiched between
two very large powers — Russia and China — in Northeast
Asia. In many ways, its geography is its destiny. Mongolia,
which has its own history of imperial dominion in the
thirteenth and fourteenth centuries (1200-1400), beginning
with the reign of Chinggis (“Genghis”) Khan and continuing
under his successors - including his grandson Kublai Khan,
that at one time reached as far as China, Southeast Asia, and
Central Europe, cannot afford to alienate its giant neighbors
on whom it depends for its energy supplies and much
of its trade.
Nevertheless, Mongolia has
sought to pursue a foreign policy
that uses its locale between great
powers to create a political space
that provides the country with
remarkable freedom of action.
“We have a peaceful foreign
policy,” President Elbegdorj told
an audience at the Brookings
Institution just before his meeting
with President Obama. “Some call
it a tough neighborhood. But we
exist next to each other for centu-
ries and we know how to get along with the People’s
Republic of China and the Russian Federation.” Russia is
Mongolia’s primary source of petroleum products, and
China is Mongolia’s chief export partner as well as the source
of the country’s “gray” economy — transactions that do not
pass through government authorities or the banking sector.
U.S. Secretary of State under President George H.W.
Bush, James Baker, first coined the phrase “third neighbor”
in an August 1990 address to the people of Mongolia
praising them for holding free elections and moving toward
democracy. His use of the terminology was meant as a
gesture of rhetorical support for Mongolia’s break with its
Soviet-styled past, but it was immediately picked up by the
Mongolian policy community and turned into a foreign
policy doctrine. Subsequently, President George W. Bush,
reiterated the term during his 2005 visit to Mongolia,
again largely in recognition of the country’s democratic
progress and its cooperation in the U.S.-initiated Global
War on Terror.
The “Third Neighbor” doctrine, however, is a broader
strategy than simply a pro-U.S. foreign policy agenda.
Instead, Mongolia seeks to assure its security and economic
growth by pursuing several “third neighbors” who will help
— in the absence of formal regional security arrangements
— to balance the country’s tenuous geostrategic position
between giants and to strengthen and diversify its economy.
What Mongolia is attempting to do is to create a virtual
“third neighborhood” that includes India, Japan, the United
States, the European Union, and historic connections with
both South Korea and North Korea. Some voices have
suggested that Mongolia’s long relations with North Korea
might offer an important back channel of informal diplomatic
communication with Pyongyang.
President Ellbegdorj’s visit
prompted a sense of the Senate
resolution, sponsored by
Senators Kerry, McCain,
Murkowski, and Webb, which
rehearsed at length the recent
history of U.S.-Mongolia rela-
tions acknowledging Mongolia’s
transition to democracy,
on-going American assistance
to Mongolia, and Mongolia’s
emerging international role.
Noting especially that
Mongolia will be celebrating the
100th anniversary of its independence, the 20th anniversary
of its commitment to democracy, and will be assuming
the chairmanship of the Community of Democracies in
2011— a global intergovernmental coalition of more than
100 democratic and democratizing countries, the Senate
resolution praises “the continued commitment of the
Mongolian people and the Government of Mongolia to
advancing democratic reforms, strengthening transparency
and the rule of law, and protecting investment.” It further
calls on the United States government to promote economic
cooperation, to consider next steps in expanding trade
and investment, to support Mongolia in its dealing with
international financial institutions to improve its economic
system and accelerate development, and to continue
to expand academic and cultural exchanges between the
two countries.
Presidents Obama and Elbegdorj formalized these
same sentiments in the joint statement resulting from their
White House meeting, reaffirming “their commitment to a
United States-Mongolia comprehensive partnership based on
common values and shared strategic interests.” Additionally,
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d i p l o m at i c c o n n e c t i o n s B U s i n e s s e d i t i o n | J U lY - a U G U s t 2 0 1 1 117
“Mongolia welcomed and supported the key role played by
the United States as an Asia-Pacific nation in securing peace,
stability, and prosperity in the region. The United States
reaffirmed its support for a secure and prosperous Mongolia
that plays an active role in regional affairs and that promotes
strong, friendly, and open relations with its neighbors.”
The joint statement confirmed a commitment to further
developing a strong economic partnership, highlighting
“the importance of concluding negotiations and signing a
bilateral Transparency Agreement by the end of 2011,” in
order “to ensure a welcoming investment and business
climate for each other’s companies.” Mongolia expressed
its appreciation for continued U.S. economic assistance and
noted “the important role that U.S. companies, with their
internationally leading management, technical, safety,
environmental, and sustainable mining practices will play
in the development of the country’s coal, other mineral
resource, infrastructure, agriculture, energy and tourism
industries.” Mongolia’s hope of developing a self-sustaining
economy depends heavily on developing its extensive
mineral resources, and this statement was intended to be
reassuring to potential American investors, among them
Peabody Coal, that Mongolia does not intend to limit
resource development only to Russian and Chinese
investors. Mongolia also announced the purchase of three
Boeing jetliners and its decision to expand its fleet with
U.S. aircraft in the future.
Both Vice President Joseph Biden and Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton are scheduled to travel to Mongolia
later this year. Neither a “neighborly” visit to the United
States by the Mongolian President nor any visit by American
leaders to Mongolia can make the diplomatic realities
necessitated by Mongolia’s geographic position and regional
history disappear, however. Just weeks before his White
House visit, President Elbegdorj visited Russia for talks with
President Dimitri Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir
Putin where conversations focused on Mongolia’s need for
an uninterrupted flow of petroleum from Russia. And even
as President Elbegdorj was meeting President Obama in
Washington, Mongolia’s Prime Minister, Sukhbaatar Batbold,
was visiting Beijing, China where the two countries signed a
“strategic partnership agreement,” including a $500 million
loan from China to Mongolia.
“Third neighbors” may be desirable from the point of
view of Mongolia’s future economic development, to affirm
and sustain the country’s commitment to democracy, and
to allow it room for diplomatic maneuver. But, next door
neighbors cannot be ignored. n
Saudi Arabian Airlines extends its Reservation working hours in the USA and Canada In anticipation of the summer peak season, Saudi Arabian Airlines Americas Region has extended the working hours of its Reservations Call Center up to 7:00 pm Eastern Standard Time, Monday to Friday effective June 19 until July 29, 2011. The airline’s Call Center, located in Vienna, Virginia, which services passengers in the USA and Canada, will also be operating on Saturdays from 12:00 noon to 5:00 pm (EST) also until July 29, 2011. It may be reached through 1-800-472-8342.
Saudi Arabian Airlines currently flies 4 times a week from New York JFK and 5 times weekly from Washington Dulles International, effective July 1, 2011.
Saudia operates Boeing B777-268 aircraft to the USA, with sleeper seats in First and Business Class. All seats are equipped with a state of the art in-flight entertainment system that features, in certain aircraft, up to 40 channels with varied programming including movies, pop videos, children’s programs, video games, air show, landscape camera and audio channels.
For information, contact:Jonathan Pansacola, Saudi Arabian [email protected] 9841 Airport Blvd., Suite 410, Los Angeles CA 90745Ph. (310) 410-9000 ext. 3016
Saudia recently placed a firm order with Airbus at the Paris Air Show for four additional Airbus A330-300, taking its total order for the plane to 12. This order takes Saudia’s total Airbus aircraft to 62. This is on top of 12 B-777-300s and 8 B787 Dreamliners ordered previously as part of its fleet modernization program.
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The five Nordic Embassies – Norway,
Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Iceland -
combined with the Nordic Council of Ministers
and the Nordic Innovation Center – to bring
five of the Nordic region’s most talented and
prize-winning chefs to Washington, D.C. for
a week of culinary celebration, cross-cultural
gastronomic encounter, and food-centered
diplomacy. Each of the guest chefs was associ-
ated with a leading restaurant with whose staff
he worked to create and introduce a national
menu that showcased the style of so-called
“New Nordic Cuisine” and featured the finest
quality ingredients from his native land.
The week began with a reception and
food tasting at the House of Sweden on the Georgetown
riverfront and ended with the chefs offering Nordic delicacies
at a Nordic Food Pavilion as part of the 2011 RAMMY awards
black-tie masquerade dinner dance, “Carnevale da Cuisine,”
sponsored by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan
Washington.
“Nordic Food Days” was inspired by the remarkable
success of New Nordic Cuisine in one of the most prestigious
culinary competitions in the world, the Bocuse d’Or in Lyon,
France, where Nordic chefs took the first, second, third, fifth,
and seventh places in 2011. Originally conceived by world
famous French chef, Paul Bocuse, in 1987, this competition
has become the Olympics and the World Cup for chefs from
around the world. Competition takes place over two years
during which regional competitions whittle down a starting
The visiting Nordic celebrity chefs shown from left to right. Iceland; Siggi Hall, Sweden; Tommy Myllymäki, Finlad; Petteri Luoto, Norway; Geir Skeie, Denmark; Mads Refslund.
By James A. Winship, Ph.D
d i p l o m at i c c o n n e c t i o n s B U s i n e s s e d i t i o n | J U lY - a U G U s t 2 0 1 1 121
field of more than fifty contestants to a final field of twenty-
four chefs, who must prepare both a meat and a seafood dish
from prescribed ingredients. The final competition becomes
a contest of culinary gladiators as chefs must prepare their
dishes in twelve mini-kitchens before an audience of more
than 2000 people.
Bocuse has been quoted as saying that, “Bringing the
‘live performance’ component in front of the general public
made this gastronomic contest truly unique, and for the first
time revealed the amount of work done in the kitchens of
famous restaurants. Today, I am proud to say that the Bocuse
d’Or has become the most sought-after culinary award in the
world, and winning it automatically and deservedly launches
a chef’s culinary career.” Norwegian chef, Geier Skeie, winner
of the 2009 Bocuse d’Or and jury president for the 2011
competition recalls that winning the competition gave him an
international name that allowed him to take jobs and make
new friends all over the world.
The Bocuse, he notes “is the big-
gest, the best, the most difficult,
and the funniest contest you can
participate in. Forcing people to
become better means a lot for the
development of cooking all over
the world.”
Chef Skeie presented his
menu, “A Taste of Norway,” which
featured fresh Norwegian seafood
— sponsored by the Norwegian
Seafood Export Council, in col-
laboration with DC Coast Res-
taurant. Swedish chef, Tommy
Myllymäki, winner of second
place in the 2011 Bocuse d’Or
competition, presented his “Taste
of Sweden,” featuring both seafood and lamb, in collabora-
tion with Masa 14 Restaurant. Finland was represented by
Chef Petteri Luoto, winner of a Bocuse d’Or prize in 2005,
who featured shrimp, roasted halibut, and veal fillet on his
“Taste of Finland” menu, which was served in collaboration
with Marcel’s. Danish chef, Mads Refslund, is a dedicated
fish-cook who says his skill is “all about how not to drown
fish. Too many fish are drowned, destroyed with heat, boiled
to pieces, or manhandled. You want your fish and shell life
so great and fresh that they barely need cooking.” His “Taste
of Denmark” menu featuring raw mackerel, raw langoustine
and foie gras, black lobster, and mullet was served in col-
laboration with Birch and Barley. Iceland’s Chef Siggi Hall is
renowned for his unique and innovative handling of Icelandic
seafood and lamb. His “taste of Iceland” menu, prepared in
collaboration with Vidalia, included cured Icelandic Char
(kin to North Atlantic salmon), warm white asparagus, potato
Clockwise from top left: Food
preparation at Nordic Food Days
kickoff event; Swedish Embassy
Chef Frida Johansson, Catering
Assistant preparing food, Icelandic
Chef Siggi Hall and Chef/owner of
Vidalia Jeffrey Buben, Tender Baked
Cod with shrimp, quail egg yolk and
horseradish served in a sabayonne
of brown butter and lemon.
122 w w w. d i p l o m at i c c o n n e c t i o n s . c o m
crusted Icelandic cod, and stuffed Icelandic lamb saddle.
Each of the chefs also prepared a unique desert using simple,
familiar ingredients found in his home country, ranging from
blueberries to rhubarb and from strawberries to “fallen fruit
wheatgrass and cherries.”
Despite the tempting preparations and interesting
ingredients described above, there remains one central
question: what exactly is “New Nordic Cuisine.” One answer
might be to say that, “Everything old is new again.” For
most of their life hunting, fishing, and foraging nurtured
the Nordic peoples. Virtually everything they ate came
from natural ingredients found or grown on the land and
harvested from the sea. The “New Nordic Cuisine” is both
a culinary movement and a manifesto for a food policy
program. It emphasizes a cuisine based on purity, simplicity,
and freshness that reflects
the micro-environments and
the changing seasons of the
Nordic regions. At the same
time, food production must
be environmentally friendly
and sustainable in a way that
protects plant and animal
species and treasures pure
flavor subtly enhanced by
herbs and spices over exten-
sive preparation and sauces that overwhelm natural flavors.
The “New Nordic Food” program, cooperatively
undertaken by the Nordic states starting in 2005, is more
than a “foodie’s” delight and a restauranteur’s menu theme.
It is a cultural identity, trade and tourism promotion,
regional cooperation, environmental protection, public
health, and economic development program wrapped in
deliciousness, culinary creativity, and a return to the Nordic
region’s roots. More than that, “New Nordic Cuisine”
reflects centuries old dishes, natural ingredients, and
traditional styles of preparation carefully updated to
simultaneously preserve their natural flavors and transform
these into haute cuisine. But most of all, in the words of
one of the award-winning chefs, “It represents making food
from your heart.” n
From left to right; Finish DCM Anne
Lammila, Danish DCM Anne Mette
Vestergaard, Icelandic Ambassador
Hjalmar W. Hannesson, Norwegian
Ambassador Wegger Chr. Strommen,
Swedish Ambassador Jonas Hafström.
Swedish Chef Tommy Myllymäki,
Nordic beverage brands (water,
beer and vodka) on ice.
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The Convergence of Luxury at Every Angle
W E L C o m E T o T h E S W i S S ô T E L E x p E r i E n C E
Hosting world leaders and dignitaries for years has made Swissotel Chicago the
preferred choice for diplomatic guests. We invite you to pamper yourself with
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downtown Chicago hotel accommodations. precise Swiss service – combined with
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Diplomatic Contact:
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