Contributing Editor and Diplomatic Dance columnist Gail Scott on the tightly-knit Embassy Row community.

Gail Scott with Ichiro Fujisaki

This fall is different and we all seem more like “family.” Washington’s new political atmosphere has spread to Embassy Row: fresh, young diplomatic families bringing their high energy and hopes to their residences and chanceries, just the way the Obamas have filled the White House, the Oval Office, and the South Lawn with their new ideas and lifestyle choices. Veteran envoys of all races, religions, and cultures seem happier to be here. Never have so many non-Muslims celebrated breaking the Ramadan fast at sundown with their diplomatic Arab colleagues. British Ambassador Sir Nigel Sheinwald and Lady Sheinwald, among many other ambassadorial couples representing Muslim-minority countries, welcomed their diplomatic colleagues from Muslim-majority countries into their official homes. “This was a first for us,” said Sir Nigel. “An experiment, you might say, but we would like to continue this new tradition each year to show goodwill to our Muslim friends.”

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The Embassy of Jordan partners with the DC Public Education Fund to benefit local school, Ludlow-Taylor Elementary.

By Ambassador of Jordan Prince Zeid Ra’ad Zeid Al-Hussein

The Ambassador of Jordan lends a helping hand at Ludlow-Taylor Elementary School. (Photo by Gail Scott/Photo courtesy of the Embassy of Jordan)

“This is a very historic year for us: the Tenth Anniversary of His Majesty King Abdullah II’s Accession to the Throne and 60 years of diplomatic relations with the United States so I wanted to do something more lasting, more helpful to the community than just host another big party.

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Kurdistan’s Man in Washington.

Qubad Talabany relaxes in his office next to a collection of works by Kurdish artists.

After ten years’ toil, Iraqi President Jalal Talabany’s 32-year-old son has become an unquestionably effective spokesman for the Kurdistan Regional Government’s cause in Washington. Sleek, suave, and Savile-Row-suited, with an easy manner and considerable persuasive powers, he delivers a powerful message about a rare U.S. success story in the Middle East: a mostly peaceful and prosperous region with little need for outside ground forces, and an emerging democracy where 80 percent of the voters turned out for the July 25 regional parliamentary elections.

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We proudly present our 2009-2010 Washington Life Diplomatic List. Here you will find spouses’ names, many diplomatic residences, and correct addresses for thank you notes, deans by seniority, and more photos of ambassadors than ever before during this big year of change.

Amb. Roy Ferguson and Don Ferguson (New Zealand), Amb. Michael Louis (St. Lucia), Amb. Vaino Reinhart (Estonia), Amb. Claudia Fritsche (Luxembourg), Amb. Maria de Fatima da Veiga (Cape Verde), Amb. Heng Chan Chee (Singapore), Amb. Latchezar Petkov and Doryana Petkova (Bulgaria).

Our Diplomatic Family

Contributing Editor and Diplomatic Dance columnist Gail Scott on the tightly-knit Embassy Row community.

This fall is different and we all seem more like “family.” Washington’s new political atmosphere has spread to Embassy Row: fresh, young diplomatic families bringing their high energy and hopes to their residences and chanceries, just the way the Obamas have filled the White House, the Oval Office, and the South Lawn with their new ideas and lifestyle choices. Veteran envoys of all races, religions, and cultures seem happier to be here. Never have so many non-Muslims celebrated breaking the Ramadan fast at sundown with their diplomatic Arab colleagues. British Ambassador Sir Nigel Sheinwald and Lady Sheinwald, among many other ambassadorial couples representing Muslim-minority countries, welcomed their diplomatic colleagues from Muslim-majority countries into their official homes. “This was a first for us,” said Sir Nigel. “An experiment, you might say, but we would like to continue this new tradition each year to show goodwill to our Muslim friends.”

Our new Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and her new Chief of Protocol Capricia Marshall continue the very recent tradition of women at the top of our foreign ministry. Capricia, in particular, represents the increasing pride of top appointees with mixed heritage. During her festive Seventh Floor swearing in, Capricia celebrated her Croatian and Mexican heritage (38 family members were there) and her long friendship with the Clintons (Chelsea included).

Amid all this camaraderie, we face tough choices in a world that is not as safe or as carefree as it used to be. Many of our countries are struggling financially and the worldwide economic questions get priority over everything else but security. We need our diplomatic family to help us navigate these global issues and we welcome our newest diplomatic family members to Washington – still the number one diplomatic posting on the globe.

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