Washington Life Magazine
Washington Life Magazine

 

A Diplomatic Spring

The EU turns 60, an Arabian night at The Four Seasons and Japanese fashion

BY GAIL SCOTT

EU Gets Hitched
No fancy dance or black tie bash to mark the 60th anniversary for what has become the European Union. Instead, German Ambassador Klaus Scharioth, who currently holds the EU presidency, invited 44 local American college students to tell the 27 EU envoys gathered on his hilltop residence what the EU should do next. Not one student dared to discuss Turkey. But when straight-talking EU Commission Ambassador John Bruton, former Irish Prime Minister and the night's keynoter, was asked about the controversial EU candidate, he diplomatically discussed the enlarged EU - with Bulgaria and Romania as the newest members. "We are like one big family," he explained. "And with all these new members - like marriages - we have to get used to the in-laws first before we enlarge any further."

 

John Bruton
European Union Commission Ambassador John Bruton; Photo Credit: EU Commission

 

IDB's Moreno Honored
Thirteen years ago, Rosalia Guitérrez- Huérte Miller - a Nicaraguan native and then- International Monetary Fund official - and two friends felt compelled to help bright, local Latino students broaden their horizons to include a fine college education and professional careers. They pooled their resources, and today, over 900 Latino Student Fund Scholars have graduated from or are attending some of America's finest universities, including Yale, Harvard, Colgate and Cornell. "This has always been my dream," said Miller, now a popular National Cathedral School teacher. "These students and their parents appreciate everything we do: the Saturday one-on-one tutoring, parent support groups, private high school and college placement help and scholarships that make it all possible. But we couldn't have done it without the enthusiastic support and devotion of the Latino diplomatic corps." This year's gala honoree was Inter- American Development Bank President Luis Moreno, who, as former Colombian ambassador, opened his residence for the first LSF gala. "That's why for our 7th Gala, as we announce plans for a national program, we honor Luis. He understands that it is access to education that's the key for Latino success in America."

 

Luis Moreno and Rosalia Guitérrez-Huérte Miller
Inter-American Development Bank President and Latino Student Fund Honoree Luis Moreno with Latino Student Fund Founder Rosalia Guitérrez-Huérte Miller; Photo Credit: Beverly Rezneck

 

An Arabian Night
When Karim - an Egyptian-American - and Jennifer - a Jersey girl - Camel-Toueg first thought of giving a welcome back party for best pals Karim and Luma Kawar, they didn't consider a backyard "Bar-B-Q" with paper plates and plastic forks or even a fancy spring garden party. Instead, they decided to re-decorate the five-star Four Seasons ballroom into an Arabian Nights fantasy that took 50 people 18 hours to create. Kawar, the former Jordanian Ambassador and long-time Young President's Organization (YPO) member and his promotionally minded wife came back to see friends and launch their new foundation, "Bridges of Understanding," which supports projects that foster better understanding between Americans and people of the Arab/ Muslim world. "We wanted to give them a forum to introduce their foundation," said welltraveled Jennifer, whose YPO husband Karim was "down on his hands and knees hiding the last of the lighting cables when the first guests arrived." Why all the fuss? "We wanted something refreshing, exciting: not just another Washington party," said Jennifer. "So we created our own space with wall-to-wall white carpeting, draped the ceiling and walls in white sheers and brought in a DJ from New York."

Cherry Blossoms, Kites & Kimonos
Each year the Cherry Blossom Festival gets bigger and the Japanese Embassy must stretch itself for Washington's famous outdoor rite of spring. This year, the event's opening day coincided with perfect blossoms, the Smithsonian Kite Festival on the Mall and the live kimono fashion show at the National Portrait Gallery. All over the Mall and the Tidal Basin, steady streams of local families and curious tourists flowed into the streets with every kind of baby carriage, kid-carrier and camera to celebrate and capture the moment. Posing became the main activity of the day, especially for those looking pretty in new kimonos. Thank you, Japan, for giving us 95 years of beautiful blossoms!

 

Carolyn Hane and Misaki Buker
Carolyn Hane and Misaki Buker, two of Japan's youngest models, for the Kimono Cherry Blossom Fashion Show. Photo credit: Gail Scott

 

Portugal's Musical Ambassador
Portuguese Ambassador João de Vallera was finally able to keep his promise to Portugal's top singer on the eve of her March 22nd Kennedy Center performance. Years before, as Portugal's envoy to Germany, he welcomed Mariza to the Berlin Philharmonic stage and promised her a party.
Many years later, on a beautiful spring night in Washington, Vallera and his wife Margarida feted Portugal's famous singer. "Mariza has been selected not once, but twice, as Best Singer in World Music by the BBC," he proudly told his guests. "She has also served as UNICEF's Ambassador and was selected by a German magazine as one of the ‘100 Most Important Women in Europe.'" To everyone's delight, Mariza - who was born in Mozambique but grew up in Lisbon - broke into song, performing two fadòs, the traditional Portuguese folk songs that have been enjoyed ever since Portuguese sailors first wrote them to express their longing for home. Mariza returns to Washington on April 20th to perform at the "Encompassing the Globe Gala" at the Freer and Sackler Galleries commemorating the significance of Portuguese navigation to world history.

Do You Know Embassy Row?
Spring's new crop of ambassadors keeps diplomatic scribes jumping. As new faces appear on the party circuit, hosts - even other ambassadors and spouses - are busy guessing who's who. We'll make it easier with the following diplomatic briefing.

  • Yes, the Saudi Ambassador is "officially" single and so is the Peruvian, but the handsome Belgian calls himself a "fake bachelor" - Amb. Dominique Struye said his "significant other" stays in Brussels with "dozens of ponies and horses" while he globe-trots. But, he might accept a game of golf.
  • Jordanian Ambassador Prince Zeid bin Ra'ad, with a Johns Hopkins BA and a Cambridge PhD, is movie-star handsome, a young father, and husband to Princess Sarah Zeid.
  • If an ambassador gallantly kisses your hand, it could be Brazil's Ambassador Antonio Patriota or Portugal's Ambassador João de Vallera.
  • Mexico's new Ambassador Arturo Sarukhan and wife Verónica are back in Washington (he was chief of staff before) with Laia, their new baby daughter.
Adel Al Jubeir Dominique Struye Prince Zeid bin Ra'ad
Saudi Amb. Adel Al Jubeir Belgian Amb. Dominique Struye Jordanian Amb. Prince Zeid bin Ra'ad

 



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