Colombian and Panamanian envoys focus on free trade agreements; the new chief of protocol doesn’t forget the little folks.

By Gail Scott

Capricia Marshall and Indian Ambassador Meera Shankar at Blair House

DANCE MARATHON
What’s an ambassador to do when her country’s Free Trade Agreement has been waiting for Congressional approval for three years? Start dancing. That’s the latest clever move by Colombia’s determined Carolina Barco to make the U.S. and its leaders fall in love with Colombia in time for the worldwide celebration of its bicentennial next year.

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Singapore’s ‘minister mentor’ feted; EU Commission’s ambassador departs for ‘greener’ pastures.

By Gail Scott

Statesman Lee Kuan Yew greets Esther Coopersmith as Ambassador of Singapore Chan Heng-Chee and Sen. Jim Webb look on. (Photo courtesy US-ASEAN Business Council)

VISIONARY LEADER

The US-ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) Business Council presented its first Lifetime Achievement Award to Singapore’s legendary first prime minister and now its “minister mentor,” Lee Kuan Yew, at a high- powered black-tie celebration of its 25th anniversary at the Mandarin Oriental on Oct. 25. Luminaries gathered from the foreign policy, government, academic, and business establishments included ASEAN ambassadors, former Secretaries of State Henry Kissinger and George P. Shultz; United Technologies Chairman George David; Sen. Jim Webb (chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs), and Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt M. Campbell. Former Presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush added their congratulations via video.

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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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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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The Obamas’ first diplomatic reception, the president’s sister comes to town, and diplomatic nuptials of note
By Gail Scott

President Obama’s sister, Maya Soetoro Ng (center), poses with Indonesian Amb. Sudjadnan Parnohadiningrat and his wife Nunungat at an exhibit of batiks collected by Ann Duhnam, Soetoro Ng and Obama’s mother. (Photo by Gail Scott)

What vacation?
The Obamas’ White House reception for Washington’s huge diplomatic corps was a gracious invitation even though the late July “command performance” meant that many envoys and their families had to change much anticipated home leave or summer vacation plans to be there.
Japanese Ambassador Ichiro Fujisaki and his wife Yoriko were originally leaving for Tokyo on July 27, the date of the first “Diplomatic Do,” but the consummate diplomats changed their flight to the next day in order to join the long line of colleagues waiting to have their pictures taken with Barack and Michele Obama (who was dressed in red, white and … black!).
“We thought it was impressive that the first couple was welcoming each envoy so cordially,” Amb. Fujisaki reported, “Yoriko and I were able to feel the very warm atmosphere of the Obama White House. We both wore traditional Japanese kimono and appreciated delicious Japanese dishes as well. We felt very much at home. Our only hope is that the White House will always remain open and friendly as we experienced it that evening.”

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Perspectives on power and music, plus diplomatic comings and goings.

By Gail Scott

Benny Goodman performs for a young audience in Red Square. Moscow, Soviet Union, 1962 (Courtesy of the Irving S. Gilmore Music Library, Benny Goodman Papers, Yale University)

What’s Power on Embassy Row?
To many, power on Embassy Row means getting instant return calls from the White House. Others count the number of Cabinet secretaries and Supreme Court justices they can attract to a dinner. Some count their Sunday morning talk show appearances as badges of power.

But on the fifth anniversary of the American occupation of his country, Iraqi Ambassador Sameer Shaker Sumaidaie wishes he had less “power.”“I don’t see myself as ‘powerful,’ he said recently. “In the old days, when communication was so different, ambassadors wielded the influence of their nation in the host country. The British ambassador in a small country projected the power of the whole empire. Today, communication is much more direct between heads of state.”

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British elegance, the gift of music, and a global fight to cure cancer

By Gail Scott

The Hon. Edwina Sandys Kaplan and Brendan Gleeson. Photo by Gail Scott.

Embassy Row Glitters
Anyone who thinks major embassy dinners are a relic of a bygone era should have been at the British Embassy on June 1st when Sir Nigel and Lady Sheinwald feted Librarian of Congress James H. Billington on his 80th birthday along with such stellar and eclectic guests as Justice Samuel Alito, Donald Graham, Marta Istomin, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, and the Russian, French, and Danish ambassadors. Former Rep. Jim Leach (whose nomination as chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities was announced the following day) joined Sir Nigel in praising the honoree’s many outstanding qualities and achievements (Rhodes scholar, Harvard and Princeton history professor, author of numerous books on Russia), and most especially his 22-year tenure at the library, where he has overseen the placement of more than eight million items on-line that are free-of-charge to users.

Other recent all-star evenings hosted by the British include the launch of HBO’s “Into The Storm,” with Irishman Brendan Gleeson playing Sir Winston Churchill. In attendance: the legendary prime minister’s granddaughter, the Hon. Edwina Sandys Kaplan, who praised the production – but with one exception. “My grandfather never wore PJ’s,” she told guests, “he always wore a white nightshirt.” In mid-June, heralding the Royal Ballet’s week-long Kennedy Center engagement, the Brits once again gathered social and media luminaries to celebrate the company’s dancers, including departing American star Alexandra Ansanelli.

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The Poles’ new home, hip Japanese talent, and a Costa Rican trade agreement

Finola Bruton, wife of the European Union’s ambassador, poses near her portrait taken by Washington-based photographer Abby Greenwalt

By Gail Scott

Hillary’s New Neighbors

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s new neighbors, Polish Ambassador Robert Kupiecki, his wife Malgorzata, and their children (Martin, 16, and Magdalena, 6), can’t wait to move into their new residence, art collector Paul Mellon’s former mansion on Whitehaven Street NW, but extensive renovations are keeping the moving vans at bay. The house and its huge back garden (which borders the British ambassador’s residence), was most recently owned by Nicholas F. Brady, who served as secretary of the treasury during the administrations of Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. This year, Poland has much to celebrate at its May 6 national day at the Corcoran Gallery of Art: 200-plus years of the Polish constitution – Europe’s first (1791), 90 years of diplomatic relations with the U.S., a decade in NATO, and 20 years of non-communist rule.

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The Mondales return, diplomatic moves and a movie queen on Embassy Row

By Gail Scott

Joan and Walter Mondale. Photo by Gail Scott

Mondale: A Crucial Bridge
Buddies from the Carter White House, Congress, and Cleveland Park welcomed Walter Mondale back to Washington when the former senator, vice president, and ambassador to Japan (from 1993 to 1997) was decorated with the highest imperial order Japan bestows upon a foreigner. Mondale and his wife, Joan, are still beloved in Japan.

Japanese Ambassador Ichiro Fujisaki presented the guest of honor with the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers, saying he had “made the difference” in creating an “everlasting bridge” between the two countries.

Now 81 and still involved with Japanese-American interests, Mondale noted the appropriateness of Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s choice of Japan for her first foreign visit. “They had wonderful talks … with such a strong partnership, every big problem can be easily solved.”

The receiving line was full of VIPs with favorite Mondale stories. Norwegian Ambassador Wegger Strommen said his famous friend was not only “Norway’s consul general in Minnesota but ‘chief of the tribe’ of six million Norwegian-Americans,” a “great friend” of King Harald V, and “the first person I called here.” Food writer Marian Burros joked, “The first time I met Walter Mondale was at a Pillsbury Bake-Off in Minneapolis and we’ve been close friends ever since.”

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One envoy says ‘I do;’ another says ‘I don’t’

By Gail Scott

Portuguese Ambassador João de Vallera plants a deft kiss upon the hand of Hillary Rodham Clinton at the Eastern Inaugural ball at Union Station.

Diplomatic Nuptials
Saudi Arabian Ambassador Adel Al-Jubeir is a bachelor no longer! While we weren’t watching he got married to beautiful widow Farah Al-Fayez, 27, with whom he is now living (along with her six-year-old twins) in his McLean ambassadorial residence. Everything was below the radar until someone noticed that Al-Jubeir, 47, was smiling a lot more.

Another Arab ambassador who is young and quite handsome may be available again. If you were invited to the March 7 wedding, don’t worry about buying this dashing envoy a gift. The nuptials are off and no one is sure why. His staff is as shocked as the rest of us.

Inaugural Keepsakes
It’s already March, but diplomats are still trading inaugural photos of each other as if they were baseball cards. A special favorite: the one of dapper Portuguese Ambassador João de Vallera kissing the hand of not-yet-Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton during the Eastern Ball at Union Station. De Vallera himself captured another “the-world-is-one-place” moment of his Jordanian colleague, Prince Zeid Ra’ad Zeid Al-Hussein, with his red native head scarf against the gorgeous blue sky.

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Eclectic wardrobes typify Washington’s diplomatic nomads.

By Gail Scott

Chan Heng-Chee

Foreign diplomats and their spouses bring a unique style to Washington that is often more of a mélange from their nomadic life abroad than typical of their homeland. These citizens of the world may add to their wardrobes in Washington and New York, but cherish what they found during former postings and visits to London, Paris, Moscow, Beijing, New Delhi or Kabul.

Shamim Jawad is well known for elegant, colorful Afghan fashions that sparkle, shine, and sometimes even jingle– reminding us of her country’s long history as an important trade route. Iceland’s petite Åsa Baldvinsdóttir loves purple and probably wears the most avant-garde clothing with short skirts and tights topped with hip Icelandic jewelry. Lebanon’s Nicole Chedid is proud of her gowns by Elie Saab, the top Lebanese designer responsible for the luscious red dress Halle Berry wore to accept her Oscar.

Italian-born Maria Felice Mekouar has a great talent for picking gorgeous colors and mixing fashion elements from all over the world. I’ve never seen this champion golfer on the links at the Chevy Chase Club, but she probably looks fabulous there, too. She and her well-dressed husband, Aziz, always look the part and represent Morocco with great style.

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Former American Ambassador to the Netherlands Howard Wilkins and his wife Rhonda celebrate “America’s longest uninterrupted ally” at the 13th Annual Netherland- America Foundation Awards Dinner by wearing the Dutch national colors. (Photo by Kyle Samperton for The NAF)

Definitions of affluence differ; but red, white, and blue is a charmer.

By Gail Scott

Gross national product, per capita income, oil reserves, and adequate water and food divide the world into “wealthy” and “poor.” Yes, America still has the most billionaires, but to many people, especially those outside the U.S., personal wealth – meaning currency and property – isn’t the only way to measure “wealth.” Some would rather have a royal title and less money. Others cherish their quality of life – in that category, Irish, Swiss, and Norwegians rank highest, but the U.S. is only 13th, just above Canada. Andorra, a tiny country in the Pyrenees, has the longest life expectancy at 83.5 years, with Japan, Macau, San Marino and Singapore close behind.

The Dutch have the shortest work week, and Singapore boasts of its “human” capital. Amsterdam’s the number one Internet hub, but Switzerland has the most computers per person. Do cell-phones make you feel rich and well-connected? The combined 27 nations of the European Union boast 466,000,000 cell phones but China is only five million behind at 461,100,000. The number one environmentally friendly nation is Finland followed by Norway, Uruguay, Sweden, Iceland, Canada and Switzerland. Iceland and Norway take turns being ranked the most peaceful nation. Canada has 40 percent of the world’s water and Uganda has the highest air quality. Australia is the sunniest country in the world but Ethiopia boasts “Thirteen months of sunshine!” – theirs is a 13-month calendar.

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Missed events, French women who change their mind, and the art of making covers.

By Michael M. Clements

Executive Editor Michael M. Clements takes to the catwalk in Burberry at the MenzFit celebrity fashion show fundraiser.

I’m blocked. I want to write witty things about events I’ve attended, but I can’t. It all started when I read the WL social calendar and realized how many events I’d missed. How do socialites do this? It’s like a full-time job going to all these parties. Okay … block’s over. I’ve decided to talk about all the events I missed. I missed Fight Night. It’s okay, I didn’t have a seat anyway – which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it’s not exactly an ego boost to sit next to someone you know paid $10,000 for a chair. Plus, I still have the taste of whiskey and cigars in my mouth from last year. I also missed a reception to meet French President Sarkozy at the French residence – wanted to go, but lost the lottery for our one invite; the Washington Performing Arts Society’s fall celebration at the Kennedy Center – Monday nights are hard; the Meridian Ball – Gail Scott had me covered; the Lombardi Gala – had another event; and pretty much the entire C’est Chic! film festival, except for our sponsored opening night party at L2.

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Three years and 20 million dollars later, a fabled residence reopens.

By Gail Scott
Photography Gary Landsman

The turquoise and yellow drawing room is now light and airy with silk and linen calm-yellow sheer drapery that let sunlight flood the room. The light also highlights the exquisite antique Serves vase collection - a main reason why turquoise has become "the new neutral" for the mansion. Note also the Ambassador's antique silver collection crafted by Turkish silversmiths in Istanbul.

These are magical times for Turkish Ambassador Nabi Sensoy and his new wife and longtime friend, Gülgün. A new marriage and a totally refurbished and remodeled residence is ready after more than three years of major architectural restoration and extensive rehabilitation by well-known Washington restoration architect Belinda Reeder and noted embassy interior designer Aniko Gaal Schott.

“We thought we were moving in as early as last August,” said Ambassador Sensoy who, with his new bride, has been living out of packing boxes for some weeks. “But this work of great architectural beauty, one of the historic landmarks of Embassy Row,” jumped in petite Gülgün, “is also a very precious residence now, really a work of art … it’s a great responsibility for us to make use of this historic property in the best way possible for Turkey.”

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The New House of Sweden finally glows on Washington’s waterfront and Sweden’s King & Queen are about to arrive – no wonder Swedish Ambassador Gunnar Lund and his wife Kari Lotsberg are smiling.

By Gail Scott
Photography Gary Landsman

Entrance of House of Sweden glows in the light of dusk.

The new House of Sweden, the first foreign embassy to ever be built on the Washington waterfront, is finally open. And to add to the romance, Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf Philip and Queen Silvia are about to arrive to officially inaugurate this handsome, long glass building that glows in the dark.

But the story if House of Sweden is also a love story about two people from two different countries who have created a family, two impressive careers and a happy marriage despite the never-ending demands of diplomacy, government and politics and constant complications of living on different continents. Perhaps you already have met them, Swedish Ambassador Gunnar Lund and Kari Lotsberg, his wife ? Norwegian by birth, Swedish by passport and a dedicated mother and well-known economist.

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