June 2016 by The Washington Diplomat

Luxury Living Special Section Inside Luxury Living

A Special Section of The Washington Diplomat

VOLUME 23, NUMBER 6

June 2016

JUNE 2016

WWW.WASHDIPLOMAT.COM Summer Shape-Up

Intense Fitness Classes Prepare

Middle East

BY STEPHANIE KANOWITZ

It’s not too late, though, to ensembles — we’re looking get in shape for the smaller summer 45-minute class promises to tone the especially hard at you, swimsuits. surveyed three classes at entire body. Participants We stand on a boutique gyms that pack a lot of power — a 70-inchspecially designed surfboard called the RipSurfer into an hour or less, zapping X board that balances on three calories while strengthening cles and pushing cardio. Bosu-like balls. Straps mus- hold it in place, Whether you’ll be riding but they can be adjusted the waves in stable as Costa Rica, creating your to make the board less class members’ abilities own Tour de France or just on a Tahitian beach, these REV Pilates, which opened advance. classes will get you ready. lounging late last year, offers two SURFSET classes. The types of Blend class incorporates more cardio and can burn up to 900 SURFSET FITNESS AT REV calories in one session, while Balance PILATES GYM is heavy on yoga poses and holding positions, co-owner Whether you’ll be riding Erika the waves or not this summer, this

Talks Between Taliban, Afghan Government Over Before They Began Peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban may be over. To some, they never really began. Hopes were high that Afghan President Ashraf Ghani could do what had eluded his predecessor: engage the enemy. But after a series of false starts, Ghani has drawn a line in the sand — backing away from diplomacy in favor of tough love. / PAGE 8

Bodies for Warmer Weather t

t’s June. That means two things: Summertime is here and 80 percent New Year’s resolutions of us who made to get fit are, well, not meeting the mark. Studies most of us throw in the show that gym towel on resolutions we’re likely regretting within a few months as the humidity grows — a move and the hem lines shrink.

| 21

EUROPE

BELGIUM’S BAD RAP? Following the Brussels and Paris terrorist attacks that killed scores of people, Belgium has been slammed as the world’s most prosperous failed

Europe

Free from Soviets, Georgia Still Keeps Wary Eye on Russia This spring, Georgia’s 3.8 million people mark a quarter-century of independence from the Soviet Union. But with Russia still breathing down their necks and making life difficult for people in this turbulent part of the world, not everyone is in the mood to celebrate. / PAGE 12

state, an incubator of terror and ground zero for European radicalism. Ambassador John Verbeke says he’s more than ready to have a rational discussion about the country’s security failings, but he says Belgians won’t give into intimidation — or hyperbole. / PAGE 15

Culture

American Prints Get Respect “Three Centuries of American Prints from the National Gallery of Art” offers a sharp reminder of the power of print. / PAGE 26

People of World Influence

Diplomatic Spouses

Bulgarian Envoy Bids Farewell

German Rewrites Diplomatic Script

Elena Poptodorova performed her first assignment as Bulgaria’s ambassador to the U.S. so well that her government asked her to return for an encore. Now, after a combined 12 years, the popular envoy reflects on her posting in Washington during a critical time for her country, and for her personally. / PAGE 5

Huberta von Voss-Wittig runs a tight ship. The German journalist and mother of four has to if she wants to hit her deadlines while helping her children with homework and accompanying her husband to high-profile diplomatic functions. / PAGE 27

an e-mail newsletter produced by The Washington Diplomat

SUBSCRIBE TO THE DIPLOMATIC POUCH AND YOU’LL RECEIVE AN EXCLUSIVE E-MAIL NEWS COLUMN PRODUCED BY THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT NEWSPAPER, THE RESPECTED FLAGSHIP PUBLICATION OF THE DIPLOMATIC COMMUNITY FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS. SENT OUT TWICE A MONTH, THE DIPLOMATIC POUCH PROVIDES TIMELY COVERAGE OF INTERNATIONAL NEWS AND EVENTS IN THE NATION’S CAPITAL WITH REGULAR FEATURES INCLUDING THE LATEST NEWS AND DEVELOPMENTS IN WORLD AFFAIRS, AS WELL AS LIFESTYLE, WHICH HIGHLIGHTS WASHINGTON’S SOCIAL LIFE. SUBSCRIBING TO THE DIPLOMATIC POUCH IS A QUICK AND EASY WAY TO RECEIVE THE LATEST DIPLOMATIC NEWS — ALL IN ONE CONVENIENT ONLINE SOURCE.

Go to www.washdiplomat.com to subscribe. For advertising information, please call the Sales Department at 301.933.3552. 2 | THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT | JUNE 2016

Contents

THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT | June 2016

18 31

NEWS 5

People of World Influence Bulgaria’s outgoing ambassador reflects on 12 years in Washington.

Medical Half of all heart attacks may be silent but lethal because people miss out on critical care.

Standing Ovation The Washington Ballet’s dynamo artistic director steps down this month after 17 years.

LUXURY LIVING

29 Cutting-Edge Illustration Spanish artists are bringing illustration to the forefront of cutting-edge art.

Dead-End Talks Afghan peace talks with the Taliban may be over before they even began.

21 Summer Slim-Down Boutique gyms pack a lot of power to help your body gear up for the warm weather.

CULTURE

TPP Marathon Can the Trans-Pacific Partnership cross the finish line in a U.S. election year?

12 Birthday Stress Regional hostilities are fraying nerves in Georgia as the ex-Soviet republic turns 25.

Cover Profile: Belguim Belgium is on the defensive after high-profile terrorist attacks in Brussels and Paris.

New Space Race NASA says space is no longer a frontier for competition, but for cooperation.

Fabric of Our Lives Poignant stories of migration are told through textiles.

Flowery Feeling

Print Gets Its Dues The neglected medium of print gets the royal treatment at the National Gallery of Art.

“Flora of the National Parks” connects people with the restorative power of plants.

Diplomatic Spouses Germany’s Huberta von Voss-Wittig balances life as a journalist and mother of four.

Dining The summer dining season means new menus, new events and fresh new faces.

REGULARS 34 Cinema Listing 36 Events Listing 38 Diplomatic Spotlight

45 Appointments / World Holidays 46 Classifieds 47 Real Estate Classifieds

THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT | JUNE 2016 | 3

Invest in Arizona Volume 23

Wickenburg, Arizona — $529,000

Model home quality custom built home on 2 acres of fenced horse property! Beautiful home inside & out from the beautiful exposed vigas running through the ceilings to the Mexican inlaid red tiled ﬁreplace and window seats. Kitchen is beautiful & well equipped with stainless steel appliances, granite counter tops, & knotty alder cabinets. Enjoy the views of the surrounding mountains from the living room & from the kitchen windows! Bathrooms are tiled with travertine including the vanities, tubs, and showers. Extra large insulated 3 car garage with 1/4 bath & storage room. Lots of parking with RV gates!

Issue 6

June 2016

www.washdiplomat.com

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief

Victor Shiblie

Director of Operations

Fuad Shiblie

Managing Editor

Anna Gawel

News Editor

Larry Luxner

Graphic Designer

Cari Henderson

Account Manager

Rod Carrasco

Editorial Intern Marketing Intern Photographer Contributing Writers

Mariam Azimi Summer Mai Lawrence Ruggeri Michael Coleman, Stephanie Kanowitz, Molly McCluskey, Kate Oczypok, Gail Scott, Dave Seminara, Justin Salhani, Karin Sun, Lisa Troshinsky, Mackenzie Weinger, Karin Zeitvogel

address 1921 Florida Ave. NW #53353 • Washington, DC 20009 phone 301.933.3552 • fax 301.949.0065 web www.washdiplomat.com • editorial news@washdiplomat.com advertising sales@washdiplomat.com

Peeples Valley, Arizona — $699,000

If you have ever walked into a home and thought ‘’wow, this home was perfectly designed for this beautiful property’’ you know the feeling you will get as you walk through the front door of this home. The views are amazing and the ﬂoorplan is perfect for the country lifestyle. The ‘’tough’’ choice is whether you take in the beauty from inside the home, the covered porch or as you walk or ride through the ranchland that surrounds the property. If you are looking for an easy access personal/ business retreat this ranch property is uniquely located less than an hour from Prescott & Wickenburg, with fabulous airports for private air service in both towns. The drive-time is under two hours from Phoenix and about 5 hours to the LA area and San Diego. Seller is creative, motivated & will carry! *Marketed by Keller Williams Check Realty For more detailed information and additional pictures of these fabulous homes and others please visit our website: www.realtyambassadors.com or call Samir!

The Washington Diplomat is published monthly by The Washington Diplomat, Inc. The newspaper is distributed free of charge at several locations throughout the Washington, D.C. area. We do oﬀer subscriptions for home delivery. Subscription rates are $29 for 12 issues and $49 for 24 issues.

The Washington Diplomat assumes no responsibility for the safe keeping or return of unsolicited manuscripts, photographs, artwork or other material.

To receive The Washington Diplomat at your embassy or business or to receive past issues, please call Fuad Shiblie at 301-933-3552.

The information contained in this publication is in no way to be construed as a recommendation by the Publisher of any kind or nature whatsoever, nor as a recommendation of any industry standard, nor as an endorsement of any product or service, nor as an opinion or certification regarding the accuracy of any such information.

If your organization employs many people from the international community, you may qualify for free bulk delivery. To see if you qualify, please contact Fuad Shiblie.

ON THE cOvEr

SAMIR RAFEEDIE Broker-President

4 | THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT | JUNE 2016

16165 N 83rd Ave Suite 200 Peoria, Arizona 85382 Ph: 623.815.1900 Fax: 623.505.1900 samir@rahomes.com www.realtyambassadors.com

Cover photo taken at the Belgian Residence on Foxhall Road, NW, by Lawrence Ruggeri of Ruggeriphoto.com.

WD | People of World Influence

Fond Farewell Bulgaria’s Poptodorova Reflects on 12 Years as Ambassador by Michael Coleman

lena Poptodorova performed her first assignment as Bulgaria’s ambassador to the United States so well that her government asked her to return for an encore. Poptodorova was Bulgaria’s envoy to the U.S. from 2002 until 2008, a critical time for both countries that saw the American invasion of Iraq and the accession of Bulgaria to both the European Union and NATO. In 2008, Poptodorova returned home to take on the challenging job of ambassador-atlarge for the Black Sea region, which includes Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine. She also served as head of the Security Policy Directorate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for one year. But in 2010, Poptodorova’s successor in Washington, Latchezar Petkov, was forced to resign in a political scandal that erupted when absentee ballots delivered to the Bulgarian Embassy from Bulgarians in the United States went missing in the country’s parliamentary elections. Petkov lost his job and soon Poptodorova was on her way back to Washington. An eloquent, amiable and left-leaning former member of the Bulgarian Parliament, Poptodorova arrived in Washington in 2010 and she has provided a steady hand for her country’s relationship with the United States in the six years since. She returned to Bulgaria in late May and President Rosen Plevneliev has appointed his foreign policy secretary, Tihomir Stoychev, to replace Poptodorova in Washington. In a wide-ranging Diplomat interview at the Bulgarian Embassy near Dupont Circle, Poptodorova discussed her two tenures in Washington, the importance of Bulgaria’s NATO membership, what it’s like to be a woman ambassador in Washington and much more. Poptodorova said her first stint as Bulgaria’s ambassador was more consequential than the second one, largely because the stakes were higher. “That was probably the most intense period in bilateral relations, and also in transatlantic and European-U.S. relations,” Poptodorova said. “That was the time that NATO enlargement happened.” Membership in NATO, the international military alliance that consists of 28 member states from North America and Europe, had been a priority for the Bulgarian government since the fall of the Soviet Union. Bulgaria joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace in 1994 and a decade later it joined six other former Soviet states in a major NATO expansion in 2004 that infuriated Russia. The country is now working toward

NATO compatibility in communications and training, and has established a peacekeeping training center. “That was the most important and most visible event that happened,” Poptodorova said, recalling her intense lobbying efforts to shore up political support for Bulgaria’s membership with U.S. lawmakers on Capitol Hill. “Bulgaria and Romania were not seen as obvious prospective members of NATO so we really had to exert double and triple effort to convince the House members and the senators,” she said. “We had a big map on the wall with all 435 [House members] plus 100 senators to lobby personally as many as we could.” Then-Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) agreed to speak with Poptodorova at the time, but only briefly. “I was told she has one minute and a half while riding the [small underground] train” in the U.S. Capitol, the ambassador recalled with a laugh. “That was about enough. We rode on that little train and during the duration of the ride I very emphatically explained our position. It was a very serious effort and luckily it ended successfully.” She said former Sen. John Warner (R-Va.), who was chairman of the Sen-

“

The transatlantic space needs to be kept intact and well-protected. It’s not an infatuation or an obsession with a military alliance for it’s own sake…. It helps us enhance our own security and our own practical defense skills. Elena Poptodorova

”

ambassador of Bulgaria to the United States

ate Armed Services Committee at the time, was a major skeptic of Bulgaria’s membership. “My argument was that you need old Europe, you can’t have a partition or a split in this space,” she explained. “It was added security for the U.S., and the U.S. needs allies especially on a continent in which allies proved to be

Photo: Embassy of Bulgaria

so important in the last century. I think that was logical … especially given the events and developments nowadays.” She said the Russian invasion of Crimea and civil war in Ukraine have proven that allowing Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Albania and Croatia to join NATO over the past decade was smart geostrategic policy. “Events have only proven the importance of this transatlantic bond,” she said. “We have NATO guarding the southern borders of Europe with agency,” Poptodorova said. “The transatlantic space needs to be kept intact and well-protected. It’s not an infatuation or an obsession with a military alliance for it’s own sake; it’s what it personifies and what effect, or added value, it produces. It helps us enhance our own security and our own practical defense skills. “Events since the annexation of Crimea have only proven that Bulgaria and Romania are key,” Poptodorova continued. “These same countries, which were viewed skeptically, now happen to be the outer border of the alliance and significantly so. It gets even more complicated because we do

have a NATO ally — a NATO member — next to us, Turkey, but again we have different kind of complications because of the migrant crisis. Being part of NATO for Romania and Bulgaria [gives] an added importance to ourselves, to our region and to the United States.” Bulgaria joined another globally important club — the European Union — in 2007 after signing an accession agreement in 2004. She said the support of the U.S. government in that quest was critical. “It was absolutely fabulous. Although the U.S. is not part of the EU and not part of the decision-making process there, it doesn’t hurt,” Poptodorova said. Critics of the enlargement say that admitting Romania and Bulgaria, two of the poorest and most corrupt members in the bloc, was a mistake. Both Balkan nations continue to struggle with the rule of law, judicial reform, endemic graft and organized crime. On the flip side, being a member of the once-prestigious club has lost some of its luster, especially following See Poptodorova • page 6 THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT | JUNE 2016 | 5

Poptodorova continued • PAge 5

the euro crisis and the recent influx of refugees arriving on Europe’s shores to escape war and poverty in countries like Syria and Afghanistan. So are the Bulgarian people satisfied with their country’s EU membership, which carries advantages and disadvantages? “That’s a great question because it depends on how you ask it,” the ambassador said. “If you ask them, ‘Are you happy with the European Union?’ you may get double digits of unhappiness, but if you ask, ‘Do you want out of the European Union?’ then of course you have an overwhelming majority that want to stay. “There is unhappiness with regard to the very complex process in Brussels that is mostly incomprehensible to an average citizen, but on the other hand, everybody in Bulgaria felt the benefit of the membership through the financial support which the country gets through the cohesion funds and different EU programs,” she added. She also said that EU membership has required Bulgaria and other fledgling democracies to focus on good governance. “What Brussels wants is for Bulgaria and any other member state to deliver on rule of law, transparency and efficiency, and these are all requirements that at the end of the day benefit the Bulgarians,” Poptodorova said. Bulgaria also achieved a much higher visibility on Capitol Hill during Poptodorova’s tenure in Washington. Rep. Joe Wilson, a South Carolina Republican who is perhaps best known for shouting “you lie!” at President Barack Obama during his 2009 State of the Union speech, also created the House Bulgaria Caucus. The caucus has hosted members of Congress on fact-finding missions to Bulgaria and generally promoted U.S.-Bulgarian relations, with an emphasis on fighting terrorism. NATO and the U.S. military have hosted many joint military exercises with Bulgaria. “For over 100 years, interrupted by tragic periods of totalitarianism, the United States has enjoyed diplomatic relations

Photo: StAte dePARtMent

from left, Ambassador of Bulgaria elena Poptodorova, Secretary of State John Kerry, u.S. Ambassador to Bulgaria Marcie Ries and Bulgarian foreign Minister daniel Mitov walk past St. george church during Kerry’s visit to Bulgaria in 2015.

with Bulgaria,” Wilson says on the caucus website. “Bulgaria is a thriving democracy which recognizes the importance of furthering freedom throughout the world. By sending over 400 troops to Iraq to rebuild the country and train security forces, Bulgaria is playing an important role in helping the Iraqi people. Also with a contingent in Afghanistan, Bulgaria is a strategic ally that is helping to rebuild this nation and defeat terrorism.”

WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT subscriptions are available for home delivery

subscribe subscribe subscribe ❏ 1 Year 12 issues - $29

Turning the interview to more personal subjects, Poptodorova said she enjoyed being one of only about two dozen female ambassadors of about 180 in Washington. She said she always viewed being a woman as an asset in the world of diplomacy, not a liability. “It helps because I think there is so much focus now placed on women and the higher visibility of women, so I believe there is this instinctive appreciation of a woman in these po-

Introducing the New

App

Finally, DC has a real-time, easy-to-use, informative and integrated “one stop” app that uniquely focuses on the activities, dining, shopping, arts and entertainment experiences that energize the DC area’s most vibrant neighborhoods.

❏ 2 Years 24 issues - $49

Name ________________________________________________________________ Company Name_________________________________________________________ Street _______________________________________________________________ City ____________________________________________________________________ State _______________________________ Zip Code __________________________ Telephone: Day ____________________ Evening ____________________________ Method of payment: Visa

MasterCard

Money Order Amex

Check

Credit Card Exp. Date:

Billing Address _________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ CVN: ________________ Name on Card ___________________________ Signature__________________________ Send check or money order to: THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT P.O. Box 1345 Silver Spring s MD s 20915 For credit card or delivery outside the continental United States, call (301) 933-3552.

6 | THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT | JUNE 2016

Whether you live here or are visiting, this is the app for you!

Peer pressure. Young men today face some tough choices. Photo: State Department

Ambassador of Bulgaria Elena Poptodorova and Secretary of State John Kerry admire the frescoes on St. George Church, an early Christian rotunda considered the oldest building in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia.

sitions,” she said. “Empowerment of women is a big topic, a big thing. I never found it was a negative here.” She also provided an update on her husband, Georgi Petrov, who suffered a brain stroke shortly before she took the ambassadorship in the early 2000s. “He was half-paralyzed and had lost speech and comprehension,” she recalled. “It was not good at all but he has recovered to the extent possible. He’s autonomous now; the paralysis went away slowly. Our time [in the U.S.] impacted him positively. There still is a challenge and at the beginning it was frustrating, but I think he found a very receptive environment here. Everybody was so nice. People here try to help you.”

In closing, Poptodorova said the United States can always count on Bulgaria’s friendship. “Different governments may have different measures of intensity of relations with the U.S. … but I am positive that there will be no Bulgarian government that will publicly or declaratively distance themselves from the U.S. or possibly shrink this relationship or damage it,” she said. “It is understood that relations with the United States matter tremendously, in the European context and the transatlantic context.” WD Michael Coleman (@michaelcoleman) is a contributing writer for The Washington Diplomat.

These are some of the decisions these young men made: Arizona State University, North Carolina State University, James Madison University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, University of Illinois, Indiana State University, The Citadel, Washington and Lee University, University of Tampa, University of Virginia, Penn State University, University of Notre Dame, HampdenSydney College, Texas A & M, University of Colorado, Boston University Typical kids, outstanding results. See if Fork Union Military Academy is the right college preparatory boarding school for your son in grades 7–12. Attend one of our Washington, DC area admissions fairs. Go to http://www.ForkUnionOpenHouse.com WR ¿QG WKH QH[W RQH LQ WKH northern Virginia/Washington DC area.

Fork Union Military Academy Success stories begin here. www.forkunion.com

��rna�� n�g � a glo�l �as��m With over 60 different nationalities, an experienced international staff, a global network of peers, and highly personalized learning, British International School of Washington is an ideal choice for students interested in the IB Diploma. With top scores among the best 2% in the world, our students have been accepted to leading universities and colleges around the world. Learn more at BISWashington.org

2001 Wisconsin Ave NW | Washington, DC 20007 202.829.3700 | www.BISWashington.org www.naejuilliard.school/BISWashington

THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT | JUNE 2016 | 7

WD | Middle East

Pretense of Peace? Afghan President Distances Himself from Fruitless Talks with Taliban by Justin Salhani and Anna Gawel

eace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban may be over. To some, they never really began. Despite making the talks a foreign policy priority, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani seems to be backing away from diplomacy in favor of a tougher military-focused approach, for the first time labeling the Taliban “terrorists,” a term he had studiously avoided before. Coming to some sort of accommodation with the Taliban after 15 years of war has been an elusive, many say quixotic, goal. Back-channel negotiations proceeded in fits and starts under former Afghan President Hamid Karzai, yielding no tangible results other than further alienating Afghanistan’s mercurial leader from the United States. Karzai accused Washington of undercutting him in his dealings with the Taliban; a two-year effort led by the U.S. and Germany to open peace talks in Qatar collapsed within days of the Taliban opening an office there after Karzai lashed out at what he perceived to be attempts by the group to establish a government in exile. Hopes were high that when Ghani came into office in 2014, the former World Bank technocrat and finance minister could get the moribund peace process back on track and improve relations with Afghanistan’s nemesis, Pakistan, which is accused of harboring Taliban fighters. With a drawdown of U.S. troops coming at the end of the year, Ghani has said that Afghanistan’s best hope for lasting stability is to revive stalled peace talks with the Taliban — and the key to that is getting Pakistan on board. But intermittent attacks that killed hundreds of Afghan civilians throughout 2015 derailed Ghani’s rapprochement on both fronts. Despite initial optimism, some experts say peace talks with the Taliban were doomed to fail given the group’s irreconcilable differences with the West. “The idea that you can end [hostilities] on a grand bargain with the Taliban was so naïve from the beginning,” Marvin G. Weinbaum, a former Pakistan and Afghanistan analyst at the State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research, told The Diplomat. “The Taliban’s vision is so existentially different it is impossible to imagine [what kind of deal would make them settle.]” From 1996 to 2001, the Islamic fundamentalist movement imposed a strict interpretation of Sharia law in Afghanistan that, among other things, brutally repressed women and opposed democracy. Today, in return for coming to the negotiating table, the Taliban has demanded the removal of all foreign forces from Afghanistan, the release of all its members from prison and for the United Nations to remove them from a blacklist — all nonstarters for Afghanistan’s Western partners. Moreover, the group remains fractured by infighting and it is unclear who speaks for whom. Some experts also say that any Taliban overtures are merely a smokescreen to allow insurgents to consolidate territory and power. Both Kabul and Washington also question Islamabad’s commitment to brokering peace talks. Pakistan’s security services have long been accused of providing proxy support to the Taliban in their bid to prevent geopolitical archrival India from gaining influence in Afghanistan. Hopes were high in January when Afghan and

8 | THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT | JUNE 2016

Photo: State Department

Secretary of State John Kerry sits with Afghan presidential candidates Abdullah Abdullah, left, and Ashraf Ghani, right, at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul on July 12, 2014, after he helped broker an agreement on a technical and political plan to resolve the disputed outcome of the election between them. Ghani took office later that year pledging in part to engage the Taliban in peace talks.

Pakistani delegations met with representatives from Despite Ghani’s initial courtship, the relationship China and the United States as part of the Quadri- between the two governments grew increasingly lateral Coordination Group to try and chart out a strained as Pakistan failed to bring the Taliban to neplan for peace talks. But months of inactivity and gotiations without preconditions. Islamabad counlethal attacks — including a truck bombing in April ters that its people have borne the brunt of extremist that killed over 60 people and violence and that it has waged a wounded nearly 350 in Kabul — costly offensive in its ungoverned have soured the likelihood that an tribal areas to flush out militants. agreement will be reached anytime Weinbaum, who is now with soon. April’s bombing was linked the Middle East Institute, notes to the Taliban-allied Haqqani netthat Pakistan does not wield as work based in Pakistan, according much influence over the Taliban to Afghan intelligence. as it is sometimes given credit Relations between Pakistan and for. Indeed, whether the Taliban Afghanistan remain tense, at best. is serious about peace talks after The two share a 1,500-mile-long years of mixed messages is a matborder called the Durand Line. ter of fierce debate. The group’s Kabul doesn’t recognize the interleadership has often showed little national border though, instead interest in, or outright disdain claiming the Pashtun territories for, negotiations while continuin Pakistan as well as the North ing operations in northern and Marvin G. Weinbaum West Frontier Province. Certain southern Afghanistan. tribal affiliations also transcend In a Foreign Policy piece from former Pakistan and the man-made borders. “People February, Weinbaum argued that Afghanistan analyst at the on both sides of the Durand Line the Taliban’s steady gains on the State Department’s Bureau consider it a soft border,” Husain battlefield have increased its leof Intelligence and Research Haqqani, Pakistan’s then-ambasverage in peace talks. sador to Washington, told the “Negotiating and fighting siCouncil on Foreign Relations (CFR) in 2007. multaneously is a time-honored strategy,” he wrote. Historically, the neighboring countries have “But when the strategy is taken from a position of meddled in each other’s affairs. Each has offered growing weakness, it is more likely to be used to sanctuary to the others’ political opponents. “Af- stave off defeat than to facilitate compromise. The ghanistan sheltered Baloch nationalists in the 1970s Taliban easily interprets the eagerness of the Kabul while Pakistan extended refuge and training to the government and its international backers to begin mujahadeen in the 1980s and then later supported talks as evidence of their desperation.” the Afghani Taliban,” wrote CFR’s Jayshree Bajoria Yet there is also significant disagreement between in 2009. members of the Taliban. Weinbaum detailed the

“

The idea that you can end [hostilities] on a grand bargain with the Taliban was so naïve from the beginning.

”

Photo: DoD / Glenn Fawcett

Afghan soldiers line up to welcome Defense Secretary Ash Carter as he arrives at the presidential palace to meet with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in Kabul on Feb. 21, 2015.

chaotic inner workings behind the group’s decision to pull out of talks last year. “Discussions with the Taliban broke off in early July when Afghan sources revealed that the insurgency’s spiritual leader, Mullah Omar, had been dead for two years,” Weinbaum wrote. “It was with Omar’s supposed blessing that Mullah Akhtar Mansour, his second-in-command, participated in the Pakistan-hosted July meeting. Mansour’s cover-up of Omar’s death reportedly angered many within the Taliban’s senior command, and his self-appointment as successor brought about challenges to his leadership, including those from his chief rival Mullah Mohammad Rasool. A harried Mansour then backed out of a second

round of talks.” After continuous false starts, Ghani drew a line in the sand. He said he did not expect negotiations to continue and that his unity government would step up attacks against insurgents. “We do not expect Pakistan to deliver the Taliban for negotiations,” Ghani told Afghanistan’s Parliament last month. He demanded Pakistan act as a “responsible government” and deal with the Taliban on its soil to prevent further attacks. If it didn’t, he warned that Afghanistan would bring the issue to the U.N. Security Council. Also in May, Ghani ordered the hanging See Afghanistan • page 47

Th e Bedroom

B�� , S�� W�� D.C. L�� S�� ’� ��. C�� S��’� “�� ” �� , �� .

��.��.��

www.rma.edu

540-636-5484 THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT | JUNE 2016 | 9

WD | United States

TPP Limbo Trans-Pacific Partnership Enters Final Push in U.S. Election Year by Karin Zeitvogel

n April, three U.S. dairy organizations sent a letter to Congress urging lawmakers to back the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP — the free trade accord signed two months earlier by 12 countries that together represent around 40 percent of the global economy and a third of world trade. The dairy organizations said the agreement would create tens of thousands of jobs in their industry alone and could help to “support the continued growth of a robust U.S. dairy industry.” In other words, they were saying the TPP is great for milk and cheese. But there are others who say it’s as foul as spoiled milk and cheese. The agreement, which is said to be the most comprehensive (and longest) trade deal ever put together, took more than five years to negotiate. But its signing on Feb. 4 did not mean that it is now in force on either side of the Pacific. The signing ceremony in Auckland, New Zealand, simply signaled that the negotiation phase was over, New Zealand Trade Minister Todd McClay said. Now comes the hard bit as all 12 countries that signed the agreement — Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam — “begin their respective domestic ratification processes,” McClay explained. They have two years to do that “before the agreement enters into force,” he added. If the way he said that makes you think that the TPP will come into force even if it is not ratified by all 12 signatories, you would be right. All 12 ratifying within two years would be the easiest way for the TPP to come into effect — it would do so two months after the last country OKs the deal. But the more plausible scenario is that all 12 will not ratify, which you might think means the deal is dead in the water. It doesn’t. If at least half the signatories ratify, and if the combined economies of those six or more countries are worth at least 85 percent of the cumulative GDP of all 12 TPP signatories, the TPP will take effect. Based on a World Bank tally of GDPs of countries around the world (the information was updated in April 2016 but is from 2014), the combined GDP of all 12 TPP signatories is $28 trillion. More than $17.4 trillion of that, or 62 percent, is generated by the United States. Eightyfive percent of the cumulative GDP is $23.8 trillion, so clearly the United States has to ratify the TPP for the deal to have a chance to take effect. The path of least resistance for TPP, other than all 12 countries ratifying, would be for the United States, Japan ($4.6 trillion GDP), Canada ($1.8 trillion) and any three other countries to ratify. If,

10 | THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT | JUNE 2016

Photo: State Department

Secretary of State John Kerry and U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman, second from right, settle in before participating in a meeting about the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) held on the margins of an APEC meeting in Bali, Indonesia, on Oct. 8, 2013. After years of negotiations, the TPP is now awaiting formal ratification by Congress.

“

If at least half the signatories ratify the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and if the combined economies of those six or more countries are worth at least 85 percent of the cumulative GDP of all 12 TPP signatories, the TPP will take effect.

however, the United States does not ratify the deal, all the other 11 countries would have to do so in order to fulfill the 85 percent requirement. If the second-biggest economy in the TPP, Japan, and the biggest, the U.S., do not ratify the deal, the TPP is sunk.

Salvaging a Historic Accord President Barack Obama hopes that last scenario doesn’t happen. In an opinion piece published in the Washington Post in May, Obama said the TPP would strengthen the U.S. economy and national security; give “private firms … a fair shot at competing against state-owned enterprises”; keep the internet free and open; and “level the playing field by setting the highest enforceable standards and by removing barriers to selling our goods overseas — including the elimination of more than 18,000 taxes that other countries put on products made in America.” This includes products ranging from beef

”

to financial services to automobiles. “Simply put, once the TPP is in place, American businesses will export more of what they make. And that means supporting more higher-paying jobs,” Obama concluded. Other supporters, especially those in the business community, have echoed the president’s position that the TPP would give the United States an important economic foothold in the fastest-growing region in the world, where China is pursuing its own trade agreements with Asian neighbors. Politically, the deal could serve as a counterweight to China’s growing clout in the region as part of the president’s strategic pivot of resources to Asia (Beijing is not a party to the pact, although it could feasibly join it down the line). Obama also points out that the TPP is the “highest-standard trade agreement in history.” He says it contains strong, enforceable labor rules that allow the formation of unions and collective bargaining, as well as provisions that address child labor, strengthen intellectual prop-

erty protections and curb illegal fishing and wildlife trafficking. In addition, the TPP could remove tariff and red tape barriers that prevent many small and midsize American businesses from branching out into Asia, where governments have been historically protective of their domestic markets. TPP advocates in other nations also cite the potential economic boost there. In an opinion piece published in the Japan Times in November last year, Yuriko Koike, former defense minister and national security adviser to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, said the TPP is “vital to achieve economic liberalization — the third arrow of ‘Abenomics,’ the government’s program to revitalize the country’s ailing economy.” For example, the deal will make the price of sukiyaki and beef noodle soup fall dramatically, when lower tariffs on beef kick in, Koike said. Import duty on beef will fall from its current rate of 38.5 percent to 27.5 percent during the first year that the TPP is in effect, and eventually to 9 percent in the agreement’s 16th year — a long time to wait for cheap sukiyaki, but probably worth it if you like that kind of thing. “The legislation to enact the TPP will simply push aside the lobbies and vested interests that have been so effective in slowing down or diverting piecemeal reforms,” she said.

Raw Deal But opponents of the TPP accuse

òëîĮíîòĮðëëë ¯ª{ Ú ¼Ó¯£Ó¯ĝ|¯©

S ĺapÀ ª Æ¯ªĺ ¼ pĸÀ

#G1=7 S# ĺ 1 J

Photo: Agricultural Research Service / USDA

An American Hereford cattle is inspected for ticks. Many U.S. beef companies say the Trans-Pacific Partnership would help them export more beef to countries in the Pacific and Asia, where tariffs can be as high as 50 percent.

vested interests and lobbies of back-door maneuvering to create a sweeping, byzantine trade pact that will line the pockets of big business while stealing jobs from bluecollar workers and eroding critical environmental and consumer protections. There is widespread opposition to the deal not only in the United States, but also in Japan, Australia, Mexico and elsewhere. Canada’s new international trade minister, Chrystia Freeland, said that although she would travel to New Zealand to sign the deal, it was not certain to be ratified by Canada’s Parliament. “Only a majority vote in our Parliament can allow the agreement to take force,” Freeland said in an open letter posted on the Global Affairs Canada website just days before the TPP was signed. “Signing is simply a technical step in the process.” Indeed, there are a lot of Canadians, Japanese and Americans — including everyone still in the running for the presidency and both Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill — who are adamantly against the deal. Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton had glowingly positive things to say about the TPP when she was secretary of state but changed her tune during a debate in February with her rival for the Democratic Party nomination, Bernie Sanders, according to Pulitzer Prize-winning website PolitiFact. com. In 2012, Clinton said the TPP “sets the gold standard in trade agreements to open free, transparent, fair trade, the kind of environment that has the rule of law and a level playing field.” In the February debate, she said she opposed the accord because it “failed to provide the basic safety net support that American workers need in order to be able to compete and win in the global economy.” Sanders has a document posted on his Senate website that starts with the sentence: “The Trans-Pacific Partnership is a disastrous trade agreement.” The Vermont senator says that under the TPP, U.S. jobs will be lost, the price of pharmaceutical medicines will go up, Wall Street will become richer and ordinary people will get poorer in a “global race to the bottom.” Republican nominee Donald Trump said at a debate in November that the TPP was a “horrible deal” that was “designed for China to come in, as they always do, through the back door and totally take advantage of everyone.” Apparently, he was unaware that China is not one of the 12 countries that signed the TPP.

Crossing Finish Line Even if all the pushback to the deal is overcome, ratification in the United States will take time, Kelsey Snell wrote in the Washington Post. First, there’s a 90-day waiting period after the White House formally notified Congress of intent to sign the agreement. That happened on Nov. 5 last year. During the first 30 days of the waiting period, lawmakers reviewed the documents and were able to consult with the administration. In the next 60 days, there was a public access period during which interest groups could comment on the deal. That 60-day period ended right around the time that the deal was signed. After that, the U.S. International Trade Commission began a full economic review of the deal. It had 105 days to complete the review. According to our calculations, that deadline came up in mid-May. When the “implementing bill is introduced in the House and the Senate, Congress has a maximum of 90 days to approve or disapprove the trade deal but can move much more quickly,” Snell wrote. If our counting is correct, that would mean that the TPP could be signed, sealed and delivered — by the United States, at least — by the end of the summer, if everything goes smoothly and there are no obstacles. But, of course, this is Washington, which, even if the U.S. were not in the middle of a marathon presidential campaign, is particularly partisan and divided. Even traditionally business-friendly Republicans on the Hill — who teamed up with Obama to grant him fast-track authority last year to help push the deal through Congress — have been decidedly lukewarm about handing Obama such a major legislative victory. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who has previously spoken positively about the TPP, said he has “some problems” with the deal. In an interview with Agri-Pulse, an agriculture-focused newsletter, McConnell said the TPP was unlikely to succeed if it were brought before Congress this year. The Kentucky Republican said he felt the deal “did not treat tobacco fairly and I think the substance of the agreement also did not treat the pharmaceutical industry fairly,” although he did not go into detail on either point, and there are many who would disagree with him. (Health advocates have warned that the TPP, which extends intellectual property rights on drug See tpp • page 45

S¯¹ĺ »Ê ¹¹ ĺÔ Æ ĺÆ¼ ©ĺ »Ê ¹© ªÆĺ£ Ó £ĺNÊ©©Ê©Ę ¹£¯©pÆĺGp| p ĺŜĺf ª Ê©ĺGp| p w 1 pÆ ¼ĺW¹ ¯£ÀÆ ¼Ú w ìóĶĺ ££¯Úĺa £À w 8pÓ pÆ ¯ª w ÆÚĺNp ÆÚ w G¯Ô ¼ĺ ¼ Ó ¼ĺN pÆĺÔĤĺ© ©¯¼Úĺ w " ĺG ¼ ¯¼©pª| ĺ7Ê£Æ © p ĺĺN 8NWN

w Gp¼ ĺ ÀÀ ÀÆĺĪ ¼¯ªÆĺŜĺ¼ p¼ī w Gp¼ ĺ ÀÀ ÀÆĺ p© ¼p w / Úĺ1 ÀÀĺ ¼ Ó w G¯Ô ¼ĺSp £ pÆ w G¯Ô ¼ĺ £pÀÀĺNÊª¼¯¯ w 7 Æp££ |ĺ|¯£¯Ê¼ w Ŝ ©Ê| ĺ©¯¼ ĝĝĝ

Ľîìĺóôí S=S 1ĺ #G1=7 SĺN `#8 ė

Ľñĺëðî

ìíîìĺaĺ ¼¯p ĺNÆ¼ Æ p££Àĺ Ê¼| Ęĺ` ĺííëïñ THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT | JUNE 2016 | 11

WD | Europe

Tough Neighborhood Regional Hostilities Unnerve Georgia as Ex-Soviet Republic Turns 25 by Larry Luxner

his spring, Georgia’s 3.8 million people mark a quarter-century of independence from the Soviet Union — and 98 years since their forefathers established the short-lived Democratic Republic of Georgia in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution of 1917. In fact, the Georgian Embassy in Washington has a lavish “Regaining Georgia’s Independence” reception planned for June 8. But not everyone back home is in the mood to party. Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and while the violence in Ukraine has died down, the former Soviet satellite remains bitterly divided. Fighting also recently flared anew between two of Georgia’s neighbors — Armenia and Azerbaijan — threatening the stability of the entire Caucasus region. And Russia, which invaded Georgia in 2008 and still occupies two of its provinces, continues a barrage of propaganda against its tiny neighbor, raising alarms that history might at some point repeat itself. Within Georgia itself, human rights organizations claim that the government now in power tries to silence its critics through intimidation, censorship and harassment of opposition politicians and media outlets. Voters are also increasingly dissatisfied with the governing party and the direction of the country. Meanwhile, even though Georgia saw its GDP grow by 3.5 percent last year, the drop in oil prices draining Russia’s once-booming economy has hurt the Georgian economy as well. And as if all that’s not enough, Georgia’s currency, the lari, has lost 30 percent of its value relative to the dollar since November 2014. Archil Gegeshidze, Georgia’s ambassador to the United States, said adversity is nothing new for his country. “During Soviet times, Georgia ranked second only to Estonia in living standards and was far above all the other Soviet republics,” he told us. “When the U.S.S.R. collapsed, we had to adjust to the new reality, which took time and resources. We had to overcome the artificial hurdles which Russia imposed on us, because Georgia was the first to demand independence — even before the Baltics did — so we were severely punished by the then-Soviet leadership.” In 1989, massive pro-independence demonstrations rocked the streets of Tbilisi, the Georgian capital. Soviet troops fired on the protesters, and 20 people died in the ensuing violence. Anti-Moscow sentiment then spread to the three Baltic states, with similar protests breaking out in Lithuania in early 1990. “Gorbachev’s perestroika couldn’t hide it,” said Gegeshidze, referring to Mikhail Gorbachev, the reform-minded leader who presided over his country’s eventual collapse. “The Soviet elite was very angry at the Georgians, who had started this independence movement, and that’s why post-Soviet Russia — run by the same elite — began to punish Georgia. “We live in such a complex environment, with Russia breathing down our necks, and without any meaningful natural resources or oil or gas to export,” the ambassador continued. “But we do have the will to improve governance and decision-making, and build a knowledge-based economy. That makes us really distinct in the region.”

12 | THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT | JUNE 2016

Georgian soldiers join U.S. Marines during a patrol near Helmand province in Afghanistan on Nov. 7, 2013. Georgia, a strong U.S. military ally, recently participated in a joint U.S. training exercise under the auspices of NATO, which Tbilisi is pushing to join despite Russia’s objections.

Photo: DoD / Cpl. Paul Peterson

“

We live in such a complex environment, with Russia breathing down our necks, and without any meaningful natural resources or oil or gas to export…. But we do have the will to improve governance and decision-making, and build a knowledge-based economy. That makes us really distinct in the region. Archil Gegeshidze ambassador of Georgia to the United States

Gegeshidze, 59, was an academic before replacing his predecessor, Temuri Yakobashvili, in Washington. He worked at a Tbilisi think tank, the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, and notes that he’s never belonged to a political party. By coincidence, Gegeshidze presented his White House credentials along with four other ambassadors on April 15, 2013 — the same day Chechen terrorists attacked the Boston Marathon with pressure-cooker bombs, killing three people and injuring over 260. “Ours is a true brotherly relationship between a big superpower and a small country,” he said. “Our relationship with the United States is based on shared values and interests, and we feel the U.S. truly cares about our independence and sovereignty.” Gegeshidze spoke to The Washington Diplomat at length during a recent interview at the Georgian Embassy, housed in an R Street mansion off Dupont Circle.

”

Photo: Larry Luxner

The country Gegeshidze represents traces its history back nearly 3,000 years and is less than half as big or populous as the U.S. state that shares its name. “We adopted Christianity in the fourth century — earlier than the Russians, the Germans, the French, the Danes or the Norwegians. That’s why we consider ourselves part of Western civilization, because we share the same basic religion with the Western world,” Gegeshidze said, adding that, “Jews first came to Georgia five centuries before Christ. For 26 centuries, Georgians and Jews have been living peacefully, and not a single pogrom or case of oppression has ever taken place. We are very proud of that.” Gegeshidze is also understandably proud of his country’s rich tradition of winemaking — the country boasts 500 varieties of grapes and its own unique way of crushing them — as well as Georgia’s distinctive polyphonic folk music and its unique alphabet, which is unlike any other in the world. Less admirable is another Georgian legacy: Joseph

Stalin, the communist dictator who ruled the U.S.S.R. from the mid-1920s until 1953, and whose brutal purges and forced industrialization of Soviet agriculture led to the starvation of millions of people. Yet it was another native son, Eduard Shevardnadze, who as Soviet foreign minister during the Gorbachev era helped negotiate détente with the United States as well as several landmark nuclear arms treaties. He also opposed the 1989 Soviet crackdown in Georgia and resigned the following year with a warning that “dictatorship is coming.” In November 1995, Shevardnadze became the first president of Georgia five years after the Soviet Union’s formal dissolution. “If you wanted to survive [during Soviet times], you had to adjust and play by the rules of the game,” Gegeshidze explained. “But in the meantime, you had to be smart enough to preserve your very unique culture. In 1978, when [Communist Party leader Leonid] Brezhnev wanted to revisit the constitution and make Russian the official language of all 15 Soviet republics, it was the Georgians who protested. Then the Armenians followed. We eventually managed to keep Georgian as the official language, but we had to live with the reality that this was a most brutal regime.” From Tbilisi’s point of view, the brutality continues to this day. Only eight years ago, Georgia fought a brief but bloody war with Russia, losing control over two disputed territories in the process: Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Georgia received $4 billion in postwar assistance, including $1 billion from the U.S. government. “It was a very brief war, with several hundred casualties on both sides. But Russia now occupies 20 percent of our territory, while in Ukraine’s case, the Crimea and Donbass constitute just 7 percent of Ukrainian territory,” the ambassador said. “It’s a

priceless loss for Georgia. This was one of the most unfortunate consequences of the 2008 war.” Besides Russia, only three countries now recognize the two breakaway republics: Venezuela, Nicaragua and Nauru. “We are constantly spending our diplomatic resources and urging our friends here in the U.S. to prevent other countries from recognizing the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia,” said Gegeshidze, noting that his country has yet to restore diplomatic ties with Russia that were broken in 2008. However, Yakobashvili, the man Gegeshidze replaced as ambassador, counters that Georgia’s ruling government hasn’t done enough to raise the alarm about Abkhazia and South Ossetia — and he isn’t happy about the way things have gone back home since he gave up his post following the last elections. “The previous government had a very active non-recognition policy, and we had serious allies including the U.S. and Europe,” he told The Diplomat. “Nobody’s interested in redrawing the world map. Unfortunately, the current Georgian government has abandoned talks about Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and this is a very good time to talk about it.” Yakobashvili, who now runs his own Washington-based think tank — the New International Leadership Institute — says he wishes the current government in Tbilisi would be “more pro-active” than it is now. “We are entering a lame-duck period, and the [Obama] administration is not keen on having a very active foreign policy. Nevertheless, it’s the job of every country’s representative here to elevate their issues as much as possible,” he said. “What’s disturbing to me is that in my time as ambassador, See Georgia • page 44

C H

CARILLON HOUSE APARTMENTS

Superb apartments, and fully furnished corporate housing, panoramic views in an excellent location…Situated in the prestigious Glover Park and Upper Georgetown neighborhood you are within a block of excellent shopping, fine dining, entertainment, and public transportation. Enjoy the beautiful breathtaking view of the sunset from the Roof deck. You work hard… You deserve the best… You deserve a home at Carillon House. Call today to meet with one of our professional leasing representatives and enjoy a lifestyle available at the distinguished Carillon House.

Efficiency

Studio

FEATURES & AMENITIES

1 Bedroom

           

Fully Furnished Corporate Housing All Utilities Included in Rent Complimentary High Speed Internet 24 Hour Front Desk Service 24 Hours Maintenance Service Business Center Fitness Center Club Room with Modern Kitchen Laundry Facility Rood deck with Breathtaking View Metro Accessible Close to Shopping, Dining, Entertainment

2500 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington DC 20007 (202) 337-4400 | www.carillonhouse.com

A Brand New Scene For DC, Steps From Embassy Row www.gloverparkhotel.com

THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT | JUNE 2016 | 13

SAHOURI INSURANCE. AUTO | PROPERTY | HEALTH | STUDENTS

Insurance for Embassies and Missions since 1970. We are proud to be the largest insurance broker for Embassies and Diplomatic Missions in the U.S.

“Our philosophy is to improve your existing coverage and save you money. If we can’t accomplish both, then we don’t deserve your business.” Fuad M. Sahouri - CEO

diplomat@sahouri.com | www.embassyinsurance.com | 703.883.0500 NEW YORK : 646.490.2840 | WASHINGTON DC: 703.883.0500 | TEXAS: 281.661.8410

14 | THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT | JUNE 2016

WD | Cover Profile

Belgium’s Bad Rap? Envoy Says Belgium Gets ‘Unfair’ Blame for Terrorism in Wake of Brussels Attacks by Larry Luxner

elgium, a prosperous little kingdom that rarely makes headlines, lately has been grabbing lots of them — for all the wrong reasons. Ever since March 22, when Islamic State suicide bombers killed 32 people and wounded 340 others in twin attacks at Brussels Airport and the city’s metro system, commentators have trashed the Belgian government — and more specifically its disjointed security apparatus — for not taking the terrorist threat seriously enough. Some critics have even called Belgium a “dysfunctional divided country” that suffers from “linguistic apartheid,” while others have labeled it a prosperous yet failed state à la Iraq or Syria. “The bomb attacks in Belgium offer new evidence of its security forces’ shortcomings in monitoring violent Islamist radicals, a failure that has allowed this country at the heart of Europe to become an incubator of terror,” warned a Washington Post story published the day after the attacks. “For more than a year, terrorist plot after terrorist plot has been tied back to Belgium. How did this tiny nation become ground zero?” the Daily Beast demanded to know in an article headlined “Belgium Is Europe’s Terror Hotbed.” Johan Verbeke, the country’s ambassador to the United States, thinks these barbs are unfair and exaggerated. In a recent interview, Verbeke said he refuses to be put on the defensive. “Not getting headlines means you’re doing very well. Of course, when such a major event happens, it’s normal that the press gets interested, but the tendency is always there to sensationalize the news,” he said. “We are quite willing to have a discussion on the facts and figures — the merits of the case, the weak spots and the strong spots — but not the kinds of clichés we’ve been facing.” Verbeke, whose son was near the scene of the subway attack when it happened but was not hurt, said Belgium’s 11 million citizens showed “resilience” following the worst tragedy to strike his country since World War II — in much the way that France soldiered on after the same Islamic State terrorist network massacred 130 people in Paris last November (an attack largely orchestrated by jihadists in Belgium). The evening after the attacks, hundreds of people gathered at Place de la Bourse for a candlelight vigil whose theme quickly became “Je suis Bruxelles (I am Brussels)” — in a scene reminiscent of the solidarity shown in Paris after the Charlie Hebdo attacks in 2015. “At that vigil, there was no desperation, no panic, no drama — on the contrary, there was a lot of respectful stoicism and a strong determination not to let ourselves be intimidated by a bunch of terrorists,” Verbeke said. “On day two, we went back to work, and the children went back to school. Intimidation is not in our vocabulary.” By coincidence, Verbeke had just arrived from Brussels the night before the attack — and had seen for himself the heavy security at the city’s international airport. He was at his desk at the Belgian Embassy in Washington on Tuesday when news broke of the twin suicide bombings at the Delta Air Lines counter and near a Starbucks airport shop at 7:58 a.m. local time, and then on the metro only 75 minutes later. “We were not totally surprised, because we knew there was a terrorist network active from before the Paris attacks,” he said. “Our investigations had started in late 2012, so we expected that something would happen.”

Photo: Lawrence Ruggeri of Ruggeriphoto.com

“

[T]here was no desperation, no panic, no drama — on the contrary, there was a lot of respectful stoicism and a strong determination not to let ourselves be intimidated by a bunch of terrorists…. Intimidation is not in our vocabulary. Johan Verbeke

”

ambassador of Belgium to the United States

Verbeke said his government sent 55 terrorists to prison in 2014, 117 in 2015 and 209 just in the first three months of 2016. “This is tangible proof that we didn’t discover terrorism just after the Brussels attack,” he said. In fact, the ambassador insists that the attacks took place when they did “not due to the failure of our investigations and law enforcement, but because of our success.” The assault happened a few days after Belgian police captured Salah Abdeslam, the only suspect in the Paris attacks believed to have survived. Investigators speculate that Abdeslam’s arrest and subsequent interrogation may have pressured the Belgian terror cell to launch the Brussels attacks. Verbeke also noted that Arab terrorists had originally planned to attack the Euro 2016 soccer tournament in France this summer. “Those guys knew we

were closing in on them.”

Mistakes, Misunderstandings and Mistrust Still, it’s hard to explain away nonsensical rules like the one that prevented Belgian police from raiding a flat where they believed Abdeslam to be hiding out because of a penal code that prohibited raids between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. unless a crime is in progress (the code has since been amended). Nor is it really logical that Brussels — a city of 1 million — should have six police forces, each answering to a different mayor. Or, for that matter, why an order to close the Brussels subway after the airport was bombed never made it to the right people because federal police apparently sent it to the wrong email address (though authorities say a shut-down would not have prevented the blast). To many outsiders, Belgium is riven by division and dysfunction. The country has three Parliaments and three official languages: French, Dutch and German. The Brussels region alone has 19 municipalities. Ethnic rivalries and political gridlock gave Belgians the ignominious distinction of going without a functioning government for a record 541 days. After the Brussels attacks, Dutch-speaking Flemish nationalists promptly accused their French-speaking Walloon opponents of being soft on radicalism. Likewise, the country’s overlapping labyrinth of local and federal police services is plagued by internecine turf battles, arcane rules, years of budget cuts and a lack of coordination. As a result, Belgium’s overwhelmed and undermanned security forces have struggled to keep track of hundreds of potential jihadists who traveled to Iraq and Syria. (The month before the Brussels See Belgu im • page 16 THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT | JUNE 2016 | 15

Belguim Continued • page 15

attacks, the Belgian government had pledged to double police and intelligence spending, to nearly $450 million, and recruit an additional 1,000 officers by 2019.) Those troubles are compounded by the fact that while many European nations share open borders, their security agencies are reluctant to share information with one another. Intelligence is often jealously guarded, cross-border coordination is haphazard and professionalism among different security agencies runs the gamut. That contrasts with the U.S., which spent vast sums of money after 9/11 to improve its security infrastructure. “But the same cannot be said for our Continental cousins,” wrote Dartmouth College’s Daniel Benjamin in a March 22 Politico analysis titled “Is America Next?” He noted that Belgium is “an especially sad case” of bureaucratic turf wars. “Deeply riven by political conflicts between its Flemings and Walloons over political reform, the country was distracted by a domestic political crisis that ran on and off from 2007 to 2011,” Benjamin wrote. “During much of this time, there was only a caretaker government, and the Belgians’ inability to improve their counterterrorism capabilities was a running frustration for U.S. officials.” As the headquarters of both the European Union and NATO, Brussels is often considered the world’s second-most important capital after Washington. That also makes it an obvious target for jihadists opposed to everything the West stands for; it was no coincidence that the

16 | THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT | JUNE 2016

Photo: CIA World Factbook

Antwerp’s City Hall (Stadhuis) was built between 1561 and 1565 and displays both Flemish and Italian architectural influences. Belgium is largely split between a Dutch-speaking Flemish community located in the northern Flanders region, and a French-speaking population in Wallonia in the south, with some German speakers in the east.

train blast took place at the Maelbeek metro station, only a short walk from several top EU institutions. Seventeen of the dead were Belgian nationals; the rest were foreign nationals. Yet the death toll could have been far higher. Initially, the bombers had wanted to take more explosives to the airport but the suitcase wouldn’t fit in their cab. A powerful third bomb at the airport and another at the subway apparently weren’t detonated. And as the Wall Street Journal reported May 12, a much worse tragedy was averted mainly because the suitcase bomb

being pushed on a luggage cart by the second suicide bomber, Najim Laachraoui, fell off its cart and exploded upward, blunting much of the deadly force. The first bomb was set off by Ibrahim el-Bakraoui, 29. He and his 27-yearold brother Khalid were convicted carjackers and bank robbers who later became radicalized by the Islamic State. The Wall Street Journal also credits “solid police work” shortly before the attacks. “On March 21, the day before the Brussels attacks, Belgian prosecutors put out a wanted notice for Laachraoui after finding evidence that he

had been in safe houses used by the Paris attackers,” said the newspaper. “One person familiar with the case said Laachraoui might have been pressured to commit suicide in the attack on the Brussels airport once his cover was blown.” Yet Belgian security authorities also appear to have missed several clues as they hunted for terrorists in their midst. In the most glaring example, the Washington Post reported the day after the attacks, Belgian officials apparently knew that Ibrahim el-Bakraoui had entered Turkey with the apparent intent of joining Islamic State militants in Syria — he was even stopped by Turkish officials and deported to the Netherlands — yet neither country acted on that information. In addition, Laachraoui reportedly concocted the explosives used in both the Brussels and Paris attacks. “His DNA was found on explosives detonated in the November assault in Paris,” said the Post. “That suggests that Laachraoui had managed not only to elude capture in recent months but also to operate on Belgian soil” — for nearly four and a half months after Belgian authorities realized that the Paris attacks had been plotted mainly out of Molenbeek, a working-class neighborhood of Brussels that is considered a breeding ground for violent young jihadists (it was also home to one of the attackers in the 2004 Madrid train bombings and to the perpetrators of several other high-profile attacks).

Epicenter of Terror For years, in fact, Molenbeek was considered a no-go zone by police forces, who largely left Muslim residents to their own devices in an effort to keep the peace. Peter R. Neumann, director of the International Center for the Study of Radicalization and Political Violence

at King’s College London, told the New York Times that authorities and mainstream MusBelgium at a glance lim groups long ago abandoned Molenbeek “with an informal pact, that ‘as long as we don’t National Day July 21 Unemployment 8.6 percent (2015 estimate) see you, we won’t bother you.’” (1831 – ascension to the throne of King leopold i) Many European countries, in fact, have Population below poverty line 15.1 percent Location western europe, bordering the north (2013 estimate) grappled with ways to integrate disenfranSea, between france and the netherlands chised Muslim communities, which arrived in Industries engineering and metal products, Europe during a postwar industrial boom only Capital Brussels motor vehicle assembly, transportation equipment, scientific instruments, processed to have their children face bleak job prospects Population 11.3 million (July 2015 estimate) food and beverages, chemicals, base metals, and alienation. These second- and third-genEthnic groups flemish 58 percent, textiles, glass, petroleum eration immigrants often live in poorer, isolatwalloon 31 percent, mixed or other 11 percent ed enclaves known as ghettos — unlike in the GDP (purchasing power parity) $494 billion U.S., where Muslims tend to be more educated NOTE: every effort is made to assure your ad is free of mistakes in spelling and (2015Although estimate) and well-off. content it is ultimately up to the customer to make the final proof. And unlike the U.S. — which also has the GDP per-capita (PPP) $44,100 (2015 estimate) National flag luxury of an ocean separating it from the warGDP growth 1.3 percent (2015 estimate) ciA woRld fActBooK of Belguim cost to the advertiser, subsequent changes torn Middle East — Europe has had thousandsThe first two faxed changes will be made at noSouRce: of its citizens travel to Syria and Iraq to join will be billed at a rate of $75 per faxed alteration. Signed ads are considered approved. extremist groups. Much has been made of the fact that between tremePlease violence. He was a star. ” ad carefully.were also connections with Sweden. ” check this Mark any changes to your ad. Verbeke concedes that Belgium has had a 450 and 500 Islamic State fighters in Iraq and Verbeke added that the flood of Syrian Syria have come from Belgium. That’s more refugees fleeing to Europe has little to do with problem integrating North Africans into its If the terrorism ad is correct sign and to: (301) needsculture, changes for several reathan any other EU state on a per-capita basis, in Belgium, sincefax those behind 949-0065 the multilingual, Western Photo: Ben2 - own woRK / cc BY-SA 3.0 wiKiMediA coMMonS according to published reports. In per-capita Brussels attacks were neither Syrians nor refu- sons. the town hall (hôtel de ville de Bruxelles) in Brussels The Washington Diplomat Moroccans (301) “First, we had an organization known as Shterms, the only countries that sent more forgees, but French-speaking who933-3552 had has historically housed the city’s municipal authoriaria4Belgium that was a very aggressive propa- ties. the Brussels region alone has 19 municipalities eign fighters to the Islamic State in 2015 were been born and raised in Belgium. Jordan, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Bosnia and Her“Th__________________________________________________________ ose Moroccans now involved with the ganda machine,” he explained. “They were the and the city has six police forces. Approved zegovina, Kosovo, Turkmenistan and Albania terrorist attacks are second-, third-, fourth- main source of recruitment of young people. ___________________________________________________________ — all countries with Muslim majorities. Changes generation Belgians, educated in the Belgian This organization was dismantled in early 2015 Verbeke, 64, is no stranger to Arab culture. ___________________________________________________________________ In Belgium, by comparison, Muslims make system. The brothers, fathers and mothers of a and all of them are in prison. It was a spectacu- His first overseas posting, two years after enup around 9 percent of the population. lot of these terrorists have gone public, plead- lar trial. The second factor is the ‘pull factor’ tering the Belgian diplomatic service in 1981, “That’s not nothing, but it’s not half the coun- ing with them to stop. You can’t say these Mus- where the internet stories written by people in was to Beirut. Nearly 27 years later — followtry either,” Verbeke pointed out. “The commu- lims as a whole are rotten. There are just some Syria seduced some people to make the trip. ing assignments in Burundi, Chile, New York, nity, as such, is rather well integrated, and the rotten apples in the community, and even then, A third factor is the problem of integration in Washington and back to Brussels — he reresult of our de-radicalization programs is that they are criminals — and criminals you can some of these communities.” turned to Beirut as the United Nations special He added: “Most of these terrorists have coordinator for Lebanon, but left after a few today you have only one-third the number of find anywhere.” fighters leaving Belgium for Syria or Iraq than The ambassador added: “No country is im- criminal pasts. So it’s not really terrorism that’s months because of concerns about his safety. a year ago. De-radicalization is something we mune to these events. This is a European, if not breeding there, but criminality. You put some Verbeke served as Belgium’s ambassador to had been working on well before the attacks. a worldwide, challenge. Many of the guys we Salafism and Wahhabism into the mix and you the United Kingdom from 2010 until coming In fact, the mayor of Vilvoorde was welcomed have now identified had links with people in get a terrorist. And sometimes it takes only two See Belgu im • PAge 44 at the White House summit on countering ex- Germany, the U.K., Holland and Italy. There or three months to radicalize them.”

Hard Drive Shredding • Data Destruction • Incineration

DATA KILLERS PROVIDES NATIONWIDE, COMPLIANT ON-SITE AND OFF-SITE DATA DESTRUCTION • Data Killers is the destruction arm of Turtle Wings, Inc., an ISO certified, R2 and E-Stewards Certified, HUBZoned company holding multiple GSA contracts. • We service businesses, government, military, non-profit organizations and residents • We can shred any type of hardware or media including hard drives, tapes, cell phones, and all data storage media (10mm, 20mm and 30mm shred sizes available) • Our services also include certified destruction services for classified data, 2mm SSD hard drive and media disintegration and product/paper incineration services

For more information or a destruction quote contact our office at 301-583-8399 or visit www.DATAKILLERS.com We provide on-site hard drive shredding to 10mm nationwide! THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT | JUNE 2016 | 17

WD | United States

Otherworldly Relations NASA Chief Says 21st-Century Space Is About Cooperation, Not Competition by Justin Salhani and Anna Gawel

hina and Russia may not be America’s preferred partners when international relations are at play, but both countries have proven invaluable allies when it comes to issues slightly out of this world — in space. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is not only behind the first steps mankind took on the moon, but it is also behind a number of “giant steps here on Earth,” according to NASA Administrator Charles F. Bolden Jr. NASA’s use of “soft and smart power” has led to myriad international partnerships between the United States and a number of other countries, including Russia and China, which in many foreign policy arenas are considered rivals or antagonists. But in space collaboration, the United States can take “global leadership by example and action,” said Bolden, a former astronaut and retired major general in the Marine Corps who spoke at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in late April. When the United States landed on the moon in 1969, it did so almost entirely on its own, according to Bolden. Future forays into space, however, will require cooperation and coordination among many countries. Bolden, who was nominated by President Obama to head the U.S. space agency in 2009, quoted the president when he stressed that NASA “will not only extend humanity’s reach into space, we will strengthen America’s leadership here on Earth.” Bolden said Obama has set a goal for NASA to reach Mars by the 2030s and land on an asteroid by 2025. To do that, “it does not make sense for one country to build every instrument, launch every satellite or conduct every research experiment,” Bolden said, noting that NASA has roughly 700 agreements with more than 120 international partners. Japan, China, Germany and India are just some of the major economic powers contributing to the study and observation of the planet. Bolden said that “all sides of the political spectrum” are represented. In particular, he cited the diplomatic benefits of the International Space Station (ISS), a microgravity lab launched in 2000 that has an international crew of six people who orbit the Earth every 90 minutes. “Today, a child who is 15 years old or younger has lived every day of his or her life while human beings from multiple countries are living and working together in space aboard the International Space Station,” Bolden pointed out. “Tens of thousands of people from across 15 countries have been involved in its operation. Astronauts from 18 countries have spent time on board. It has hosted 1,700 investigations from researchers in more than 83 countries.” He added: “I truly believe it ought to be considered for the Nobel Peace Prize.” Bolden noted that American astronaut Scott Kelly and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko recently returned from a year of living together on board the ISS. “This at a time when sometimes

18 | THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT | JUNE 2016

Photo: NASA

A bright sunrise greets the International Space Station in this scene from the Russian section of the orbital outpost.

“

We are no longer in a space race against each other. Rather, we’re traveling together as a human race that’s looking to expand the outer bounds of human possibility and progress. Charles F. Bolden Jr. NASA administrator

”

the relationship between their two home countries back here on Earth presented incredible challenges.” “[The U.S. shares] a common mission with Russia,” Bolden told the CSIS crowd. “Both [American and Russian] leaders have a belief in the critical importance of the International Space Station.” Bolden said that cooperation can be traced back to the height of the Cold War with the launch of the Apollo Soyuz, the first joint U.S.Soviet space flight in 1975 that served as a symbol of détente between the two superpowers. Bolden, who traveled to space four times between 1986 and 1994, said the Apollo Soyuz mission represented the type of confidence-building measures that could be applied to China today, another economic and geopolitical rival that is seen as a potential ally for NASA.

However, the Marine Corps veteran was careful to distinguish between military and civilian space cooperation. On the military front, the Pentagon remains wary of Beijing’s ambitious space program, which could challenge America’s uncontested dominance in space and result in a new era of modern warfare — one that targets satellites responsible for guiding bombs and spying on adversaries. On the civilian front, Bolden said China is a “potential partner.” He noted, for instance, that NASA already works with the Chinese on analyzing the glacial makeup of the Himalayas and researching the causes of earthquakes. He said the mere act of reaching out to potential space partners might alleviate tensions in other areas. “Having spent 34 years in the Marine Corps, I can’t think of a nation that we haven’t talked to. We talk to some pretty bad people from time to time because we have to … sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t,” he said. “But I think that if you talk to anybody in the military, most of them will tell you that engagement always beats isolation.” As NASA collaborates with more nations, “the pool of stakeholders expands, creating a powerful source of stability,” Bolden said. “The International Space Station is one of many examples of working with other countries.” In addition, the NASA administrator outlined the practical applications of space technology, ranging from home insulation to GPS satellite navigation (though, Bolden quipped, NASA is not responsible for the development of two iconic products often credited to the agency: Velcro See NASA • page 20

WD | Medical

Stealthy Killer Half of Heart Attacks Might Be ‘Silent’ by Steven Reinberg

Without typical symptoms, many miss out on crucial medical care, experts say

s many as half of all heart attacks may be “silent” — without the typical crushing chest pain, shortness of breath and cold sweats, new study findings suggest. Among nearly 9,500 Americans included in the study, 45 percent of all heart attacks were silent, investigators found. And, the study authors said, these silent heart attacks triple the odds of dying from heart disease. “Silent heart attacks are almost as common as heart attacks with symptoms and just as bad,” said senior study author Dr. Elsayed Soliman. He is director of the epidemiological cardiology research center at Wake Forest School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, N.C. Heart attacks reduce or stop blood flow to the heart muscle. Because silent heart attacks often go undiagnosed, people don’t get the medical care needed to prevent another heart attack, or even death, the study authors explained. Symptoms of a silent heart attack are so mild they’re barely noticed, if at all, Soliman said. Most are discovered accidentally, with damage showing up on an electrocardiogram (EKG) given during a regular exam or before surgery, he said. According to Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum, director of women’s heart health at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, “When heart attacks are silent, people are less likely to get treatment. And that’s been a problem with women. Symptoms are sometimes more subtle than the crushing chest pain.” Although silent heart attacks are more common among men, they are deadlier for women and perhaps black people, the study findings indicated. Steinbaum, who was not involved with the study, said that people should not dismiss symptoms such as fatigue, nausea or shortness of breath that occur when exercising or running errands but that go away when resting. “These subtle symptoms might be your heart and should not be ignored — you should seek out a doctor’s care,” she said. “I tell all women that you need to take a close look at your risk factors for heart disease,” Steinbaum added. The researchers said there were too few black patients in the study to know for certain if they fared worse than whites, although it appears that way. A patient who has had a silent heart attack must be treated aggressively, Soliman said. Treatment includes controlling high blood pressure and cholesterol, and possibly modifying behavior. Lifestyle changes include eating healthier, exercising, losing weight and stopping smoking. It’s the same prescription for heart attacks with and without symptoms, Soliman said. Patients who have a little chest pain plus risk factors for heart attacks — such as high blood pressure, obesity or diabetes — should have an EKG “not only to see if they have had a heart attack, but also for prevention of outcomes that can happen later,” he advised.

“

Photo: hriana / Fotolia

Silent heart attacks are almost as common as heart attacks with symptoms and just as bad.

”

Dr. Elsayed Soliman

director of the epidemiological cardiology research center at Wake Forest School of Medicine

Findings of a prior heart attack should not be taken lightly, Soliman added. For the study, Soliman and his colleagues collected data on middle-age men and women who took part in a study assessing the causes and outcomes of hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis). It was conducted in four U.S. communities. Over roughly nine years of follow-up, 317 participants had silent heart attacks and 386 had heart attacks with classic symptoms. Deaths were tracked for more than 20 years. The researchers accounted for factors such as smoking, weight, diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol. They also took into account income and education, which could affect access to care.

LEARN MORE: For more information, visit the American Heart Association at www.heart.org. The investigators found that risk of death from all causes increased 34 percent after a silent heart attack. Dr. Andrew Freeman, director of clinical cardiology at National Jewish Health in Denver, said, “I don’t think that people really understood the incidence of silent heart attack.” Freeman is also a spokesman for the American College of Cardiology. “In a country where the diet and exercise patterns are not ideal, there may be a lot of folks we may never come in contact with who may have this problem,” he said. Freeman suggested that doctors need to put more effort into prevention. “Doctors spend very little time talking to patients about diet and exercise,” he said. “Every doctor visit should have some component of prevention.” The report was published online May 16 in the journal Circulation. WD Steven Reinberg is a HealthDay News reporter. Copyright © 2016 HealthDay. All rights reserved. THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT | JUNE 2016 | 19

The Washington Diplomat has more than

120,000

influential readers.*

Photo: nASA

Advertise in The Washington Diplomat

301.933.3552 Make sure the publication you spend your advertising dollars in is audited.

www.washdiplomat.com * Based on a September 2013 audit by CVC.

Kibō (which is Japanese for “hope”) is the largest single module on the international Space Station and is used to carry out research in space medicine, biology and other areas.

NASA continued • PAge 18

and Tang). NASA-developed technology “has not only sent us stunning pictures of places like Mars and Pluto, it beamed nightly television into our homes and improves the eyeglasses many of us like me wear,” Bolden explained. “Technologies we developed to recycle wastewater aboard the International Space Station are being put to use to provide our global neighbors in remote parts of Asia and South and Central America with clean drinking water, not to mention some parts of our own country.” Among the other technologies that

Visit Jordan & The Holy Land

have found their way into the private sector are machines that listen for beating hearts below rubble and portable ultrasound machines that evaluate ailments and are used in remote regions where doctors aren’t always available. Bolden said NASA is working with other governments to develop their respective space programs, “talking with nations that are just beginning to understand how space exploration might have a profound benefit on their citizens’ daily lives.” But as space programs grow and more countries send their astronauts into orbit, the more crowded space becomes. “Space is on the verge of being more contested, congested and competitive,” Bolden said, adding that NASA is workSee nasa • PAge 45

Rich Culture

Religious History

Visit the crown jewel of the Middle East, the Kingdom of Jordan. One of the most hospitable countries in the world, Jordan is home to one of the wonders of the world at Petra. Walk in the footsteps of Moses at Mount Nebo or see the site where Jesus was said to be baptized at Al-Maghtas. Camp with Bedouins in the vast valley of Wadi Rum, where you’ll enjoy traditional Jordanian food and dancing. Experience the stunning waters of Aqaba, which features unrivaled scuba diving and some of the most striking coral reefs in the world. Visit us as part of a biblical tour of the holy land: Jafa, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Nazareth, Tiberias and Bethlehem. Conde Nast calls Jordan “one of the world’s must-see sights.” At Azure Tours we have spent decades giving tourists, groups and conference organizers the trip of a lifetime in the Kingdom. Whether you want to tour ancient or religious sites, embark on an adventure, enjoy a unique family get-away or organize a conference, we have the knowledge to help you experience the best of Jordan.

Call us at: 011 962 6 566 8970 • 011 962 79 552 6206 www.azure-tours.com • munther.twal@azure-tours.com

20 | THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT | JUNE 2016

Extreme Sports

Beautiful Resorts

Luxury Living A Special Section of The Washington Diplomat

•

June 2016

Brittany Clark, left, and erika Surma, co-owners of rev pilates gym, exercise on a ripSurfer x — a 70-inch board that simulates a surfboard. photo: andrea Serio

Summer Shape-Up Intense Fitness Classes Prepare Bodies for Warmer Weather • By Stephanie kanowitZ

t’s June. That means two things: Summertime is here and 80 percent of us who made New Year’s resolutions to get ﬁt are, well, not meeting the mark. Studies show that most of us throw in the gym towel on resolutions within a few months — a move we’re likely regretting as the humidity grows and the hem lines shrink. It’s not too late, though, to get in shape for the smaller summer ensembles — we’re looking especially hard at you, swimsuits. We surveyed three classes at boutique gyms that pack a lot of power into an hour or less, zapping calories while strengthening muscles and pushing cardio. Whether you’ll be riding the waves in Costa Rica, creating your own Tour de France or just lounging on a Tahitian beach, these classes will get you ready.

SurFSet FitneSS at rev pilateS gym Whether you’ll be riding the waves or not this summer, this

45-minute class promises to tone the entire body. Participants stand on a specially designed surfboard called the RipSurfer X — a 70-inch board that balances on three Bosu-like balls. Straps hold it in place, but they can be adjusted to make the board less stable as class members’ abilities advance. REV Pilates, which opened late last year, offers two types of SURFSET classes. The Blend class incorporates more cardio and can burn up to 900 calories in one session, while Balance is heavy on yoga poses and holding positions, co-owner Erika See SUMMER • page 22

photo: CrimSon Sparrow photography

THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT | juNE 2016 | 21

Summer Continued • page 21

“

We recommend twice a week to see significant changes in your body, but our riders tell us the physical and mental strength they feel as a result can be instantaneous.

”

Surma said. During a recent Blend class, five participants copied Surma Gabby Etrog Cohen as she warmed the group up with simple, low-to-the-board senior vice president of public relations poses such as child’s pose, plank and brand strategy at SoulCycle and downward dog — all made more challenging by the conThe class has no signature moves bestant wobbling of the board. The cause the exercises change all the time, idea is that participants have to von Storch said. “We don’t want your use their core muscles — abbody to get accustomed to any particudominals and obliques, for inlar rhythm because that’s how you build stance — to keep their bodies better muscle mass and cardiovascular steady. health,” he explained. Surma got hearts pumpStill, participants can count on doing with a series that included ing sprints and endurance work on the hopping up and over the board cycles each time. “On the floor we tend and with a yoga-like set that into work on strength, so it’s not ‘do as volved lying stomach-down on many as you can in 30 seconds’ — it’s ‘do the board, extending the arms 10 slowly in the next 30 seconds,’” von in front of you and moving Storch said. them as if free-style swimming. Participants can wear a MYZONE From there the group pushed up heart monitor, which provides real-time into a plank and then up into a Photo: Greg Powers feedback about their workouts. The data triangle pose-like position facis broadcast on a screen in the studio ing to one side and lifting one SweatBox offers 50-minute high-intensity classes that burn 800 to 1,000 calories and can also be arm up. Then it’s back to plank by rotating through cycling, XT suspension training straps and free weights. downloaded to and the simulated swim. SURFSET is a relatively new workout. Founded by professional hockey a smartphone so improvement can be tracked over SweatBox player and recreational surfer Mike Hartwick, SURFSET got a boost from time. “When you’re in the studio and you’ve got the 1612 U St., NW “Shark Tank” investor Mark Cuban in 2012. Now classes are offered world- belt on, you can see how everybody in the class is sweatboxdc.com wide. “Shark Tank” is an ABC show that gives everyday entrepreneurs a performing relative to their maximum, so it’s a re$39 for a single class, ally great group/competitive experience, ” von Storch chance to pitch their ideas to investors. $204 for six classes, But SURFSET is still relatively sparse in the D.C. said. SweatBox is built on the premise of “quantifiable $229 a month for unlimited classes area. REV Pilates co-owner Brittany Clark says SURFSET Fitness results and quantifiable effort,” he added. The belts that’s partly because people are wary of hopping on at REV Pilates Gym provide the former; color-coded bikes fulfill the latthe unstable boards. 10621-E Braddock Road “It looks intimidating to a lot of people, but it’s ter. They’re outfitted with LED screens that change color based on the level Fairfax, Va. not. It’s very approachable. Once you get over that of output from the rider. The darkened studio also changes color when the revpilatesgym.com initial fear of it and just try it, you’d be surprised at SweatBoss shifts from cycle to straps to the floor. $20 each class, 10 for $175, Classes are open to riders of all abilities. To be summer-ready, von Storch how good you are at it,” Clark said. “I notice chang$159 for a monthly membership es within a single class. From the minute you step recommends taking the classes three times a week for six weeks. on the board, you’re very wobbly. By the end of the class, you’re in control of the board.” Although the studio’s schedule states that the class is open to all ability SoulCycle’s SoulSurvivor levels, Surma said that’s not completely true. Put the pedal to the medal at SoulCycle’s SoulSurvivor class. The chain, “If somebody walks in here and they’ve which focuses exclusively on group never worked out before, I will never reccycling, celebrated its 10th anniverommend SURFSET, especially if they’re sary in April, and SoulSurvivor has older,” she said. “Anybody in their senior been one of its offerings from the years or anyone with osteoporosis, osbeginning. It’s 60 minutes long — 15 teopenia, I wouldn’t recommend it” bemore than a typical class — giving cause of the reliance on balance. riders just a little extra exercise push. Surma and Clark say that although On a recent Saturday morning, participants feel improvements after instructor Chris Pepe had an almost the first class, it takes about six weeks of full house at the Georgetown studio, training to see a difference. which boasts nearly 60 bikes. Riders set up their bikes — with his assistance, as needed — and then he SweatBox turned down the lights and cranked David von Storch opened this 1,725up the music. The class doesn’t hold square-foot studio last month to offer back, incorporating sprints and 50-minute high-intensity classes that heavier resistance levels to keep those burn 800 to 1,000 calories a pop by roquads, hamstrings, glutes and calves tating through cycling, XT suspension guessing. With a slight turn of the rePhoto: SoulCycle training straps and free weights. (With sistance knob, riders can control their SoulCycle, which focuses exclusively on group cycling, celebrated its 10th the straps, exercisers use their own body anniversary in April. intensity. weight to build strength.) The space About three-quarters of the way holds 23 participants, each of whom has through the class, the legs slow and their own “box,” a raised platform stocked with their riders grab light free weights tucked into baskets under SoulCycle’s class props. their seats. For the next five minutes, they work their SoulSurvivor “SweatBox is a boutique fitness studio that combiceps, triceps, shoulders and chests. This is something bines cardio and high-intensity interval training to that helps set SoulCycle apart because cycling classes at Multiple locations in the area get you cardiovascular strength, flexibility and carmost big-box chains don’t include upper-body moves. soul-cycle.com diovascular health,” said von Storch, who also owns Open to all ability levels, SoulCycle participants can $30 for one class, $145 for five classes, VIDA Fitness. “It’s a studio that allows you to get all burn between 500 and 700 calories in 45 minutes. “We $280 for 10, $540 for 20, $780 for 30 three, and we do that by using a [Matrix IC7 Coach recommend twice a week to see significant changes in by Color] bike, our cycling cycle; XT Trainer straps, your body, but our riders tell us the physical and mental which is like TRX; and free weights. Our concept is everybody in the stu- strength they feel as a result can be instantaneous,” said Gabby Etrog Cohen, dio has their own station — their own bikes, their own straps, their own senior vice president of public relations and brand strategy at SoulCycle. WD weights — and the SweatBoss, as we call them, coaches everybody at the Stephanie Kanowitz is a contributing writer for The Washington Diplomat. same time through a 50-minute session.” 22 | THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT | june 2016

SIDEBAR

Sticking to Your Routine on the Go

ummertime means travel time. But exercise and vacation don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Even if you’re not headed to a locale known for heart-pumping adventure — zip-lining in Costa Rica, diving in Australia or hiking in Peru, for example — you don’t have to undo all your hard work by letting your body completely off the hook. After all, aerobic fitness starts to decline after 10 to 14 days of little physical activity, according to a Washington Post article. To stay in shape while on the go, try these tips from Destinee Smith, a FlyBarre instructor at Flywheel Sports’s Dupont Circle location. Triceps on a plane From a seated position, hold a full water bottle, extend both arms overhead and grasp the bottle evenly with both hands. Next, pull your biceps close to your ears, point your elbows up so that your forearms are parallel to the ceiling and lock your shoulders in place. Extend from your elbows, pulling the bottle above the crown of your head and dropping your thumbs toward the floor behind you repeatedly for two to three minutes. Shoulders on a plane Also in a seated position, extend your arms out to the sides as if creating a wide V toward the front of the plane. Pulse your thumbs up with each motion for two to three minutes. Thighs on a plane

Sit with your torso upright and keep your weight evenly distributed. Lift one leg and pulse your knee up toward your shoulder without letting it tap back down. Try not to lean into your supporting hip. Tap your thigh up for three to four minutes and then repeat

A FlyBarre instructor rides a stationary bike.

Photo: Flywheel/Flybarre

with the other leg. Hamstrings in your hotel room From a table-top position, with palms under or slightly wider than shoulder-width, place a full water bottle behind your left knee. With a strong flex in your foot, keep your knee at hip height and press your heel up as if stamping footprints on the ceiling for three to four minutes and then repeat with your right leg.

FEEL AT HOME IN AS LITTLE AS 48 HOURS

Abdominals in your hotel room Lie on the floor and place a pillow between your ankles. Raise your legs so that your knees are over your hips and shins are parallel to the ceiling. Start with your hands behind your head and curl your shoulder blades off the floor and lift as if you’re tapping your forehead on the ceiling (not toward your knees) repeatedly for four minutes. Transition to lower abdominals by putting your hands under your tailbone and extending your legs away from your belly as if you were going to lie flat on the floor, but hover your legs off the ground by squeezing the pillow. Keeping your legs straight, lift and lower them for four minutes without letting your pillow fall or your feet drop. — Stephanie Kanowitz

CORT brings comfort and quality to your new home without the cost (or hassle) that comes with purchasing. And, it is a sustainable way to furnish one room or your entire home—quickly. With CORT Furniture Rental, you get: Your choice of thousands of high-quality furniture pieces delivered in a few days A sustainable alternative to transporting containers from home No upfront purchasing costs and zero maintenance, repair, storage or disposal costs Flexible terms – as short as one month Accessories for every room: kitchen, bed, bath, ofﬁce, electronics and even outdoor living spaces

Browse hundreds of pieces in our online catalog at go.cort.com/embassy or visit a nearby location.

THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT | June 2016 | 23

WD | Special Section

HOTEL GUIDE

Sofitel Washington DC Lafayette Square

) %$) $ , $+ ) $ *%$

5) 453&&5 /8 8"4)*/(50/ %$ 888 40'*5&-8"4)*/(50/%$ $0. t

RESIDENCE OF THE PRESIDENTS

t SPPNT BOE TVJUFT

/ " "% * %$ )* &) (%# ) , ( " # )) ) $ * %( *%-$ $ %( %% / )& %+) (%%#) - * +& *% )'+ ( * / (%%#) - * )*+$$ $ , -) % * * %$ " "" / ( $ $ -

)'+ ( %%* ""(%%# - * $ *+( " " * / +"" ) (, )* $ * %$ ( )* +( $* / * * % * (* .*$ )) $* (

t 'JWF NFFUJOH SPPNT CBMMSPPN XJUI QSJWBUF FOUSZ t J$J 6SCBO #JTUSP BOE -F #BS t 4P'JU TUBUF PG UIF BSU รถUOFTT DFOUFS t $MFGT E 0S $PODJFSHF t 5XP CMPDLT GSPN UIF 8IJUF )PVTF

Contact: $BUFSJOH BOE 4BMFT %FQBSUNFOU

%$* * ) " ) "%, (& (! %* " %#

Promote your conference rooms, spa, ballrooms, catering services, restaurant, guest rooms

Your Hotel Here

or all of the above

$0/$&*3(& 8": 8"4)*/(50/ %$ 888 :063)05&- $0. t

PLE

M A S t OVNCFS PG HVFTU SPPNT t OVNCFS PG TVJUFT

t OVNCFS PG CBMMSPPNT PS FWFOU DPOGFSFODF PS NFFUJOH TQBDF t SFTUBVSBOUT t SFDSFBUJPOBM GFBUVSFT t QBSLJOH BUUSBDUJPOT PS PUIFS BNFOJUJFT

Contact: %FQBSUNFOU DPOUBDU JOGPSNBUJPO

:063 -0(0 )&3&

2 | |THE 24 THEWASHINGTON WASHINGTONDIPLOMAT DIPLOMAT | | 2015 june 2016

in the new monthly

DIPLOMAT HOTEL GUIDE. CALL ROD CARRASCO today to get started or for more details.

301.933.3552

Each ad measures 2.25โ x 5.5โ . Maximum of eight boxes per page.

Culture arts & entertainment art

•

diplomatic spouses

•

theater

•

photography

•

The Washington Diplomat

•

music

history

•

dining

•

film

•

June 2016 events

DIPLOMATIC SPOUSES

Master Multitasker An accomplished journalist and author, Huberta von Voss-Wittig is the wife of German Ambassador Peter Wittig, the mother of four children, ages 7 to 25, and the New York correspondent for a prestigious German fashion and lifestyle magazine. / PAGE 27

DANCE

Septime’s Swan Song Septime Webre, the dynamic artistic director of the Washington Ballet who’s been dubbed the “rock star of dance” in the nation’s capital, is bidding farewell to the company he transformed after 17 years. / PAGE 28

Andy Warhol’s 1967 print “Marilyn”

ART

Spanish ‘Optimism’ A new legion of artists is bringing illustration to the forefront of cutting-edge creativity, as seen in “Spanish Illustrators: The Color of Optimism.” / PAGE 29

POWER OF

The National Gallery of Art’s crowd-pleasing journey chronicling 300 years of American art through printmaking makes a big, memorable statement about the often-ignored medium. With more than 150 examples spanning the Colonial era to the present day,“Three Centuries of American Prints” offers a sharp illustration of the power of print. / PAGE 26

DINING

EVENTS

DIPLOMATIC SPOTLIGHT

We round up the new faces, menus and restaurants cranking up the heat this summer. / PAGE 32

Art / Festivals Music / Theater / PAGE 36

Embassy Golf Tournament / NMWA Gala Ambassador Insider Series / PAGE 38 THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT | JUNE 2016 | 25

WD | Culture | Art

Power of Print Three-Century Survey of American Prints Spotlights Neglected Medium •

BY MACKENZIE WEINGER

Three Centuries of American Prints from the National Gallery of Art THROUGH JULY 24 NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART LOCATED ON THE NATIONAL MALL BETWEEN 3RD AND 9TH STREETS AT CONSTITUTION AVENUE, NW

(202) 737-4215 | WWW.NGA.GOV WWW.NGA.GOV

he National Gallery of Art’s crowd-pleasing journey chronicling 300 years of American art through printmaking makes a big, memorable statement about the often-ignored medium. With more than 150 prints on display, the massive exhibition takes museum visitors from the Colonial era to the present day, drawing from the gallery’s wide-ranging collection of works on paper. With its emphasis on the format as a means to protest and call attention to injustice, “Three Centuries of American Prints from the National Gallery of Art” offers a sharp reminder to viewers of the power of print. It’s a dizzying exhibition in its depth and breadth, and one that Judith Brodie, curator and head of modern prints and drawings, told The Washington Diplomat she sees as a “kind of corrective” to the large survey shows that often neglect the medium. “They’re almost always told through the lens of painting, sculpture and architecture — and every once in a while they sort of put in a print,” Brodie said. “But prints are integral to the history of American art.” With so many images lining the walls, the show can feel overwhelming at times, but the thematic and chronological flow guides you through the striking collection with ease. Visitors start in a room dedicated to transatlantic exchange with Britain, where maps, portraits, early American landscapes and Paul Revere’s famous engraving, “The Bloody Massacre,” battle for attention. It’s a brilliant start to the show, highlighting the theme that prints serve as a forum for social commentary and revolution, as well as a cheap way for artists to deliver their particular vision of America and its future to the masses. PHOTO: NGA / © JASPER JOHNS / LICENSED BY VAGA, NEW YORK Visitors then travel through early 19th-century expansion and conflict to its later focus on aestheticism, with James McNeill Whistler’s “Nocturne” a highlight — its inking effects giving the piece a soft, diffused light that showcases the remarkable diversity in printmaking styles. Entering the 20th century with a dramatic transition to pieces inspired by European modern movements such as impression, fauvism and cubism, the prints beg viewers to take a closer look and concentrate on lines and shadow above all else. From New York City’s newfound wealth to the desperation of the Great Depression and wartime America, the exhibition winds through the 20th century and out of the emphasis on black and white to the explosion of color from the pop art movement. The final room takes on the more transient notion of “pluralism,” featuring works such as the Guerrilla Girls’ subversive lithograph “Do women have to be naked to get into the Met. Museum?”; Glenn Ligon’s “Untitled: Four Etchings [B]” repeating a line from Zora Neale Hurston’s essay “How It Feels to Be Colored Me”; and one of Jasper Johns’s famous interpretations of the American flag in his “Flags I” screenprint. “One of the really interesting themes of the show, and printmaking in general, is the use of print as a means to protest or call attention to injustice. You can trace it through this whole exhibition,” Amy Johnston, assistant curator of prints and drawings, said.

26 | THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT | JUNE 2016

PHOTOS: NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART

Among the 300 American prints on display at the National Gallery of Art are, from clockwise top, Robert Havell Jr’s “American White Pelican” (after John James Audubon); John Hill’s “View from Fishkill Looking to West Point” (after William Guy Wall); Louis Lozowick’s “New York” and Jasper Johns’s “Flags I.”

The National Gallery, currently celebrating its 75th anniversary, has collected American prints since it opened, making the medium a natural choice for a featured exhibition, Brodie noted. “One of the themes that we did very consciously consider was that along with the very famous artists such as James McNeill Whistler, Mary Cassatt and Winslow Homer and Andy Warhol and Ed Ruscha … there are these other wonderful artists who are not generally known. We really wanted to bring some of those artists to the fore,” Brodie said, pointing to Mabel Dwight and her comic lithograph “Queer Fish” as one of those gems. The curators were also fortuitously aided by impressive donations from private collectors and added pieces from the Corcoran Gallery that filled major gaps in their survey of American printmaking. “It’s quite an achievement that the exhibition is drawn from our permanent collection,” Johnston said. “Three Centuries of American Prints from the National Gallery of Art” puts print — and its inherent power — back in the spotlight. Catch the exhibition, which the gallery touts as “the first major museum survey of American prints in more than 30 years,” through July 24. It will then travel to the National Gallery in Prague and Antiguo Colegio de San Ildefonso in Mexico City. WD Mackenzie Weinger (@mweinger) is a contributing writer for The Washington Diplomat.

WD | Culture | Diplomatic Spouses

German Multitasking Journalist, Mother of Four Balances Work-Life Demands •

BY GAIL SCOTT

uberta von Voss-Wittig runs a tight ship. She has to if she wants to hit her deadlines while commuting to New York twice a week, helping her children with their homework and accompanying her husband to high-profile diplomatic functions. In between, she regularly walks, swims and operates on five hours of sleep, while sneaking in the occasional power nap. An accomplished journalist and author, Huberta von Voss-Wittig is the wife of German Ambassador Peter Wittig and the mother of four children, ages 7 to 25. She is currently the New York correspondent for ICON, a prestigious fashion and lifestyle supplement to Germany’s Sunday newspaper Welt am Sonntag. Her office is often a train compartment during her commute to New York. “I take the Acela and sit in the ‘quiet car.’ I try to get the window seat in the fifth row on the left side,” she said. “Often I finish my stories on my way.” After studying political science, history and French literature and language in Germany, she worked as a political correspondent for several daily newspapers. VossWittig also served as spokeswoman for the president of the German Bundestag, her country’s Parliament, and later as an expert on contemporary history, international politics and human rights for the Bundestag. Given her media and human rights background, it’s no surprise that Voss-Wittig knows how to make waves, even in the constrained circles of diplomacy. In 2012, while her husband was Germany’s U.N. representative in New York, she and Sheila Lyall Grant, wife of Britain’s top U.N. diplomat, urged Syria’s first lady to tackle the country’s violence in an online video that went viral. PHOTO: MATT MENDELSOHN FOR GERMAN EMBASSY “What happened to you Asma?” was just one of the provocative questions posed to Asma al-Assad, the glamorous wife of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whose country was mired bloodshed after he German Ambassador Peter Wittig and his wife, journalist Huberta von Voss-Wittig, met in Bonn. “It was a typical Bonn party — a journalist talking with a government official,” she joked. “We had crushed pro-democracy protests in 2011. The video said that while “some the same chemistry, passion about politics and culture.” women are for style,” others “have forgotten what they preached about peace,” calling for Asma to “stop her husband” and “stop being a bystander.” Following the video and as part of her other work, Voss-Wittig has ap- and now serves on the board of the Washington Ballet after she hosted the renowned local company for its annual ball last year at the German Residence. peared on CNN, BBC, Al Jazeera, ZDF and many other media outlets. The family has grown bigger since they took moved into the residence on “Women carry change; they are change-makers. As women we have a reFoxhall Road. They adopted a rescue puppy, Mikosponsibility not to harm, shame or blame. We sch, named after her first teddy bear. “We walk in the inspired a lot of women [with our video] but I morning on Garfield Street. It’s so wonderful to have didn’t do it to become an activist. I respect the a river and a forest in the neighborhood. I get up at lines between my husband and me. I don’t re5:30,” Voss-Wittig said. port on politics any more. I am here as a guest,” “We are a big family. We all love this house. It’s big Voss-Wittig explained. enough for us upstairs so that everyone can have their “My husband and I are a close-knit team,” she own room and we love the contemporary design,” she added. “We have a clear division of labor but said of the sleek, modern residence, designed by wellthere is nothing we don’t talk about. I wouldn’t known German architect O.M. Ungers. write my own memoir because I honor that Voss-Wittig invited us for a tour upstairs of their trust that we have. We are independents; we are private quarters, a tidy but cozy, lived-in space that not part of any party.” contrasts with the more formal downstairs, which is But a mutual affinity for politics initially filled with contemporary, museum-quality artwork. brought them together. The space is home to breathtaking photographs by “We met at a party in Bonn on the 11th of HUBERTA VON VOSS-WITTIG David Jay, a longtime fashion photographer whose November — 11/11,” she recalled. “It was the wife of German Ambassador Peter Wittig latest project is a series of arresting images that depict beginning of Carnival in Rhineland. He was in America’s wounded war heroes titled “The Unknown the Foreign Ministry. It was a typical Bonn parSoldier.” ty — a journalist talking with a government official. We had the same chemis“I really love America, ” Voss-Wittig noted. “I’m grateful for everything try, passion about politics and culture. Bonn has always been provincial, not a America does. ” huge city. It’s not a city of pretention. It is honest, not exciting but honest.” When asked if she has any tips for managing a busy work life and home life, The couple later moved to Berlin and most recently lived in New York while Voss-Wittig admitted, “The only trick I have is having a good au pair. If you Wittig served in the United Nations. They have also been posted in Lebanon and Cyprus. “In Beirut, I had a best friend who is now like a sister…. It’s quite have a bad one…” she paused and made a face. But Voss-Wittig considers herself a hands-on mom determined to spend complicated when you make friends,” Voss-Wittig said of the roving life of a quality time with her family despite their hectic schedules. diplomat. “It’s hard to have friendships. You have to move on.” “I like cooking myself. Our family gets together around food. We have a But the sacrifices are worth it. “You will be happy if you like doing your job. wonderful [executive embassy] chef and I want to support him. I wouldn’t You have to be passionate. “I make my own money,” she added proudly. “I started working early in my want him offended but I just like my own cooking — simple things, not a life and one thing led to another.” In addition to her writing, Voss-Wittig lends her time to various causes SEE DIPLOMATIC SPOUSES • PAGE 33

“

I make my own money. I started working early in my life and one thing led to another…. You will be happy if you like doing your job. You have to be passionate.

”

THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT | JUNE 2016 | 27

WD | Culture | Dance

Standing Ovation Washington Ballet Director Steps Down After 17-Year Tenure •

BY KARIN SUN

Septime Webre eptime Webre, the dynamic artistic director of the Washington Ballet, has announced his plans to leave the company after 17 years when his contract expires in June. Under his leadership, the Washington Ballet evolved from a sleepy, staid dance troupe to an incubator of innovation. In the process, Webre became a local celebrity — “the rock star of dance in the nation’s capital,” as the Washingtonian put it in a 2015 profile. The magazine noted that the Washington Ballet has grown leaps and bounds under Webre, who dramatically increased the company’s budget, spearheaded cutting-edge world premieres and expanded arts education for the city’s underprivileged youth. At the same time, the article pointed out that the Washington Ballet remains a relatively small outfit, buffeted by some of the same forces that plague many underfunded arts organizations. In the last days of his eventful 17-year tenure, Webre spoke to The Washington Diplomat about his years at the ballet, his proudest accomplishments and thorniest challenges, and what he hopes will be in store for the company after his departure. “I’ve been entertaining the idea of stepping down for a while,” Webre, who first announced his retirement from the company in February, told The Diplomat. The artistic director explained that his decision was motivated chiefly by a desire to spend more time focusing on creative projects and training. “In the last five or six years in particular, the administrative responsibilities of running a company, like fundraising and marketing, have really consumed a lot of my time,” Webre said. “I really want to spend the next few years, while I still have a lot of energy, on creating new ballets with other companies and working directly with dancers,” he added. “I’m a teacher at heart. I love working with young people.” Webre will have no shortage of opportunities lined up for him after he leaves his position in June. “I’m currently involved in staging productions from all around the world, as well as in D.C.,” he said. “These include works from Australia, Istanbul, Tel Aviv and all over the United States.” Webre also revealed that he will be working on a new Broadway show based on a major work of literature, although he declined to go into more detail about the project. “I’ve always had a special interest in theater,” he said. Many of his productions, in fact, possess a theatrical quality — from his original, fulllength take on “The Great Gatsby,” part of a series examining American literary masterworks, to Webre’s most recent creation, a rock ‘n’ roll tribute to pop icons David Bowie and Queen. company was a provincial 18-person ensemble with a Another recent endeavor was “Project relatively small budget of $2.8 million. Today, it boasts a Global,” a yearlong initiative to broaden the $12 million annual budget. Enrollment at the Washingcity’s appreciation of international culture, ton School of Ballet has also jumped from 325 students starting with Latin music and dance (also see to over 1,400 students. “Hot Ticket: ‘Latin Heat’ Expands Washing“In addition to the sheer growth of the institution, ton Ballet’s Diverse Repertoire” in the October I feel like the company has advanced in two areas in 2015 issue of The Washington Diplomat). particular,” Webre told The Diplomat when asked about Diversity has been a central theme of Wehis most significant accomplishments. bre’s work. Born in 1961 in New Orleans to a “First, our work in the community has been fantastic. French father and Cuban mother, Webre spent I feel so proud of the community engagement programs his childhood in an eclectic array of locations, we’ve launched like DanceDC and the Washington Balincluding the Bahamas, Sudan, Côte d’Ivoire let at THEARC. These programs have had a huge imand Brownsville, Texas. His family fled Cuba pact on training and bringing new dancers into the only two years before his birth, not long after company over the years.” Fidel Castro took power. The DanceDC and THEARC programs, along with PHOTO: MEDIA4ARTISTS / THEO KOSSENAS Webre remembers his multicultural upother community-based initiatives sponsored by the bringing fondly. “I grew up with acquired Cu- Japanese dancer Maki Onuki performs in the Washington ballet, have served over 75,000 children and adults in ban memories,” he told the Washington Post Ballet’s “Carmina Burana.” the D.C. area since their inception in 1999. The comin 2015. pany is also the only major American ballet company His Cuban roots and appreciation for diverse cultures have shaped the Wash- with a campus dedicated solely to the underserved community. THEARC, a ington Ballet, founded in 1944. The company has toured the world, including state-of-the-art complex located in the heart of crime-ridden Ward 8, serves as Webre’s native Cuba, and brought on a diverse cast to support Webre’s expansive the headquarters for the Washington Ballet’s outreach programs. vision. Two African American dancers were cast last year as the leads in “Swan “Secondly, I’m proud of the vast number of world premieres that we’ve had the Lake,” and the company’s dancers hail from over a dozen countries, including pleasure of being involved in over the years,” Webre continued. “Productions like Albania, Japan and, of course, Cuba. SEE WEBRE PAGE 35 When the energetic choreographer, now 54, first took the reigns in 1999, the

28 | THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT | JUNE 2016

PHOTO: DEAN ALEXANDER

WD | Culture | Art

Illustrating a Point New Generation of Spanish Artists Spreads ‘Color of Optimism’ •

BY KATE OCZYPOK

Spanish Illustrators: The Color of Optimism THROUGH JUNE 26 FORMER RESIDENCE OF THE AMBASSADOR OF SPAIN 2801 16TH ST., NW

(202) 728-2334 | WWW.SPAINCULTURE.US

hen considering Spanish art, names like Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí and movements like modernism and surrealism often come to mind. Illustration does not. But a new legion of Spanish artists is bringing illustration to the forefront of cutting-edge creativity, thanks in part to the spread of the internet and social media. This spring, delve deeper into the underappreciated world of illustrating at the former residence of Spanish ambassador — now the country’s cultural center in D.C. — with “Spanish Illustrators: The Color of Optimism.” The exhibit, curated by journalist Mario Suárez, features a generation of artists such as Ricardo Cavolo, Paula Bonet and Carla Fuentes, among others, whose work has appeared in publications, galleries, museums and other genres worldwide. At a press breakfast marking the opening of the exhibit, Suárez, a former lifestyle director for Rolling Stone magazine, said that illustration “is a part of art history.” “For many years, illustration was considered a low category of art, but this is not so,” he said, noting that while icons such as Picasso, Dalí and Francisco Goya have left an indelible mark on art history, today’s illustrators “are the inheritors of the new contemporary art in Spain.” Suárez went on to talk about how in the early 2000s, a group of groundbreaking illustrators emerged onto the scene and began a major international expansion. He cited the examples of Javier Mariscal and his Cubist-inspired sheepdog “Cobi” that served as the official mascot of the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, as well as Jordi Labanda and his stylish illustrations for the New York Times Sunday Magazine. The artists in the exhibit, like Ricardo Cavolo, have also made their mark on Spain and around the world. Cavolo’s career skyrocketed when Cirque du Soleil chose him to create a poster for one of its shows. Cavolo’s work has since appeared in Rolling Stone and he has has collaborated with worldwide brands in-

PHOTOS: SPAIN ARTS + CULTURE

From clockwise top, works by Santiago Morilla, Paco Roca, Ricardo Cavolo and Mikel Casal are featured in “Spanish Illustrators: The Color of Optimism.”

cluding Nike, Converse, Urban Outfitters and Dockers. While Cavolo was in town for the exhibit launch, he painted a mural at the Embassy of Spain that allowed Washingtonians to watch him live in action. Fellow exhibition artist Paula Bonet is the youngest in the show, at only 28 years old. She will also be on hand to paint a mural at the Spanish Embassy in May. Inspired by British painter David Hockney, Bonet’s work has been published in Japan, Australia and Mexico. Bonet’s voyeuristic illustration of a topless woman graces the cover of the 2016 Spanish Cultural Program catalogue. The attractive young woman stares directly at the viewer as an iceberg emerges from her bare, bluish torso. Other illustrations are similarly eye-catching and enigmatic. A jumbled maze of men in drab, indistinguishable business suits fit together like a jigsaw puzzle in Paco Roca’s illustration. A nude man and woman find themselves entangled together by a huge mop of spaghetti-like hair in Santiago Morilla’s provocative “Quinina” series. Meanwhile, splotches of bright, paint-like colors mimic a rainbow of tears as they drip down from the eyes of a woman drawn in simple blackand-white lines in Conrad Roset’s “Musa.” Suárez says the exhibit, which has already traveled to Rome, Frankfurt and Berlin, highlights Spanish illustrators’ “creativity, color and primarily their optimism that each and every one of us needs every day.” WD Kate Oczypok (@OczyKate) is a contributing writer for The Washington Diplomat.

THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT | JUNE 2016 | 29

WD | Culture | Textiles

Medium on the Move Universally Resonant ‘Stories of Migration’ Told Through Textiles •

BY MACKENZIE WEINGER

Stories of Migration: Contemporary Artists Interpret Diaspora THROUGH SEPT. 4 GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY MUSEUM AND THE TEXTILE MUSEUM 701 21ST ST., NW

(202) 994-5200 | WWW. MUSEUM.GWU.EDU

t’s all about the unexpected details found in the textiles in “Stories of Migration” — the sharp barbed wire laid onto fabric, the expressive faces stitched into quilts, the swirls of color painted onto cloth. The George Washington University Museum and the Textile Museum’s latest show features 44 artists using the textile medium in powerful, inventive ways to explore the nature and narratives of migration. The timely exhibit is anchored by works from six invited artists and also showcases 38 artists who were juried in by competition. From universal themes and historical events to personal, family tales, “Stories of Migration: Contemporary Artists Interpret Diaspora” surveys the issue co-curator Rebecca Stevens calls “the overarching topic of our time” through a PHOTO: ETIENNE FROSSARD / THE GEORGE WASHINGTON MUSEUM / THE TEXTILE MUSEUM medium that is particularly attuned to the From top, Faith Ringgold’s “The Crown Heights Children’s art of the narrative. History Quilt,” William Adjété Wilson’s “The Middle Passage” “The story of migration is not one story and two segments from Alice Beasley’s “Blood Line” depict but millions of stories,” Stevens told The the universal travails of migration, as told through textiles. Washington Diplomat. “These are just some of the stories that are in the exhibicondition to the children of the school — that tion — some of them are personal stories, really makes me feel good,” Stevens said. And it of families or people who migrated, some makes for a striking piece for viewers, showing of them are about just the concept of mihow painted and pieced fabric can make both a gration. And the other thing is, there’s literary and artistic statement as it details scenes more than one way to tell a story.” from folktales of the immigrant groups who Visitors can see Stevens’s meaning made Crown Heights their home. throughout the beautifully laid out exhi“Faith did a piece that was so appropriate, PHOTO: THE GEORGE WASHINGTON MUSEUM / THE TEXTILE MUSEUM bition, which fills two floors of the gallery bringing together all the different ethnic elespace with extraordinary mixed media ments of the community,” Stevens said. “It’s been very pieces that embody the diverse faces of migration — from African successful in the school, Crown Heights has become a slaves to Mexican migrant workers to Syrian war refugees. very wonderful neighborhood and I think Faith would Take, for instance, the story of the African diaspora, told in three difthink her work was prescient to show it would all come ferent, remarkable ways through textiles in the exhibition. In William together.” Adjété Wilson’s “The Black Ocean,” the French-Togolese artist worked Another highpoint in the exhibition comes from the with artisans in Benin to make a series of fabric panels that tell the hishaunting “Tagged” by Patricia Kennedy-Zafred, a coltory of the region and of the transatlantic slave trade over 500 years. lection of hand silk-screened images on cotton fabric Alice Beasley’s “Blood Line,” meanwhile, uses the metaphor of a dedicated to the Japanese children who were interned train to make a triptych quilt showing the personal story of her ancesin American camps during World War II. Bobbi Baugh’s tors going from freedom to slavery and into the present day. “How Can We Sing in a Strange Land?” offers a vibrant A third installation, the stunning “Cotton: Triangular Trade” by Suexpression of color, with hand-painted and digital-transsan Lenz, offers another comment on that diaspora. Blackened cotton fer elements reminding viewers of the brilliant possibiliPHOTOS: SIBILA SAVAGE PHOTOGRAPHY / THE GEORGE WASHINGTON MUSEUM / THE TEXTILE MUSEUM rains down like a storm from the ties within the textile genre. hanging piece, the delicate piecGreeting museumgoers es reminding viewers that “the on the way in and out of the humble cotton ball represents show is Consuelo Jiménez this sad part of history,” as Lenz Underwood’s massive inwrites. All three pieces explore stallation, “Undocumented one historical event, but deliver Travelers. Xewa (Flower) their own narrative assessments in wildly different styles and contexts through Time,” which recalls her personal experience as the daughter of an undocuthe same textile medium. mented migrant farm worker and a third-generation Chicana. With paint, Museumgoers should also take a close look at Faith Ringgold’s “Crown barbed wire, nails and textiles at play, the piece serves as both the perfect introHeights History Quilt,” commissioned for New York’s Public School 22. The duction and farewell to an exhibition that reveals both the beauty and harshness piece highlights the different ethnic elements of the community and has been that comes from crossing borders. WD displayed in the school for 20 years. The Textile Museum paid to have the quilt sent to a conservator to be cleaned Mackenzie Weinger (@mweinger) is a contributing writer before it was displayed, “and now we’re able to return the piece in as new, pristine for The Washington Diplomat.

30 | THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT | JUNE 2016

WD | Culture | Art

In Full Bloom ‘Flora of the National Parks’ Connects People with Plants •

BY MOLLY MCCLUSKEY

Flora of the National Parks THROUGH OCT. 2 U.S. BOTANIC GARDEN 100 MARYLAND AVE., SW

(202) 225-8333 WWW.USBG.GOV/FLORAOFTHENATIONALPARKS

n any given day, whether it’s snowy or sunny outside, the U.S. Botanic Garden on the National Mall is a haven from the rigors of urban life. Now, a new exhibit in partnership with the National Park Service allows visitors to leave the city behind and step into an oasis filled with some of the most stunning natural wonders the United States has to offer. “Flora of the National Parks” features a dazzling array of photography, oil paintings, watercolors and other works representing plant life in the nation’s parks, rivers and historic sites, beautifully arranged in the West Gallery. From giant redwoods to delicate water lilies, this unique display surveys plant species found throughout the more than 400 national parks scattered across America, in honor of the park service’s 100th anniversary (also see “As America’s National Parks Turn 100, Social Media Helps Visitors Unplug” in the March 2016 issue). Pieces by nearly 80 artists from across the U.S. were chosen from hundreds of entries and are complemented by live plant displays. The exhibit includes artwork representing flora from some of the country’s most well-known parks, including Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, Haleakala National Park in Hawaii, California’s Joshua Tree National Park and other giants. It also includes examples of flora in some lesser-known parks, like Homestead National Monument in Nebraska and Keweenaw National Historical Park in Michigan. To many plant enthusiasts, flowers don’t need beautification. Stroll through a lush garden and it’s obvious that many plants stand on their own artistic merits. But by soliciting artists’ interpretations of flora, the Botanic Garden transformed both the exotic and mundane of plant life into something more intimate. Take for instance Alaskan artist Stephanie Ryan’s interpretation of Alaska blueberry, or vaccinium ovalifolium, from the Chilkoot Trail in Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park in Skagway, Alaska. I spent time in Skagway as a ranger at Klondike, wrote for the local paper and hiked the 35-mile trail along the old gold rush route into Canada on an admittedly long first date. Walking into the Botanic Garden and seeing Ryan’s work hanging on the wall had an almost visceral effect. I reached Ryan via phone in the Yukon territory of Canada. She told me that she works on the Canadian side of the Chilkoot Trail, while her husband works on the American side. I asked her why, out of all the gorgeous vistas in Alaska, she had chosen to paint blueberries. “The landscape itself is pretty stunning, and it’s easy to miss the little things along the way,” she said. “I notice what happens on the trail because I go through there every day and I see it changing day to day.” She pointed out that blueberries, which grow in abundance along the trail, have long been a means of sustenance and a cultural symbol for the indigenous people in the area. Susan Pell, science and public programs manager at the U.S. Botanic Garden, said the exhibit is not only beautiful but also informative. “Understanding which plants we have across America helps us protect them,” she said. But it goes much further than that. Plants are bellwethers. How and why

“Floras of the National Parks” at the U.S. Botanic Garden depicts the dazzling array of plant life found in American’s National Parks.

they appear, the geographic areas in which they thrive or wither, how they adapt to changing weather patterns and drought conditions, and what they tell us about soil health serve as tremendous resources in understanding the terrain on which we all live, even as that terrain continues to change. And yes, many are also pretty to look at. Devin Dotson, public affairs and exhibits specialist at the Botanic Garden, said that the impetus behind the show is to connect people to the places they’ve been, and the places they want to go. “These artists have depicted some of the most iconic parks in America, and in many cases, it’s because they grew up around these places and experienced the flora they’ve portrayed in a very familiar way,” Dotson said. “People viewing this art are not only reminded of places they’ve been, but in some ways, the exhibit is also aspirational. We want visitors to leave the exhibit and feel as though they need to go experience it for themselves.” Many people may never see the parks showcased in the exhibit or if they do, they may never venPHOTOS: U.S. BOTANIC GARDEN ture past the introductory walking trails into the heart of the parks where such flora flourishes. So here is my challenge to you. Go to the exhibit. Select one piece of art representing one type of plant in one national park. And then, go there. It doesn’t have to be a long journey: C&O Canal, Harpers Ferry, Great Falls and other local parks are featured in the exhibit. Or choose one further away, like Olympic National Park in Washington State, Denali in Alaska or even my old park, Klondike (easily accessible by cruise ships, ferries and float planes). Barring that, stay in place but vow to learn everything you can about the plant you’ve chosen. Become an expert on the yellow necklacepod of Biscayne National Park or the ghost orchid of the Everglades. Learn the difference between the coast redwood tree and the iconic giant sequoia. The Botanic Garden is hosting a variety of lectures and workshops throughout October, including meet-and-greets with the artists. While there, also visit the recently opened Mediterranean room, the first new permanent conservatory room since 2001, which will feature the vibrant diversity of plants found in the world’s five Mediterranean climates. WD Molly McCluskey (@MollyEMcCluskey) is a contributing writer for The Washington Diplomat and a former National Park range. THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT | JUNE 2016 | 31

WD | Culture | Dining

Turning Up Heat Fresh New Faces, Dishes Accompany Warm Weather •

BY MICHAEL COLEMAN

he summer dining season usually means lots of new menus, new events and new faces in the kitchens of Washington-area restaurants, and this year is no different. On the new faces front, perhaps the most talked-about addition will be David Burke, who was recently announced as the new executive chef of BLT Prime, which is slated to open this fall in the Trump International Hotel at the Old Post Office Pavilion. Burke, who has appeared on “Top Chef Masters” and “Iron Chef America,” replaces restaurateur and fellow celebrity chef José Andrés, who dropped out of the project to protest Donald Trump’s incendiary remarks about immigrants and building a wall with Mexico. Trump’s fiery rhetoric prompted yet another noted chef, Geoffrey Zakarian, to back out of an eatery in the Republican presidential frontrunner’s hotel venture. Trump promptly sued both chefs; litigation continues. BLT Prime is a contemporary steakhouse offering highend meats such as a wagyu ribeye and 28-day dry-aged prime-grade porterhouse steak. While Burke’s debut will up the celebrity wow factor in the D.C. dining scene, he’s not the only chef whose pedigree is elevating the quality of area restaurants. Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar, located between CityCenterDC and Chinatown, has appointed Brad Smith as its new executive chef. Smith will join two-time James Beard Award-winning chef-partner Guillermo Pernot to bring the flavors of old Havana to the District. A native Washingtonian, Smith graduated from L’Academie de Cuisine in Gaithersburg, Md., and kicked off his culinary career as chef de cuisine at Raku near Dupont Circle. He also cooked locally at Addie’s and Café Atlantico. Smith became chef de cuisine at Cuba Libre’s flagship location in Philadelphia in 2003. New additions to Cuba Libre’s menu include the crab and corn tamale, featuring fresh steamed corn masa and crabmeat tamale with jumbo lump crab, smoked corn crema and corn-truffle salpicón; as well as the citrus chicken, Cuba Libre Restaurant made of pan-roasted, mari& Rum Bar nated, semi-boneless double 801 9TH ST., NW chicken breast served with plantain fufu, black bean sauce (202) 408-1600 and chipotle aioli. WWW.CUBALIBRERESTAURANT.COM/ Cuba Libre opened in Washington six years ago and has EN/WASHINGTON/ thrived in the midst of D.C.’s hyper-competitive downtown dining scene. The restaurant’s name, which translates to “free Cuba,” has proven somewhat prescient as President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raúl Castro recently re-opened diplomatic relations between their two nations, providing hope that more freedom and progress will grace the long-repressed Cuban people in the future.

TRUCKEROO Anyone who insists that you need to spend a lot of money and time to get a good meal in D.C. hasn’t dined from one of the dozens of food trucks that now roam the city. Hungry tourists and locals alike are lining up for inspired fare ranging from ethnic cuisine such as banh mi, tacos and Ethiopian tibs, to more localized fare including chicken and waffles. Perhaps the best place to sample from several of these roving kitchens on wheels is Truckeroo, a monthly food cart bonanza at 1201 Half St., SE, adjacent to Nationals Park. The family- and pet-friendly event features live music, games and more. Seating is first come, first served at any benches or picnic tables you can find available. While the lines for food can get long once the event is in full swing, we’ve found that arriving on the early or late side of lunch or dinner makes the experience go more smoothly. While the food is certainly affordable, if you’re planning on having some beers, you might want to hit the ATM before you arrive. A cold brew will set you back a ballpark-priced $9. This year’s Truckeroos are scheduled for June 17, July 8, Aug. 19 and Sept. 16 and each will run from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Follow Truckeroo on Twitter or Facebook for updates and news about the event. 32 | THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT | JUNE 2016

PHOTO: ANDREW LIGHTMAN

Penn Quarter favorite Cuba Libre is rolling out several new dishes this summer under recently appointed executive chef Brad Smith.

SUNDAY SUPPER Sunday Supper, one of Washington’s most prestigious (and more importantly, delicious) dining events, is June 5 at Union Market in Northeast D.C. Some of Washington’s most celebrated culinary stars will headline an evening of food and music to benefit the James Beard Foundation and the Executive Education Program for Women in Culinary Leadership. Beginning at 4:30 p.m., guests will gather outside Dock 5 for a reception of savory bites from top women chefs and PHOTO: CUBA LIBRE restaurateurs, including Ruth Gresser of Pizzeria Paradiso, Jamie Leeds of Hank’s Oyster Bar and Christianne Ricchi of i Ricchi. Cocktails are followed by a sit-down family-style meal crafted by a lineup of stellar chefs — among them, Karen Akunowicz of Myers & Chang in Boston, Amy Brandwein of Centrolina, Jennifer Carroll of Requin and Marjorie Meek-Bradley of Ripple and Roofers Union. James Beard Foundation Board chair and Sunday Supper chair Emily Luchetti of Big Night Restaurant Group in San Francisco leads the dessert showcase along with D.C. rising stars Camila Arango and Tom Wellings of Bluebird Bakery; Christina Marie Chambers of Black Pearl Tarts; and Union Market’s own Violeta Edelman and Robb Duncan of Dolcezza. Throughout the evening guests will sip on a selection of cocktails, wines and beers, including Tears of Llorona and t1 tequilas from master distiller German González, with a cocktail crafted by Gina Chersevani of Buffalo & Bergen. The best drinks from the region will be offered from Caboose Brewing Co., Cotton & Reed, Early Mountain Vineyards and select Virginia wines. A live soundtrack for this lively evening of food and drink will be provided Marc Silver & The Stonethrowers; Cottonwood Line & Marc Anderson; and Virginia’s own bluegrass sensation Jackass Flats. The event is a major fundraising effort for Women in the Culinary Industry, a collaboration of the James Beard Foundation and EDENS — the developer of Union Market — to support women entrepreneurs in the food and beverage industry. Currently, only 6 percent of culinary leadership positions in America are held by women. “Having women in executive leadership roles and women in equity positions is not just a social good, it’s good for business,” explains Jodie W. McLean, CEO of EDENS. Tickets for Sunday Supper are $250 per person. To learn more, visit www.unionmarketdc.com/sunday-supper. SEE DINING • PAGE 33

WD | Culture | Dining

DINING GUIDE YOUR RESTAURANT HERE

age fique Voy My Magni

123 Dining Way www.web.com • (123) 555-1234

� S�� DC L�� S�� W� 6 15�� S�� NW, 80 USA 5, 00 20 DC W��

With more than 120,000 readers, The Washington Diplomat is the flagship newspaper of the diplomatic community, featuring news and culture stories that reach our highly targeted and lucrative market. The new dining guide is a unique opportunity to put your restaurant in front of our readers. Call (301) 933-3552 to advertise in the dining guide of our next issue.

Th e Restaurant

rty-M Th e “Thi

inu te” L

u n ch

MEDIUM BOX: $350 4.75” x 2.5” LARGE BOX: $500 4.75” x 4.75”

C�� F�� C�� S�� W�� DC L�� S��.

T�� ‘’T��-M��’’ L�� . I�� U�� B�� . T� �� , �� (+1) 202 730-8700 �� .��.�� .��.��

DIPLOMAT DINING GUIDE

Dining

Call (301) 933-3552

CONTINUED • PAGE 32

to Advertise Your Restaurant in the Diplomat Dining Guide.

OTTOMAN TAVERNA Turkish-born restaurateur Hakan Ilhan opened the new Ottoman Taverna at 425 I St., NW, in May. Istanbul native Ilhan Erkek, who served as head chef at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in his home city before arriving in D.C., is the restaurant’s executive chef. The beautiful, airy space is Ilhan’s third venture in the Mount Vernon Triangle neighborhood, including the Italian-inspired Alba Osteria and the French bistro L’Hommage. Ottoman Taverna’s sophisticated menu pays tribute to the legendary Ottoman Empire that ruled a large swath of Eurasia for hundreds of years and absorbed other ideas and practices to create one of the world’s great cultures. The menu features a mix of traditional mezes and kebabs, as well as larger entrée items. A Mediterranean-focused wine list offers 20 choices by the glass. Ottoman Taverna 425 I ST., NW | (202) 847-0395

SAKERUM Sakerum, a new sushi bar, Asian-Latin restaurant and cocktail lounge, recently opened at the intersection of 14th and U Streets, NW. Owner Stephanos Andreou’s vision for the two-story, 3,300-square-foot resto-lounge is based on the Japanese concept of the izakaya, a warm, welcoming gastropub, tinged with the flair of a Latin lounge.

PHOTO: REY LOPEZ

Turkish-born restaurateur Hakan Ilhan’s latest creation, Ottoman Taverna, pays tribute to the legendary Ottoman Empire that ruled a large swath of Eurasia for hundreds of years.

The first floor will house Sakerum’s colorful sushi bar, led by chef Khan Gayabazar, formerly of Fujimar and Maté. The second floor boasts a retractable glass rooftop and will accommodate up to 90 guests. Sakerum’s menu of sushi and Latin-inspired Asian dishes will offer an exciting blend of flavors and cultures based on innovative recipes. Sakerum 2204 14TH ST., NW | WWW.SAKERUM.COM

Gina Chersevani, of Union Market’s Buffalo & Bergen, is responsible for Sakerum’s beverage program, which will include fresh sugar cane on-site for cocktails and drink flights. Andreou’s partner and fiancée, Constandina Economides, is no stranger to the District’s dining scene. Granddaughter of the late Ulysses G. Blackie Auger, Economides’s family was behind legendary D.C. dining institution Blackie’s House of Beef. WD Michael Coleman (@michaelcoleman) is the dining reviewer for The Washington Diplomat.

Diplomatic Spouses CONTINUED • PAGE 27

three-course meal. “I don’t see us as famous,” she continued. “We don’t accept many invitations. The afternoon is still the children’s time…. I grew up with hard-working parents. They came out of the war and were refugees. They had a strong work ethic,” she said, adding that, “It’s not who you are but who you want to be.” “My father was very involved in politics and loved to entertain, especially dinners for eight. Our home was a beehive,” she recalled. “I had an amazing mother. She enabled me to do what I’m doing. She ran her own business so she wasn’t always there. She was a dressmaker. I still have some of her clothes.” Voss-Wittig said that women from Munich and Hamburg traveled to her mother’s store and studio for her couture pieces and custom-made wedding and cocktail dresses. “She was an elegant person and a great role model.” Now, Voss-Wittig is the busy working mom balancing diplomacy, entertaining, writing and raising children. “My kids are my everything,” she told us.

PHOTO: MATT MENDELSOHN FOR GERMAN EMBASSY

Huberta von Voss-Wittig is the New York correspondent for ICON, a fashion and lifestyle supplement to Germany’s Sunday newspaper Welt am Sonntag.

“I’d drop everything for them. I adore being with them. Some days I’m just muddling through, but it always works out.” WD Gail Scott is a contributing writer for The Washington Diplomat. THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT | JUNE 2016 | 33

WD | Culture | Film

Cinema Listings *Unless specific times are listed, please check the theater for times. Theater locations are subject to change.

Amharic Lamb

“Genius” chronicles Max Perkins’s time as the book editor at Scribner, where he oversaw works by Thomas Wolfe, Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald and others. Landmark’s E Street Cinema Opens Fri., June 10

Directed by Yared Zeleke (Ethiopia/France/Germany/Norway/ Qatar, 2015, 94 min.) When Ephraim, an Ethiopian boy, is sent from his homeland to live with distant relatives, he takes his beloved sheep with him. One day, his uncle announces that he will have to sacrifice his sheep for the upcoming religious feast, but Ephraim is ready to do anything to save his only friend and return home. Washington DCJCC Tue., June 28, 7:30 p.m.

Gurukulam

Arabic Directed by Hany Abu-Assad (Argentina/Palestine, 2016, 100 min.) “The Idol” tells a fictionalized version of the life of Mohammed Assaf, a wedding singer from a refugee camp in Gaza who went on to win 2013’s “Arab Idol” singing competition (Arabic and Spanish). Angelika Mosaic Angelika Pop-Up Opens Fri., June 3

Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos (Greece/Ireland/Netherlands/U.K./ France, 2016, 118 min.) In this highly imaginative, absurdist comedy, Colin Farrell stars as a man who has just been dumped by his wife. To make matters worse, he lives in a dystopian society where single people have 45 days to find true love, or else they are turned into the animal of their choice and released into the woods. Angelika Mosaic Landmark’s Bethesda Row Cinema Landmark’s E Street Cinema

English

Love & Friendship

The Idol

A Bigger Splash Directed by Luca Guadagnino (Italy/France, 2016, 124 min.) The vacation of a famous rock star and a filmmaker is disrupted by the unexpected visit of an old friend and his daughter. Angelika Mosaic

Dough Directed by John Goldschmidt (U.K./Hungary, 2016, 94 min.) An old Jewish baker takes on a young Muslim apprentice to save his failing London kosher bakery. When his apprentice’s marijuana stash accidentally falls in the mixing dough, the challah starts flying off the shelves. West End Cinema

The Fallen Idol Directed by Carol Reed (U.K., 1948, 95 min.) A butler working in a foreign embassy in London falls under suspicion when his wife accidentally falls to her death, the only witness being an impressionable young boy. Landmark’s E Street Cinema Opens Fri., June 10

Genius Directed by Michael Grandage (U.K./U.S., 2016, 104 min.)

THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT | June 2016

National Gallery of Art Sun., June 12, 4 p.m.

Korean 4th Place Directed by Jung Ji-woo (South Korea, 2015, 119 min.) A washed-up competitive swimmer is hired by an ambitious mother to coach her young son, who keeps finishing fourth in competitions. But his increasingly brutal training methods begin to carry on the circle of abuse that destroyed his own youthful athletic career. AFI Silver Theatre Wed., June 1, 7 p.m. Cinema Arts Theatres Sun., June 12, 7 p.m.

Directed by Neil Dalal and Jillian Elizabeth (Canada/U.S., 2016, 108 min.) In vivid and sensuous detail, “Gurukulam” follows a group of students and their teacher as they confront fundamental questions about the nature of reality and self-identity at a secluded forest ashram in southern India (English and Tamil). Angelika Pop-Up Opens Fri., June 17

The Lobster

Directed by Whit Stillman (Ireland/Netherlands/France/U.S., 2016, 94 min.) Beautiful young widow Lady Susan Vernon takes up temporary residence at her in-laws’ estate to wait out colorful rumors about her dalliances and to be a matchmaker for her daughter Frederica — and herself too, naturally. Angelika Mosaic Landmark’s Bethesda Row Cinema Landmark’s E Street Cinema

The Battle of Gwangju Photo: Dean MacKenzie / Magnolia Pictures

Agyness Deyn stars as the daughter of a Scottish farmer who comes of age in the early 1900s in “Sunset Song.”

the eyes of 30 Irish centenarians. Atlantic Plumbing Cinema

Presenting Princess Shaw Directed by Ido Haar (Israel, 2015, 80 min.) By day, Samantha Montgomery cares for the elderly in one of New Orleans’s toughest neighborhoods. By night, she writes and sings her own songs as Princess Shaw on her confessional YouTube channel. Across the globe in Israel, Ophir Kutiel creates video mash ups of amateur Youtube performers. These two strangers, almost 7,000 miles apart, begin to build a song (English and Hebrew). Landmark’s E Street Cinema Opens Fri., June 3

Sing Street

Directed by Morgan Neville (U.S., 2016, 96 min.) Cellist Yo-Yo Ma and other international artists of the Silk Road Project discuss their philosophies on music and culture. Angelika Mosaic Landmark’s E Street Cinema Opens Fri., June 24

Directed by John Carney (Ireland/U.K./U.S., 2016, 106 min.) Dublin in the 1980s is seen through the eyes of a 14-year-old boy who is looking for a break from a home strained by his parents’ relationship and money troubles, while trying to adjust to his new inner-city public school where the kids are rough and the teachers are rougher. Trying to impress a beautiful classmate, he forms a band with a few lads, and the group pours their heart into writing lyrics and shooting videos. Angelika Mosaic

Older Than Ireland

Sunset Song

Directed by Alex Fegan (Ireland, 2016, 81 min.) This year marks the centenary of the Easter Rising of 1916 that led to the birth of the Republic of Ireland — and all of the people featured in “Older Than Ireland” were born before then. This funny and heartwarming documentary reveals 100 years of a life as seen through

Directed by Terence Davies (U.K./Luxembourg, 2015, 135 min.) A young woman’s endurance against the hardships of rural Scottish life, based on the novel by Lewis Grassic Gibbon, is told with gritty poetic realism in Terence Davies’s intimate epic of hope, tragedy and love at the dawning of the Great War. Landmark’s Bethesda Row Cinema

The Music of Strangers

34 | THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT | JUNE 2016

Those People Directed by Joey Kun (U.S., 2015, 89 min.) In this elegantly stylish comingof-age story about a young Jewish painter in New York’s Upper East Side, Charlie is young, good looking and talented, but torn between his unrequited love for the decadent and selfish Sebastian, and his growing interest in Tim, a charming and unaffected Lebanese pianist. Washington DCJCC Tue., June 21, 7:30 p.m.

French Black Girl (La Noire de…) Directed by Ousmane Sembène (France/Senegal, 1966, 80 min.) The first work by an African filmmaker to be seen widely in the West, “Black Girl” adapts director Ousmane Sembène’s own short story, a contemporary tale of a naïve young woman lured to France from Senegal by a white couple who enslaves her as their domestic servant (preceded by “Borom Sarret” (1963, 18 min.)). National Gallery of Art Sun., June 5, 4 p.m.

1977, 85 min.) Chantal Akerman’s reflection on her own nomadic lifestyle, realized through readings of letters from her Belgian mother juxtaposed against Babette Mangolte’s images of mid-1970s Manhattan, explores the disjunction between a mythic, monumental New York and the reality of place. National Gallery of Art Sat., June 4, 3:30 p.m.

No Home Movie Directed by Chantal Akerman (Belgium/France, 2016, 115 min.) “No Home Movie” is both an unassuming recording of Chantal Akerman’s mother made on a small consumer-grade digital camera within her Brussels apartment, and a poignant reference to the inevitability of having “no home,” as Akerman is clearly laboring to let go of her mother’s presence toward the end of her life (French, English and Spanish).

Directed by Yi Ji-sang (South Korea, 2015, 121 min.) The 1980 Gwangju Uprising, in which government soldiers firing on student protesters led to days of deadly fighting, is one of the most significant events in recent Korean history. In this powerful documentary, Yi Ji-sang combines archival footage with reenactments based on the actual experiences of everyday people—factory workers, waitresses, and college students, for example—who took up arms against the military. National Museum of American History Sat., June 18, 3 p.m.

Eyelids Directed by O Muel (South Korea, 2015, 85 min.) In this poetic feature, an old man lives an ascetic existence on a mysterious island, communing in sometimes amusing ways with the wildlife who share his home. National Museum of American History Sat., June 18, 1 p.m.

Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles Directed by Chantal Akerman (Belgium/France, 1975, 201 min.) Chantal Akerman’s early tour de force — an examination of a woman’s ritualized behavior inside her bourgeois Brussels flat, composed of simple visuals made in real time — gradually reaches the intensity of tragedy. National Gallery of Art Sat., June 11, 2 p.m.

News from Home Directed by Chantal Akerman (France/Belgium/W. Germany,

Photo: Rialto Pictures

Bobby Henrey and Sonia Dresdel star in “The Fallen Idol.”

WD | Culture | Film

How to Use Guys with Secret Tips Directed by Lee Won-suk (South Korea, 2013, 116 min.) Lee Won-suk’s directorial debut stars Lee Si-yeong as an overworked assistant director of television commercials, who is so disregarded by her coworkers that they leave her behind on a cold beach when she falls asleep during a shoot. When she wakes up, she meets a mysterious hawker who sells her an advice video that he guarantees will turbocharge her romantic life. National Museum of American History Sun., June 5, 2 p.m.

The Lovers and the Despot Directed by Robert Cannan and Ross Adam (U.S., 2016, 94 min.) In this true story, Shin Sang-ok, a young, ambitious South Korean filmmaker, and actress Choi Eun-hee meet and fall in love in 1950s postwar Korea. In the ’70s, having risen to the top of Korean society with his successful films, Choi was kidnapped by North Korean agents and taken to meet Kim Jong-il. While searching for Choi, Shin also was kidnapped. After five years of imprisonment, the couple was reunited by the movieobsessed Kim, who declared them his personal filmmakers (Korean and Japanese). AFI Silver Theatre Fri., June 24, 4:45 p.m. Landmark’s E Street Cinema Sat., June 25, 10 p.m.

The Royal Tailor Directed by Lee Won-suk (South Korea, 2014, 127 min.) Featuring more than a thousand gorgeous costumes, Lee Won-suk’s historical comedy-drama tells the story of two tailors — one a staunch traditionalist, the other a brash newcomer — in a Joseon era king’s court. National Museum of American History Sat., June 4, 2 p.m.

The Throne Directed by Lee Joon-ik (South Korea, 2015, 125 min.) Based on the true story of an 18thcentury king who executed the royal heir by locking him in a rice chest for eight days, Korea’s Oscar entry represents a triumphant return to form for historical drama specialist Lee Joon-ik. AFI Silver Theatre Wed., June 8, 7 p.m. Cinema Arts Theatres Thu., June 9, 7 p.m.

Under the Sun Directed by Vitaly Mansky (Russia/Germany/Czech Republic/ Latvia/North Korea, 2015, 106 min.) Given permission by the authorities to make a film about a Pyongyang family, director Vitaly Mansky soon realized that his government minders were turning his documentary into a highly manipulated fiction. So he simply left the camera running between takes to capture them stag-

ing scenes, feeding lines and cajoling performances out of Mansky’s supposedly “typical” subjects. AFI Silver Theatre Thu., June 23, 2 p.m. Landmark’s E Street Cinema Sun., June 26, 7:45 p.m.

Veteran Directed by Ryoo Seung-wan (South Korea, 2015, 124 min.) The timely subject of income inequality gets the action-comedy treatment in this story of a tough cop on the trail of the sneering heir to a vast conglomerate, who uses his money and connections to make the less fortunate pay for his crimes. Cinema Arts Theatres Thu., June 2, 7 p.m AFI Silver Theatre Wed., June 15, 7 p.m.

Mandarin Dragon Inn Directed by King Hu (Taiwan, 1967, 111 min.) During the Ming dynasty, the emperor’s minister of defense is framed by a powerful court eunuch and executed, and his family is pursued by secret police. In the ensuing chase, a mysterious band of strangers begins to gather at the remote Dragon Gate Inn, where paths (and swords) will cross. Landmark’s E Street Cinema

Spanish Easy Sex, Sad Movies (Sexo fácil, películas tristes) Directed by Alejo Flah (Spain/Argentina, 2014, 90 min.) Spanish producers hire Argentinian screenwriter Pablo (because “he won’t charge us in euros”) to write a romantic comedy set in Madrid. Pablo supplies all the expected genre ingredients — meet-cute, best friends, shared preference (gin-andtonic) — but complications set in as he becomes increasingly aware of the contrast with his own deteriorating marriage, and his real and fictional worlds begin to bleed into each other. AFI Silver Theatre Sat., June 18, 6 p.m., Sun., June 19, 9:10 p.m.

Happy 140 (Felices 140) Directed by Gracia Querejeta (Spain, 2015, 98 min.) On the eve of her 40th birthday, Elia invites a group of close family and friends to a luxury Canary Islands getaway to tell them some extraordinary news: She’s won a 140-million-euro jackpot. But while they all feign excitement to the birthday girl’s face, behind closed doors they quickly begin to plot their way into a piece of the fortune. AFI Silver Theatre Sat., June 18, 8 p.m., Sun., June 19, 7 p.m.

A Monster with a Thousand Heads (Un monstruo de mil cabezas) Directed by Rodrigo Plá (Mexico, 2016, 74 min.) When Sonia receives the news that her husband’s cancer has progressed to a terminal stage, she races to secure the insurance company approval for the care that can help him. Met with indifference and negligence at every turn, Sonia’s desperation triggers a primal survival instinct as a series of increasingly violent confrontations unfold. Landmark’s E Street Cinema

My Big Night (Mi gran noche) Directed by Álex de la Iglesia (Spain, 2015, 100 min.) The troubled taping of a television New Year’s Eve variety special devolves into chaos, beset by a fatal accident, an attempted assassination, outsized egos and raging libidos. AFI Silver Theatre Fri., June 17, 7:15 p.m., Sat., June 18, 10:15 p.m.

Nothing in Return (A cambio de nada) Directed by Daniel Guzmán (Spain, 2015, 93 min.) A bright, rebellious teenager, expelled from school and estranged from his battling

Webre Continued • page 28

‘The Great Gatsby’ and ‘ALICE (in wonderland)’ in particular have been extremely exciting to work on. And of course, it was wonderful to premiere a new ‘Nutcracker’ in 2004. That production certainly took a lot of heart and soul.” Webre’s Washington-centric reimagining of “The Nutcracker” sets the Tchaikovsky classic in historic Georgetown and has become a popular annual tradition. But Webre told The Diplomat that the ballet’s production of “ALICE (in wonderland)” stands as an achievement he remembers particularly fondly. “It was just so damn wacky,” he said about the whimsical 2012 adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s famous children’s tale. “Aside from that, it had all of the elements of a great show — vigorous dancing, some really great characters and a good story.” While the creative aspect of his profession has always come easily to Webre, he said that he couldn’t always say the same about some of his managerial duties. “The most difficult challenges that I’ve run into over the years have always stemmed from the administrative side of things,” he said. “The biggest challenges are typically just fundraising and finding the resources to accomplish what you want to do.” Webre mentioned two moments in particular that were difficult for him as a director. “In 2004, we had a labor dispute with our

Photo: media4artists / Theo Kossenas

The Washington Ballet’s 2015 production of “Carmina Burana” offered a post-modern interpretation of Carl Orff’s raucous retelling of 24 medieval poems praising springtime, love, lust and fortune.

dancers’ union,” he recalled. “It was eventually resolved, and we have a great relationship with the artists and dancers today. However, the strike was quite a bump in the road for us, especially since the lawyers on both sides of that dispute were behaving badly.” Dancers accused Webre of overworking them and underpaying them. The dispute was eventually settled but not before affecting the group’s lucrative production of “The Nutcracker” — and its bottom line. A few years later, the global economy tanked, the reverberations of which were felt on the local level.

“The next major challenge for us occurred in 2008, when the city of D.C. stopped earmarking funds for our company,” Webre said. “The city had been giving us a million dollars a year before that, and in that year they went from a million dollars to zero. That created some obstacles for us.” Another longstanding obstacle is the competition that the company faces from biggername rivals who get top billing at the Kennedy Center, along with a growing roster of dance academies attracting area students. Navigating those obstacles will now fall to Webre’s successor, Julie Kent, a retired princi-

parents, runs away from home. He forms a surrogate family on the streets of Madrid with his hefty best friend, an avuncular auto mechanic and a nonagenarian junk-dealer. AFI Silver Theatre Thu., June 16, 7:15 p.m., Sun., June 19, 4:30 p.m.

Tamil Dheepan Directed by Jacques Audiard (France, 2016, 115 min.) Dheepan is a Tamil freedom fighter who flees his native Sri Lanka when the civil war is reaching its end. At a refugee camp, he joins a woman and a little girl, both strangers, to pretend to be a family, hoping that they will make it easier for him to claim political asylum. Arriving in Paris, Dheepan finds work as the caretaker of a rundown housing block in the suburbs, where he works to build a new life and a real home for his “wife” and his “daughter,” but the daily violence he confronts in his new neighborhood quickly reopens his war wounds (Tamil, French and English). Landmark’s E Street Cinema Opens Fri., June 10

Culture arts & entertainment

Plan Your Entire Weekend. www.washdiplomat.com

pal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre. “Julie is one of the great ballerinas of her generation,” Webre told us. “She is known for her elegance, her musicality and her beautiful line. She is truly a superstar in the ballet world. “I really hope that she will take the dancers to the next level and continue to challenge them the way I have,” he said. “I hope she will keep our classical repertoire, but also take interesting forays into new work. I also hope she will ensure that the ballet continues to engage the audience in a very humanistic way.” Webre said he looks forward to Kent ushering in major creative changes for the company. “In addition to expanding our canon of work, one of the things that I hope Julie will do in the future is to move the company in the direction of always performing with live music. I find that this is a critical element in the success of our productions, but unfortunately it hasn’t been something that we’ve always been able to do in the past because of financial limitations.” He also said he hopes the company continues to leave its mark in the social arena. “We’ve developed a very diverse organization over the years and are currently the most ethnically diverse ballet company in America,” Webre said. “Increasing diversity and access to the arts for dancers of all backgrounds has been a major priority of my tenure. I have faith that the company will continue this commitment to creating a more diverse ballet world in the years to come.” WD Karin Sun is a contributing writer for The Washington Diplomat. THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT | JUNE 2016 | 35

WD | Culture | Events

Events Listings

THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT | June 2016

*Unless specific times are listed, please check the venue for times. Venue locations are subject to change.

June 26 to Oct. 2

Hubert Robert, 1733-1808 One of the most prominent artists of his era, Hubert Robert loved and depicted ruined structures of all types, whether real or imagined, and not just those of ancient Rome (he lived in Italy for eleven years). He also drew inspiration from scenes he encountered in his native France, including urban renewal projects, Gallo-Roman antiquities and natural disasters. At the core of his success was his brilliance as a master of the architectural capriccio, in which random monuments from different locales were artfully brought together to create new, completely imaginary landscapes. National Gallery of Art

ART June 1 to 28

Tatiane Hofstadler: Quintessencia Tatiane Silva Hofstadler, a native Brazilian, lived in Austria, India and Japan before moving to D.C. in 2011. Her work evokes aspects of nature in its most elemental form — earth, wind, fire and water — imbuing her canvases with a dazzling array of color and texture. Embassy of Austria Through June 3

In the Library: The Intersection of Commerce and Instruction in Art The art we experience often depends as much upon the materials available to the artists who make it as it depends on the artists themselves. This exhibition looks at a variety of literature surrounding artists’ materials and instruction, and charts the ways in which the increasing commercialization of their production may have affected the practice of artists, especially following the industrial revolution. National Gallery of Art June 4 to Sept. 11

William Merritt Chase: A Modern Master William Merritt Chase (1849-1916), a renowned figure in the international art circles of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, was a brilliant observer of contemporary life, an innovative painter and an influential teacher. Presented on the centennial of his death, this retrospective — the first in over three decades — will explore the interrelationships in Chase’s work across subject and media, from portraits and figurative paintings, to urban park scenes, domestic interiors, still lifes and landscapes. The Phillips Collection Through June 5

Perspectives: Lara Baladi Egyptian-Lebanese artist Lara Baladi experiments with the photographic medium, investigating its history and its role in shaping perceptions of the Middle East, particularly Egypt, where she is based. Arthur M. Sackler Gallery June 7 to Aug. 26

Inside Tracks This photographic exhibition documents the extraordinary journey of Robyn Davidson, a 27-year-old Australian woman who set off to cross the desolate outback, accompanied only by four camels and a dog. Rick Smolan, the American photographer assigned by National Geographic to document her journey, had his own

Through June 26 Photo: Turquoise Mountain

This calligraphy was created by a teacher at the Turquoise Mountain Institute. The Sackler Gallery highlights the work of Turquoise Mountain, which has trained hundreds of artisans in its efforts to help rebuild Afghanistan.

adventure tracking Robyn down in the desert. The outback of Australia, seen through Robyn’s eyes and Rick’s camera, is an ancient, awesome landscape swept by rain, heat and dust. Embassy of Australia June 9 to Aug. 7

(Art)Xiomas – CUBAAHORA: The Next Generation This contemporary Cuban art exhibit, organized with SPAIN arts & culture, is also part of a larger cooperative effort to celebrate contemporary Cuban art and the centennial of the Art Museum of the Americas’s founding director, José Gómez Sicre. The featured artists favor fresh aesthetics while recognizing historical contexts, whose discourses are more autobiographical than politically contextualized. Exhibition participants shy away neither from committing themselves to projects with cultural institutions nor to working independently. Thus they penetrate and overcome barriers that for too long have characterized the timeline of Cuban cultural cooperation. Art Museum of the Americas June 11 to Dec. 31

Deco Japan: Shaping Art and Culture, 1920-1945 The style that came to be known as art deco, which flourished from the 1920s to 1940s, was a vivid reflection of the modern era and the vitality of the machine age. Between the wars, as normalcy returned to politics, jazz music blossomed and the flapper redefined the modern woman, art deco left its mark on every form of visual art. This exhibit explores how the Japanese interpreted the style and transformed it through their own rich art and craft traditions. Hillwood Museum, Estate and Gardens Through June 12

Konstantin Makovsky: The Tsar’s Painter With Hillwood’s “A Boyar Wedding

36 | THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT | JUNE 2016

Feast” as the centerpiece, this exhibit offers a new perspective on Konstantin Makovsky’s work and its popularity in Gilded Age America, where it satisfied the appetite for dramatic historical stories, exotic settings and costumes, and admiration of European art and culture. In a dramatically lit setting, exquisite objects and details from the painting will be brought to life through groupings of 17th-century objects of boyar life, such as intricately embroidered garments and pearl-studded kokoshniki (women’s headdresses). Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens Through June 12

Math You Can Touch Mathematics, sometimes an abstract science, is brought to life via more than 160 experiments at the Mathematikum in Giessen, Germany, the first interactive mathematics museum in the world. Goethe-Institut June 18 to Aug. 14

Bandits & Heroes, Poets & Saints: Popular Art of the Northeast of Brazil During the slave trade, 10 times more Africans were brought in bondage into Brazil than into the United States, and Northeast Brazil has the largest population of those of African descent outside Africa. This exhibit explores how the ancient cultures of Africa blended with indigenous and colonial Portuguese traditions to form the vibrant and complex cultural mosaic of modern Brazil. American University Museum Katzen Arts Center June 18 to Aug. 14

Contemporary North Korean Art: The Evolution of Socialist Realism Does art exist in North Korea? For many, this has been an open ques-

tion. This exhibit, the first of its kind in the United States, seeks to broaden understanding of North Korean art beyond stereotypes of propaganda and kitsch to show sophisticated and nuanced expressive achievements. It investigates previously unrevealed evidence of North Korean artistic experimentation, and the nation’s particular evolution of socialist realism within its own culturally homogeneous context. Coinciding with the exhibition of North Korean art, the show “Examining Life Through Social Realities” documents and examines life and the social realities of people living on the Korean peninsula through the realist paintings of 10 South Korean contemporary artists. American University Museum Katzen Arts Center June 18 to Aug. 14

The Looking Glass: Artist Immigrants of Washington The Alper Initiative for Washington Art presents this exhibit featuring the work of 10 artists who left Latin America for many different reasons over the last 60 years — primarily for safety, freedom and opportunity — and made their homes, and their artistic careers and contributions, in the Washington region. American University Museum Katzen Arts Center

Spanish Illustrators: The Color of Optimism This show highlights outstanding works of contemporary illustrators in Spain that are creating new trends. Curated by journalist Mario Suárez, the exhibition showcases a generation of talented creators who frequently contribute to national and international publications, galleries, museums and popular brands. Former Residence of the Ambassador of Spain Through July 24

America’s Shakespeare “America’s Shakespeare” reveals how Americans have made Shakespeare our own using a fascinating selection of rare letters, costumes, books and more. Folger Shakespeare Library Through July 24

Three Centuries of American Prints from the National Gallery of Art Since opening in 1941, the gallery has amassed an outstanding collection of American prints representing

the history of American art from the early 18th century to the present. Timed to coincide with the gallery’s 75th anniversary, this first comprehensive exhibition of American prints to encompass three centuries will highlight some 160 works from the gallery’s collection National Gallery of Art Through July 29

Caribbean in Motion: Improving Lives through Artistry and Animation This video-based exhibit by Caribbean artists pays tribute to the Bahamas, host of the 2016 annual meeting of the Inter-American Development Bank Board of Governors. “Caribbean in Motion” explores the multifaceted social and economic benefits generated by the animation industry, underscoring the importance of nurturing a vibrant creative economy. Animation, the art of illustrating video sequences, has huge potential as both a business and an art form that supports sustainable social and economic development in the Caribbean. Inter-American Development Bank Cultural Center Through July 31

Heart of an Empire: Herzfeld’s Discover of Pasargadae Located in southwestern Iran, Pasargadae was the first capital of the ancient Achaemenid Persian Empire (circa 540 B.C.) and the last resting place of Cyrus the Great. Impressed with its ruins, German archaeologist Ernst Herzfeld (1879–1948) briefly surveyed the site for the first time in 1905, returning to conduct more extensive excavations. Featuring selections from the Freer|Sackler Archives’ rich holdings of Herzfeld’s drawings, notes and photographs, this exhibition illuminates one of the most important sites of the ancient world. Arthur M. Sackler Gallery

Through June 24

And Spring Again: Photographs by Lucia Fainzilber Presented in a consecutive order intended to display an index of seasons, Lucia Fainzilber’s photographs can also be read as allegorical documents of time. An organic line pierces through her images, indicating changing seasons and a cycle of perpetual renewal in which flowers blossom, age and perish, but are ultimately replaced by fresher substitutes. Embassy of Argentina

Photo: Freer and Sackler Galleries

Ahmed Mater’s “Nature Morte” is part of a series by the Saudi artist examining the rapid commercialization of Mecca, seen above, and Riyadh.

WD | Culture | Events

Through July 31

She Who Tells a Story: Women Photographers from Iran and the Arab World This landmark exhibition of more than 80 photographs and a video installation challenges stereotypes surrounding the people, landscapes and cultures of Iran and the Arab world. National Museum of Women in the Arts Through Aug. 28

Mats Ek - A Dance Rebel on the Move for 40 Years Theatrical and wild, with a robust, physical humor and a highly personal movement style — those are some landmarks of Swedish choreographer and director Mats Ek. Since his debut in 1976, his works have stirred and captivated audiences and his reworking’s of ballet classics such as “Giselle” and “Swan Lake” have become classics themselves. This exhibition showcases the insight and sensitivity with which photographer Lesley Leslie-Spinks has captured Mats’s highly personal and precisely delineated world. House of Sweden Through Sept. 4

Stories of Migration: Contemporary Artists Interpret Diaspora In this juried and invitational exhibition, 44 artists share personal and universal stories of migration — from historic events that scattered communities across continents to today’s accounts of migrants and refugees adapting to a new homeland. The artists explore: historic events that scattered people and cultures across continents; today’s accounts of migrants from Syria, Latin America and Africa adapting to new homes; and personal experiences of family members. The exhibition will feature works by artists such as fashion designer Hussein Chalayan, Mexican-American fiber artist Consuelo Jiménez Underwood, French-Togolese artist William Adjété Wilson and American artists Faith Ringgold and Penny Mateer. The George Washington University Museum Textile Museum Through Sept. 18

In Celebration of Paul Mellon Paul Mellon was one of America’s greatest art collectors and remains one of the gallery’s leading benefactors. Timed to coincide with the gallery’s 75th anniversary, a special exhibition features 80 of the finest pastels, watercolors, drawings, prints, and illustrated books selected from his donations. National Gallery of Art Through Sept. 18

on a sprawling manhunt. Tickets are $38 to $42. GALA Hispanic Theatre

artist since the early 1990s, creating works that offer an unparalleled perspective on contemporary Saudi Arabia. Now based in Jeddah, Mater has focused primarily on photography and video since 2010. From abandoned desert cities to the extraordinary transformation of Mecca, “Symbolic Cities” presents his visual and aural journeys observing economic and urban change in Saudi Arabia. Arthur M. Sackler Gallery

June 10 to 18

The Rape of Lucretia Lucretia, the beautiful and virtuous wife of a Roman general, is defenseless against the tyrannical prince Tarquinius. The horrific events unfold reinforced by Britten’s evocative score, moving arias, and two-person male and female chorus into a tense and potent tapestry of music and drama. Tickets are $32 to $88. Barns at Wolf Trap

Through Jan. 2

Intersections: Photographs and Videos from the National Gallery of Art and Corcoran Gallery of Art Nearly 700 photographs from Eadweard Muybridge’s groundbreaking publication “Animal Locomotion,” acquired by the Corcoran Gallery of Art in 1887, became the foundation for the institution’s early interest in photography. The Key Set of more than 1,600 works by Alfred Stieglitz, donated by Georgia O’Keeffe and the Alfred Stieglitz Estate, launched the photography collection at the National Gallery of Art in 1949. Inspired by these two seminal artists, Muybridge and Stieglitz, the exhibition brings together highlights of the recently merged collections of the Corcoran and the National Gallery of Art by a range of artists from the 1840s to today. National Gallery of Art

Through June 19

The Man in the Iron Mask

Photo: Johnny Shryock

In Synetic Theater’s “The Man in the Iron Mask,” D’Artagnan and his friends scheme to remove the corrupt king and replace him with his good twin, held captive in the Bastille.

animator-musician Jaromír Švejdík. The protagonist of the eponymous comic book is Emil Zátopek, a runner who completely changed the training methods in track. His biographical story turns on an incident from the days when the political terror in Communist Czechoslovakia culminated and Zatopek stood up to the Stalinist bureaucracy. Admission is free; RSVP is required and can be made at www. zatopek.eventbrite.com. Embassy of the Czech Republic

Through Jan. 2

GALAS

Senses of Time: Video and Film-Based Works of Africa

Fri., June 3, 6:30 p.m.

This exhibition features six internationally recognized African artists and examines how time is experienced and produced by the body. Bodies stand, climb, dance and dissolve in seven works of video and film art by Sammy Baloji, Theo Eshetu, Moataz Nasr, Berni Searle, Yinka Shonibare and Sue Williamson, all of whom repeat, resist and reverse the expectation that time must move relentlessly forward. National Museum of African Art Through Jan. 29

Turquoise Mountain: Artists Transforming Afghanistan Decades of civil unrest nearly destroyed Afghanistan’s vital artistic heritage. Over the past decade, Turquoise Mountain, an organization founded in 2006 at the request of the prince of Wales and the president of Afghanistan, has transformed the Murad Khani district of Old Kabul from slum conditions into a vibrant cultural and economic center. Arthur M. Sackler Gallery

DISCUSSIONS Tue., June 7, 6 p.m.

Symbolic Cities: The World of Ahmed Mater

The Story of the Legendary Czech Runner Emil Zátopek in Comics

Born in 1979 in southern Saudi Arabia and trained as a medical doctor, Ahmed Mater has been a practicing

The Embassy of the Czech Republic invites you a presentation and concert by writer Jan Novák and

NOWfest 2016: Tango Night! In its final program of the season, the New Orchestra of Washington returns to the works of renowned Argentinian composer Astor Piazzolla for its spring gala. The seductive sounds and irresistible rhythms of Argentina are captured by the masterful works of Piazzolla, one of the most recognizable names in the 20th-century music scene. Cohosted by the Permanent Mission of Mexico to the OAS and the Permanent Mission of Argentina to the OAS and sponsored by the Ryuji Ueno Foundation, NOWfest 2016 includes include music, drinks, food and more. Tickets are $100; for information, visit neworchestraofwashington.org. Organization of American States Mon., June 13

Will on the Hill The annual Will on the Hill welcomes members of Congress from both sides of the aisle and Washington influencers onto the Shakespeare Theatre Company stage to perform a political satire infused with Shakespearean language and references. Now in its 14th year, this year’s event features a performance of “Heavy Lies the Head,” in which a vital member of the government has suddenly resigned and someone has to fill the office, immediately, but the job’s notoriously hard and no one wants it. It falls on a couple of aides—one Democrat, one Republican—to find

a candidate who can do the job and, even harder, who will accept the job. For ticket information, visit www. shakespearetheatre.org/support/ special-events/will-on-the-hill/. Shakespeare Theatre Company Thu., June 23, 7 p.m.

Embassy of Bulgaria Dinner Feast The International Club of DC, in cooperation with the Embassy of Bulgaria, presents an enchanting evening of Bulgarian culture, wine and cuisine at the Embassy of Bulgaria. Discover Bulgaria and the culture of a civilization spanning 1,000 years with likeminded international professionals. Tickets are $75; for information, visit www.internationalclubdc.com. Embassy of Bulgaria

MUSIC Fri., June 3, 7:30 p.m.

Ronaldo Rolim, Piano Described by the El Norte newspaper as an artist “especially capable of moving an audience through his interpretations,” Brazilian pianist Ronaldo Rolim is a prominent figure among the newest generation of outstanding musicians, having won more than 30 prizes in competitions around the globe. He performs a program of Guarnieri, Chopin, Granados and Villa-Lobos. Tickets are $125 and include reception and valet parking; for information, visit www. embassyseries.org. Brazilian Residence Thu., June 9, 7:30 p.m.

Veronika Böhmová, Piano Veronika Böhmová was born into a family of Czech musicians in South Bohemia in 1985. Today, Böhmová, the most successful solo piano player in the Czech Republic, has performed throughout Europe. She performs a program of Shostakovich, Albéniz, Ravel and Prokofiev. Tickets are $95 and include buffet reception; for information, visit www.embassyseries.org. Embassy of the Czech Republic

Tue., June 14, 7:30 p.m.

Lana Is The multifaceted vocalist-composer and actress Lana Is has won widespread acclaim in Europe for her own visionary releases, her acting work and for her work as a versatile collaborator who has lent her talents to a diverse array of projects with a wide assortment of rock, pop, contemporary classical and jazz musicians. To RSVP, visit http://acfdc.org. Embassy of Austria Thu., June 23, 7:30 p.m.

Júlio Resende, Jazz Pianist with Multimedia One of the most significant forces in the new generation of fado and jazz musicians in Portugal, Júlio Resende started playing at age 4. Resende had a classical background, but soon found he was not satisfied to play compositions he could not improvise over. Tickets are $150 and include buffet reception; for information, visit www.embassyseries.org. Portuguese Residence Wed., June 29, 8 p.m.

Asha Bhosle: The Farewell Tour “The world’s most celebrated ‘playback’ singer” (BBC) and mostrecorded artist in music history with over 13,000 songs ranging from Bollywood to classical ragas, Asha Bhosle is lauded by CNN as one of the 20 most iconic artists of all time. Tickets are $40 to $115. Wolf Trap

THEATER June 2 to 26

El Paso Blue In this wild and comic saga of lust, revenge, identity and the blues, Al leaves his wife Sylvie in the care of his father before serving a prison sentence. Upon release, he discovers that his beloved and the old man have run away together. An epic chase ensures across El Paso that pits together a funny cast of characters

In Synetic Theater’s follow-up to “The Three Musketeers,” our hero D’Artagnan finds himself alone in the service of King Louis XIV after his comrades have retired. Unbeknownst to D’Artagnan, his old friends plan to remove the corrupt king and replace him with his good twin, held captive in the Bastille. Tickets start at $35. Synetic Theater June 20 to 26

Gravedigger’s Tale Based on Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” this one-man interactive play is a family friendly production featuring the comedic actor Louis Butelli. The Gravedigger, who appears to have much more knowledge about court life in Elsinore than originally thought, arrives with a trunk and a book and responds to questions from the audience using the text from “Hamlet.” Admission is free. Folger Shakespeare Library Through June 26

The Taming of the Shrew Stage and screen actors Maulik Pancholy and Peter Gadiot will be seen playing Katherina and Petruchio respectively in Ed Sylvanus Iskandar’s bold new interpretation of Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew.” Spilling from the stage into the lobbies and the street, this production will use an all-male cast to examine the fluidity of identity, the authenticity of self-performance and the economics of love in one of Shakespeare’s most notorious texts. Call for ticket information. Shakespeare Theatre Harman Hall Through July 3

District Merchants Love and litigation, deep passions and predatory lending are taken to a new level in this uneasy comedy, which wades fearlessly into the endless complexities and contradictions of life in America. Set among the black and Jewish populations of an imagined time and place — simultaneously Shakespearean, post-Civil War D.C., and today— “District Merchants” is a remarkable tale of money, merchandise, and mercy brought to the stage by four-time Helen Hayes Award-winner Aaron Posner. Tickets are $35 to $75. Folger Shakespeare Theatre

THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT | JUNE 2016 | 37

WD | Culture | Spotlight

Diplomatic Spotlight

June 2016

12th Annual Embassy Golf Tournament

Andrey Nastasin of the Embassy of Russia, Houssem “Sam” Djida and Hussain Al-Mutawakil, both from Sahouri Insurance.

The rain didn’t dampen The Washington Diplomat’s 12th annual Embassy Golf Tournament, held May 6 at Worthington Manor Golf Club under the diplomatic patronage of Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates Yousef Al Otaiba. The only golf tournament designed especially for the city’s diplomatic corps, this popular annual event regularly attracts more than 150 ambassadors and diplomats, as well as members of Congress and top officials from the U.S. government, multilateral agencies and the corporate world. Participants enjoy a day of golf and networking at Worthington Manor Golf Club in Maryland, a U.S. Open Qualifying site, in addition to lunch, post-tournament dinner reception and awards presentation. Among the prizes were a $10,000 safari package to Africa provided by Absolute Travel, an Apple watch, rum from Barbados, a Delsey spinner trolley garment bag, gift certificates to Ankara Restaurant and a variety of hotel excursions. The presidential sponsor of this year’s tournament was Children’s National Health System, the premier provider of pediatric care in the D.C. area and the only freestanding children’s hospital among Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Norfolk and Atlanta. The ambassador sponsor was Johns Hopkins Medicine International, while consular sponsors included George Washington University Hospital, Johns Hopkins University Advanced Academic Programs, Volvo Cars USA, DHL and MillerMusmar CPAs.

Victor Shiblie, publisher of The Washington Diplomat; Omar Al Shamsi, deputy chief of mission of the UAE Embassy; Dr. Anthony Sandler, senior vice president of the Joseph E. Robert, Jr., Center for Surgical Care at Children’s National Health System; and Fuad Shiblie, operations director of The Washington Diplomat.

— Photos by Jessica Latos —

Volvo sponsored the hole-in-one car giveaway with an XC90 T5 FWD. Ambassador of Barbados John Beale, attorney Albert Mokhiber and Raymond Kaddissi of Kadcon Construction Co. Bernhard Altersberger of the German Embassy and Andreas Deutschmann, director of Berkeley Research Group LLC.

Dr. Anthony Sandler of Children’s National Medical Center welcomes guests.

Andres Florez, deputy chief of mission at the Embassy of Colombia, and Daniel Avila, minister plenipotentiary at the Embassy of Colombia.

The Embassy of Malaysia was represented by Counselor Mohd Mohyiddin Omar, Police Attaché Ahmad Ramdzan Daud, Minister-Counselor Md Amin Md Taff and First Secretary Kathiravan Subramaniam.

Dr. Tony Timoll, Lauren Bennett and Stephanie Newton of Johns Hopkins Medicine International. Players enjoy lunch. The Embassy of Kazakhstan was represented by Meiram Dyussimbinov,  Chingis Askarov, Rakhim-Zhan Akhmetov, Akhat Mukashev,  Kaisar Kopish , Ardak Nurmagambetov and  Arman Sapargaliyev.

Ambassador of Ecuador Francisco Borja, Vice President of Global Services for Children’s National Health System Warren Whitehead and John Walsh of Children’s National Medical Center.

Ursula McNamara of Kimpton’s Glover Park and Carlyle hotels and Lawrence Muraya of the FrontPoint Group.

38 | THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT | JUNE 2016

A player receives gelato courtesy of Dolci Gelati.

Anna Croll Josefsson presents a white chocolate trophy spread from the Sofitel Washington D.C. hotel.

Eugene Laney of DHL, Nate Ane of the Maryland Department of Education, Derik Wimes of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and Kenneth Trice of International Code Design Inc.

WD | Culture | Spotlight

12th Annual Embassy Golf Tournament

Jane Pearlman of Cort Furniture Rental and Shirley Phull and Caroline Chong from the Watergate Hotel.

Katie Marland and Barbara Wegerson of the Willard InterContinental Washington hotel greets players.

Representing the Dutch Embassy were Letty Akkerman, Regillio Hinds, Hans Hoogstraten, Angelique Rutledge, Roger Kleinenberg, Erik Jan Looman and Ton Akkerman.

Camilo Ayala, counselor at the Embassy of Colombia, Eduardo Ariza of the Colombian Government Trade Office to the United States and Andres Florez, deputy chief of mission at the Embassy of Colombia. Publisher Victor Shiblie awards a gift certificate to the Kimpton’s Carlyle Hotel to Lawrence Muraya for winning closest to the pin for men.

Dr. Anthony Sandler of Children’s National Medical Center and Andrey Nastasin of the Embassy of Russia.

Terry Meikle of the New Zealand Embassy is awarded a dinner for two on Odyssey Cruises for winning longest drive for men.

Ton Akkerman of the Dutch Embassy, right, won a two-night weekend stay at the Fairfax Embassy Row Hotel in the raffle.

Laura Bottone of Absolute Travel Luxury Vacations, left, and publisher Victor Shiblie, right, award raffle winner Paul Tibolla of Volvo-Ourisman Volkswagon a safari worth $10,000 to Kenya and Botswana.

Chris Madoo and Andrew Cifa of Marriott International.

Letty Akkerman of the Dutch Embassy, left, is awarded a gift certificate to Kimpton’s Glover Park Hotel for winning closest to the pin for women.

Michael Garrity, Stephanie Acks and Elliott Arrington from Entertainment Cruises.

Above, the first-place winners of the tournament were Paul Tibolla of Ourisman Volkswagen of Bethesda; Ed Sarecky of MileOne Automotive - Herb Gordon Volvo Subaru; Greg Edwards of Herb Gordon Volvo; and Tom Blackburn of Don Beyer Auto Group.

Laura Bottone of Absolute Travel takes a swing.

Andrey Nastasin of the Russian Embassy, left, joins teammates from Children’s National Health System: From left are Dr. Anthony Sandler, senior vice president of the Joseph E. Robert Jr. Center for Surgical Care; Vice President of Global Services Warren Whitehead; John Walsh; Dr. Gerard Martin, medical director of global health; and Alex Patch.

Ambassador of Barbados John Beale, Senior Vice President for Real Estate and Construction at Sibley Memorial Hospital Jerry Price and Dr. Tony Timoll of Johns Hopkins Medicine.

At left, Jonny Layne watches as Tom Coleman makes a shot.

THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT | JUNE 2016 | 39

WD | Culture | Spotlight

Diplomatic Spotlight

June 2016

Diplomat’s Cigar and Rum Ambassador Insider Series

NMWA Spring Gala The National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) celebrated its Annual Spring Gala on April 29 co-hosted by Ambassador of Monaco Maguy Maccario Doyle and gala chair Shahin Mafi. Guests viewed “She Who Tells a Story: Women Photographers from Iran and the Arab World,” which explores themes of protest, war and identity. The annual black-tie gala, the museum’s largest fundraiser, featured cocktails in the galleries, an auction followed by dinner and dancing in the elegant Great Hall, with music by Photo: Kevin Allen Big Ray and the Kool Kats. Cindy Jones, Ambassador of Monaco Maguy Maccario Doyle, gala chair Shahin Mafi and NMWA co-founder Wilhelmina Cole Holladay

On May 4, The Washington Diplomat hosted its third Ambassador Insider Series discussion with Ambassador of Barbados John Beale at the Westin Georgetown Washington D.C. Hotel, featuring authentic Barbadian rum and Nicaraguan cigars. The event, co-hosted by Ambassador of Nicaragua Francisco Campbell, was also a chance to bid farewell to Beale, who is returning to Bridgetown after seven years in the U.S. Photo: Kevin Allen

Barbara Richter, Sunny Scully Alsup, Jeff Gutman

The Ambassador Insider Series (AIS) is an exclusive program hosted by The Washington Diplomat to meet and mingle with the city’s foreign envoys in an intimate setting. Past AIS discussions have highlighted ambassadors from Azerbaijan, Iraq and, most recently, the European Union’s David O’Sullivan. The event showcased Mount Gay Rum, which had its origins in Barbados in 1703, and Cockspur Rum, along with traditional dishes from Barbados and Nicaragua. Following the discussion in the Westin’s Promenade Room, over 150 guests headed to the hotel’s elegant outdoor courtyard, where Michael Palma-O’Hara and his son rolled fresh Pucho cigars, which are only available to those who personally know him.

Photo: © Neshan H. Naltchayan

Photo: Kevin Allen

Patricia Trudeau, Timothy Trudeau and Ambassador of Bulgaria Elena Poptodorova.

Photo: Kevin Allen

Barbados, a 166-square-mile island long known as “Little England,” marks 50 years of independence in November. A former banking executive whose career included stints at Chase Manhattan and Banco International, Beale appeared on the February 2013 cover of The Washington Diplomat along with a dozen other ambassadors as part of a feature on the long-running Caribbean rum trade dispute.

Lucy Buchanan, Ann Simon and Denise Littlefield Sobel

Photo: © Neshan H. Naltchayan Photo: © Neshan H. Naltchayan

Philanthropist Annie Totah and Director of the National Portrait Gallery Kim Sajet.

Other sponsors include Drew Estate, Joya de Nicaragua Cigars, Mumbacho Cigars, Aqua Wellness Resort and Odisea.

Gala chair Shahin Mafi, Ambassador of Switzerland Martin Dahinden and Ambassador of Monaco Maguy Maccario Doyle.

Ambassador of Albania Floreta Faber, Ambassador of Monaco Maguy Maccario Doyle, gala chair Shahin Mafi, former President of Bolivia Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada and former first lady of Bolivia Ximena Sánchez de Lozada. Photo: © Neshan H. Naltchayan

Photo: Kevin Allen

Sunny Scully Alsup and Nancy Stevenson

Photo: Kevin Allen

Marcia Carlucci, Hap Holladay and Susan Fisher Sterling.

Photo: Kevin Allen

In addition to the rum tax wars, Beale gave a wideranging talk on the state of affairs in the Caribbean, from the Venezuelan oil alliance known as Petrocaribe; to the debt crisis in Puerto Rico; to the controversy over offshore tax havens; to the U.S. presidential elections and Republican frontrunner Donald Trump.

Rose Carter and Dr. Paul Carter.

Photo: Kevin Allen

Arlene Begelman, Gail Bassin and a guest. Larry Luxner, news editor of The Washington Diplomat, interviews Ambassador of Barbados John Beale.

THIS for Diplomats Gala THIS for Diplomats held an A-MAYZING Gala at the Swiss Residence to benefit the group’s programs and mission of citizen diplomacy. The nonprofit volunteer organization welcomes and assists diplomats and their families during their stays in D.C. Photos: Gail Scott

Hugh Grindstaff, Anita Dahinden, Ambassador of Switzerland Martin Dahinden and Joan Keston.

40 | THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT | JUNE 2016

Former U.S. Ambassador Walter Cutler, Didi Cutler, President and CEO of S&R Foundation Dr. Sachiko Kuno and THIS for Diplomats President Elizabeth Klass.

Former Ambassador of Sri Lanka Devinda Subasinghe, Ambassador of Malta Pierre Clive Agius and Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Monaco Lorenzo Ravano.

WD | Culture | Spotlight

Cigar and Rum Ambassador Insider Series Michael Palma-O’Hara and his son roll fresh Pucho cigars.

James Barbour, spokesman for the Delegation of the European Union to the U.S.; Paul Cohen of Optriant Preferred Hospitality Group; Stefan Gudjohnsen of Globescope; and Mike Shea of Globescope.

Kimberly Schwandt, senior White House producer for Fox News, and Meaghan Leister, director of broadcast media at the CATO Institute.

David Van Ongevalle of RiPo bvba and Sanna Kangasharju, press counselor at the Embassy of Finland.

Yueh-chin Wang of the Press Division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the U.S. (TECRO) and Ta-Kuay Lee, director of the TECRO Press Division.

Ambassador of Cabo Verde José Luis Rocha and Victor Shiblie, publisher of The Washington Diplomat.

Tara Compton and Neil Parsan, former ambassador of Trinidad and Tobago and acting executive secretary for integral development at the OAS. Guests sample Mount Gay rum.

Daniela Kristo Nesho of the embassy of Albania and Jane Pearlman of Cort Furniture Rental.

Gary Biggs; Barbados Senator Darcy Boyce, minister of energy, immigration, telecommunications and invest Barbados; and former U.S. Deputy Chief of Protocol Lawrence Dunham, now with Protocol Partners.

Chinela Bertrand, Kasia Bronisz and Paloma Beale, all from the Park Hyatt Washington hotel.

Nate Smith, Mark Cowan of Cowan Strategies and former Ambassador of Sri Lanka Devinda Subasinghe of the Ambassadors Group LLC.

Michael Hellmann of the Westin Georgetown and Shaharyar Ali Khan of Hospitality Advance International.

Carlos Calderon of the Organization of American States Federal Union, Isabel Niewola of the OAS, Fuad Sahouri of Sahouri Insurance and attorney Albert Mokhiber.

Michael Palma-O’Hara of Pucho cigars.

Marc Jay, Kasper Zeuthen of the Delegation of the European Union to the U.S. and Trevor Howard.

Ndumiso Mngadi of the Embassy of South Africa, Lungelo Mngadi and Shaharyar Ali Khan of Hospitality Advance International.

Stephanie Newton and Lauren Bennett of Johns Hopkins Medicine International.

Larry Luxner, news editor of The Washington Diplomat, interviews Ambassador of Barbados John Beale.

Janet Scanlon of the Willard InterContinental Washington hotel and Shirin Kooros of Metis LLC.

Luis McSween of WMATA and Monique McSween of the Meridian International Center.

John Gardecki of the Washington International Piano Artists Competition asks a question.

Cassandra Taylor and Sameh Alfonse, deputy chief of mission of the Embassy of the League of Arab States.

Ambassador of Barbados John Beale and his wife Leila Beale.

Embassy liaison Jan Du Plain, Thomas Coleman and managing editor of The Washington Diplomat Anna Gawel.

Ambassador of Barbados John Beale and Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Monaco Lorenzo Ravano.

THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT | JUNE 2016 | 41

WD | Culture | Spotlight

Diplomatic Spotlight

June 2016

Passport DC Kickoff

Caravan Beirut

Cultural Tourism DC kicked off its ninth annual Passport DC festival, held in May, with a reception at Blair House, the official guesthouse of the U.S. president. Over a dozen ambassadors came out to toast the month-long international showcase that regularly is expected to draw 250,000 people and includes an Around the World Embassy Tour, in which the public can visit nearly 70 embassies; the European Union embassies open house day; Flower Mart at the National Cathedral; and the Embassy Chef Challenge Gala. Cultural Tourism DC is an independent nonprofit coalition of more than 230 organizations that works to showcase the city’s culture and heritage.

On April 8, over 2,000 people gathered to celebrate the launch of Caravan Beirut, a four-day pop-up shop hosted by Mariana Wehbe Public Relations and digital retail platform Bucolik, in partnership with the American Lebanese Chamber of Commerce. Thirty Lebanese designers set up a luxurious marketplace in Georgetown, bringing authentic fashion, accessories, jewelry, homeware, art and photography straight to D.C.

Steven Shulman, executive director of Cultural Tourism DC, welcomes guests.

Ambassador of Georgia Archil Gegeshidze and his wife Dea Gadua.

The Embassy of Albania’s Eni Juca, Daniela Kristo Nesho and Mamica Toska join Lendita Haxhitasim of the Embassy of Kosovo.

Mariia Budiakova of the Ukrainian Embassy, Allyson Browne McKithen of the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center and Olha Ivanova of the Ukrainian Embassy.

Ambassador of Ghana Joseph Henry Smith, Ambassador of Angola Agostinho Tavares Da Silva Neto, Ambassador of Cabo Verde José Luis Rocha, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Sri Lankan Embassy Gamini B. Keerawella, Jawauna M. Greene of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Ambassador of Mauritius Sooroojdev Phokeer and Ambassador of Swaziland Abednego Mandla Ntshangase.

Nour Khoury, CEO of Bucolik; Rudy Seikaly, partner in Bucolik; Chargé d’Affaires of the Lebanese Embassy Carla Jazzar; D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser; and Mariana Wehbe of Mariana Wehbe Public Relations attend a welcome dinner for designers as part of Caravan Beirut.

Ambassador of Barbados John Beale, Passport DC advisor Jan Du Plain, Leila Beale and Deputy Chief of Mission of the Lebanese Embassy Carla Jazzar.

Megan Harkovitch, Ambassador of Montenegro Srdan Darmanovic, Shahin Mafi of Home Health Connection Inc. and State Department Protocol Officer Katrina D. Chan.

Francesca Milingi, Christine Vest, Constance Whiteside, Sergio Lopez and James Barbour of the European Union Delegation to the U.S.

Ambassador of Mauritius Sooroojdev Phokeer, Ambassador of Malta Pierre Clive Agius and Ambassador of Swaziland Abednego Mandla Ntshangase.

Photos: Embassy of Lebanon

Arab League Farewell Ambassador of the Arab League Salah Sarhan and embassy liaison Jan Du Plain.

From left, Egyptian Embassy Defense Attaché Maj. Gen. Khaled Mogawer, outgoing Deputy Chief of Mission of the League of Arab States Embassy Sameh Alfonse, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia Prince Abdullah bin Faisal bin Turki and Dr. Ashraf Elfiky attend a farewell party for Alfonse hosted by Elfiky.

Photo: Samia AbdelWahed

42 | THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT | JUNE 2016

Lubna Hashem of the League of Arab States, Aseel Albanna of the Iraqi Cultural Center, Ambassador of Sudan Maowia Khalid and Chargé d’Affaires of the Libyan Embassy Wafa Bugaighis.

Photo: Samia AbdelWahed

WD | Culture | Spotlight

International Student House Spring Garden Party

Greek Independence Day

On May 12, the International Student House (ISH) held its annual Spring Garden Party at its building on R Street, NW. Over 12,000 scholars from more than 140 countries have lived at the International Student House in D.C. located near Dupont Circle. Founded in 1936, this private nonprofit provides a diverse community of graduate students, academics and post-graduate interns with a unique cross-cultural experience.

On April 6, Ambassador Christos Panagopoulos welcomed over 100 guests to celebrate Greece’s Independence Day at the Center for Hellenic Studies, a Harvard-affiliated center dedicated to researching the Hellenic world.

Photos: Gail Scott

ISH Board Member Lawrence Dunham of Protocol Partners, Ambassador of Austria Wolfgang Waldner and ISH-DC Executive Director Tom O’Coin.

Ambassador of Papua New Guinea Rupa Abraham Mulina and his wife Numa Mulina.

Michelle Yu, speech writer at the Embassy of Qatar, and Christele Cournol, office manager at the Embassy of Qatar.

Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) listens as Greek Ambassador Ambassador Christos Panagopoulos welcomes guests.

Ambassador of Serbia Djerdj Matkovic and Michael Haltzel of the Johns Hopkins University Center for Transatlantic Relations.

Outgoing Ambassador of Bulgaria Elena Poptodorova and her husband Georgi Petrov.

Eric Melby, founding principal and partner with the Scowcroft Group, second from right, talks with ISH-DC resident scholars studying at Johns Hopkins University: Robert Eklund, Djordje Milosevic and Marco Grujicic.

Anne Rodgers, Senior Visits Officer at the British Embassy Richard Rodgers and Lady Vanessa Darroch, wife of the British ambassador.

Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-Calif.) and Burakhan Cevik, an ISH-DC resident scholar from the Netherlands studying at American University.

ISH-DC Executive Director Tom O’Coin and ISH-DC Board Chair Cynthia Bunton.

Wout Van Eylen, an ISH-DC resident scholar from Belgium studying at Johns Hopkins University, and Katherine Haugh, and ISHDC resident scholar from the U.S. interning at the Innovation Network.

British Ambassador Sir Kim Darroch and Didi Cutler.

Andrea Tebbets, Robert Baker and Betty Ann Tanner, wife of former Rep. John Tanner (D-Tenn.).

Ambassador of the Czech Republic Petr Gandalovic, his wife Pavlina Gandalovicova and Ambassador of Spain Ramon Gil Casares.

Italian Embassy Social Secretary Donatella Verrone, Michael Giacalone of the Italian Cultural Institute and Greek Embassy Press and Communication Attaché George Apostolakis.

Lady Vanessa Darroch and British Ambassador Sir Kim Darroch.

Experience Colombia Following the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, the Colombian Embassy hosted an Experience Colombia after-party at Ambassador Juan Carlos Pinzón’s residence, co-hosted by the Washington Examiner, American Equipment Manufacturers and the U.S.-Colombian Business Partnership. The event includes music by Brass Connection, Verny Varela, Mauricio Orduz and DJ Wahi. Photos: Denny Henry

Chris Dodd, chairman of the Motion Picture Association of America, greets Ambassador of Colombia Juan Carlos Pinzón and his wife Pilar Lozano.

At right, Marie Royce, wife of House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-Calif.). THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT | JUNE 2016 | 43

Georgia Continued • page 13

we were working with the U.S. administration to advance bilateral issues and solve problems.” The current Georgian government, however, must spend its time explaining what Yakobashvili sees as “selective justice” and the lack of press freedoms, specifically “the very open attempts to shut down independent media, especially Rustavi 2” — a reference to Georgia’s most popular TV channel, whose owners are close friends of the former president, Mikheil Saakashvili. Rustavi 2 is the primary media outlet for pro-Western forces in Georgia, including Saakashvili’s opposition party. In 2012, billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili and his Georgian Dream coalition defeated Saakashvili’s party in parliamentary elections. Since then, the brash, Western-educated Saakashvili — who spearheaded a series of reforms but was criticized for authoritarian tendencies and antagonizing Moscow — has moved to Ukraine, where he was appointed governor of Odessa in a bid to rid the region of corruption. Meanwhile, Tbilisi has revoked Saakashvili’s Georgian citizenship and pursued charges against the former president for abuse of power. Human rights groups accuse the ruling Georgian Dream coalition of a political witch-hunt. Despite the criticism, Georgia continues to enjoy support inside the Beltway, especially given the anti-Russia climate on Capitol Hill. On March 23, Rep. Ted Poe (RTexas), co-chair of the Georgian Caucus with Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), introduced a nonbinding resolution expressing the sense of the House of Representatives to support Georgia’s territorial integrity. In late April, Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili came to Washington, where he spoke at the U.S. Institute of Peace on current events in the Caucasus. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), in introducing Kvirikashvili, praised the current government’s “constructive engagement with Georgia’s political opposition.” “Georgia has many friends in Congress, and I’m proud to place myself at the top of that list,” he said, urging his audience to keep lobbying for the country’s eventual admission to NATO. In his speech, Kvirikashvili warned that South Ossetia was planning a referendum on joining Russia — similar to Crimea’s controversial 2014 referendum opposed by Ukraine — and that this was “absolutely against international law” and would further inflame regional tensions because “the situation in the occupied region remains very fragile, and the humanitarian situation is deteriorating every day.” Before Georgia’s 2008 war with Georgia, Abkhazia was home to 550,000 people, while much smaller South Ossetia had 60,000 inhabitants. Gegeshidze noted that “after the war, the overwhelming majority of Georgians were expelled from Ab-

Photo: I, Alsandro / CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Tourism is a growing economic driver for Georgia, which is home to scenic landscapes such as the Tusheti region in the northeastern part of the country, seen above.

khazia and became IDPs [internally displaced persons]. Some went to Russia or Ukraine and became refugees in those countries. The current population of South Ossetia is 15,000 to 30,000, but unfortunately, the only job-creating industry there is the Russian military base, and many of them are leaving.” He worries that Moscow may be gearing up for another attack on his country. “Will it happen again? Of course,” declared the ambassador. “Why did Russia go to war with Georgia? To force Georgia to change its foreign policy orientation. This was about preventing Georgia from realizing its free choice of joining NATO and eventually the European Union, and deepening our partnership with the United States.” The result, he said, is that some countries in the 28-member NATO alliance have been intimidated by an increasingly assertive Russia. “That’s why it’s difficult to find consensus on Georgia within the alliance,” he explained. “We are very much supported by the U.S., but some other countries are thinking twice, especially after the Ukraine crisis, when Russia — having gotten away with Georgia in 2008 — created a crisis on a much larger scale by annexing Crimea and freezing that conflict. This is a continuation of what Russia started in Georgia, because a successful Georgia or Ukraine would set a very difficult precedent for Russia in the post-Soviet space. It would show other countries that Georgians and Ukrainians chose a different path for development which leads to a higher standard of living.” In fact, Georgia has an economy of $35 billion (adjusted for purchasing power parity) and per-capita GDP of $9,500. In 2014, its economy grew by 4.8 percent in 2014 and is expected to grow 3 percent in 2016. The country also fares well on many economic freedom and transparency ratings. In 2014, Georgia signed an association agreement with the European Union, which was unanimously ratified by the bloc’s 28 members — much to the consternation of Russia, which has suffered as prices for crude oil have tumbled. “When Russia has economic difficulties, the regime becomes even more authoritarian and brutal in order to justify its existence,” said the ambassador. “They try to find scapegoats and that makes them

44 | THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT | JUNE 2016

even more dangerous. That’s why NATO remains as important as it was a year ago, or five years ago, for a small, weak country like Georgia against potential future aggression from Russia.” On that note, Georgian and American soldiers, under the auspices of NATO, recently held a major training exercise that infuriated Moscow, which accused the bloc of “aiming to deliberately destabilize the military-political situation in the Caucasus region.” Whether Georgia actually ever gains formal admission into NATO, however, is a matter of fierce debate. “I think we are technically ready in terms of meeting NATO requirements for membership,” Gegeshidze said, estimating that it could take another five or 10 years. “What remains is a political decision on

the part of NATO members.” While the U.S. has beefed up NATO military resources to the Baltics in the wake of Russian saber-rattling in the region, admitting Georgia into the security bloc isn’t high on the totem pole of priorities. Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump has derided NATO as “obsolete,” saying the Cold War-era alliance siphons off American taxpayer money while subsidizing European nations. Many experts also say that admitting Georgia as a NATO member would needlessly provoke Moscow, especially at a time when tensions in Ukraine have simmered down. Russia, which would see the move as a Western encroachment on its backyard, could possibly retaliate. And because an attack against one NATO member is considered an attack on all, the bloc would be forced to come to Georgia’s defense — an obligation some in Europe, and the U.S., aren’t willing to shoulder. “There are two rival concepts here in town about aiding postSoviet states with lethal and nonlethal weapons,” said Gegeshidze. “One school of thought says assisting these states will provoke Russia. Others say no, it will deter Russia. These two have to reconcile. Unfortunately, this rivalry prevents us from reaching an agreement.” Of more immediate concern is a recent flare-up in the sporadic border war between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Up until a 1994 ceasefire, the Armenians and Azeris fought a war over the disputed ter-

Belguim Continued • page 17

back to Washington as ambassador in January 2014.

Far from a Failed State “Brussels is a very open capital. It’s one of the most cosmopolitan capitals in the world. Everybody is welcome, and there are not really ghettos,” Verbeke said. “Molenbeek is an exception, and even there, it’s far from a homogenous, Muslim place. I go there and enjoy chai in their cafés. We go to Arab restaurants, and they go to ours. There is no racism, separatism or anti-Semitism in our country.” Despite the high concentration of Arabs that is obvious to even the most casual tourist in Brussels or Antwerp, Verbeke said he’s not at all worried that Muslims will one day constitute a majority of Belgium’s population. “Their growth rate is slowing down. We are not going to be overwhelmed by Muslims,” he said, adding that “our Turkish community is very large, but they have been so well integrated — if not assimilated — that most people don’t even know we have a large Turkish community.” For now, at least, Verbeke said fears of an immigrant influx haven’t scared Belgians into right-wing extremism the way they have in, say, France, where Marine Le Pen’s National Front is now the country’s third-largest party, or in Austria, where Norbert Hofer of the far-right Freedom Party led the first round of presidential elections in April. “The Belgians are not frightened,” the ambassador reassured us. “In the last elections just a year and a half ago, our extreme right wing was totally neutralized. We are rather smart people, and we

ritory of Nagorno-Karabakh, resulting in the region’s de facto independence despite being internationally recognized as a part of Azerbaijan. The fighting left anywhere from 20,000 to 30,000 people dead on both sides, including as many as 200 so far this year. “From an academic standpoint, frozen conflicts are never frozen. Unless they are solved, they can explode at any time,” said Gegeshidze. “Our official position is to be friends with both of them. We have very good relations with Azerbaijan, and correct relations with Armenia. They understand that we have to be neutral, and that we cannot play an active role as a peacemaker or intermediary between them because the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh has such deep roots.” In his U.S. Institute of Peace speech, Kvirikashvili warned that “we are very concerned because it can destabilize not only Armenia and Azerbaijan, but the whole region, and even the wider Caucasus. I hope we will be able to cool down this conflict and decrease tensions. What we could do is to offer Georgia as a venue for discussions of long-term solutions.” Given Russia’s commitments to fellow Christian Orthodox Armenia and Turkey’s guarante es to protect predominantly Muslim Azerbaijan, Kvirikashvili lamented that the latest outbreak of violence “can destabilize the whole region, and you can imagine how disastrous this would be.” WD Larry Luxner is news editor of The Washington Diplomat.

don’t have right-wing hooligans. We go for centrist parties. Our government is a kind of middle-right government and very moderate. Radicalism in terms of party politics does not exist.” Michael Leigh, a senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund, agreed with Verbeke in an essay titled “Belgium is No Failed State.” He argued that it is “simplistic” to blame Belgium for Europe’s vulnerability to terrorism, pointing out that “every major security failure from Pearl Harbor to 9/11 and the Paris attacks last November” was followed by revelations of warnings that were ignored and of raw intelligence that wasn’t evaluated in a timely, effective manner. “Despite Belgium’s multi-level system of governance, the country does better than many European states in rankings of the quality of justice, income equality and perceptions of corruption,” he said. “Belgium’s ‘linguistic wars’ have rarely degenerated into violence. The country has remained stable during the prolonged negotiations that often precede the formation of new governments.” While Belgium cannot fix Europe’s problems by itself, Leigh suggested it can reduce the possibility of future terrorist attacks by improving coordination among the federal, regional and local levels — especially the 19 municipalities and six police forces that serve Brussels alone. “For half a century, Belgium has made a major contribution to European security through NATO and the EU,” he concluded. “Instead of maligning the country, other Europeans should work with Belgium to overcome the EU’s mutually reinforcing crises and to ensure the survival of its major accomplishments, including the Schengen open internal borders system and the single European currency, the euro.” WD Larry Luxner is news editor of The Washington Diplomat.

WD | June 2016

Around the World World holidays ALGERIA June 19: National Youth Day

ANGOLA June 1: International Children’s Day

ARGENTINA June 21: Flag Day

AUSTRALIA June 13: Queen’s Birthday

AZERBAIJAN June 15: National Salvation Day June 26: National Army Day

BAHAMAS June 1: Labor Day

CAMBODIA June 1: International Children’s Day June 18: Birthday of HM the Queen Mother

Appointments Bosnia and Herzegovina

Children’s Day

Birthday

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

ERITREA June 20: Martyrs Day

send Us Your holidays & Appointments

June 30: National Prayer Day

ESTONIA

Fax to: the Washington Diplomat at: (301) 949-0065

June 4: National Flag Day June 14: Day of Mourning and Commemoration June 23: Victory Day June 24: St. John’s Day/ Midsummer’s Day

E-mail to: news@washdiplomat.com

COLOMBIA June 29: St. Peter and St. Paul Day

CONGO, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF June 30: Independence Day

CROATIA

FINLAND June 25: Midsummer’s Day

Mail to: P.o. Box 1345, silver spring, MD 20915-1345

the Italian Republic

KENYA June 1: Madaraka Day

KOSOVO June 15: Constitution Day

GUATEMALA

DENMARK

June 17: National Day

June 5: Constitution Day

IRELAND

DJIBOUTI

June 1: Bank Holiday

June 24: St. John’s Day

ISRAEL

LUXEMBOURG

June 27: Independence Day

CAPE VERDE

EQUATORIAL GUINEA

June 1: International

June 5: President’s

ICELAND

PORTUGAL June 10: Portugal Day

June 22: Anti-Fascism Day June 25: Statehood Day (National Day)

June 30: Army Day

Haris Hrle became ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the United States on Jan. 28, 2016. Ambassador Hrle previously served as Bosnia and Herzegovina’s top envoy to Saudi Arabia, as well as the permanent representative to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and ambassador to Austria.

LATVIA June 24: Midsummer Celebrations

LITHUANIA

MALAWI

Birthday

June 14: Freedom Day

MALAYSIA June 4: Birthday of HM the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong

MALTA June 7: Sette Giugno Commemoration Day June 29: St. Peter and St. Paul Day

PALAU June 1: President’s Day

PAPUA NEW GUINEA June 8: The Queen’s Birthday

QATAR June 27: Anniversary of the Amir’s Succession

ROMANIA June 1: International Children’s Day June 26: Day of the National Flag

June 18: National Day June 29: Independence Day

SLOVENIA June 25: National Day

SOLOMON ISLANDS June 13: Queen’s Birthday

SOUTH AFRICA June 16: Youth Day

RUSSIA

PARAGUAY

June 12: National Day

SWEDEN

MONGOLIA

June 12: Chaco Armistice

ST. KITTS and NEVIS

June 1: International Children’s Day

PERU

June 13: Queen’s Birthday

June 6: National Day June 25: Midsummer Day

June 29: St. Peter and St. Paul Day

SAMOA

MOZAMBIQUE

June 11-13: Shavuot

June 23: National Day

ITALY

MADAGASCAR

NEW ZEALAND

June 2: Foundation of

June 26: National Day

June 6: Queen’s

June 25: National Day

PHILIPPINES June 12: Philippine Independence Day

SWITZERLAND

June 1: National Day

June 29: St. Peter and St. Paul Day

SEYCHELLES

TAJIKISTAN

June 5: Liberation Day

June 27: Unity Day

TOGO June 21: Martyrs’ Day

TONGA June 4: National Day

TRINIDAD and TOBAGO June 19: Labor Day

UGANDA June 3: Uganda Martyrs’ Day June 9: National Heroes’ Day

UKRAINE June 28: Constitution Day

URUGUAY June 19: Birthday of José G. Artigas

VENEZUELA June 24: Battle of Carabobo

NASA

TPP

continueD • Page 20

continueD • Page 11

ing with the international community to develop methods for dealing with orbital traffic management and debris mitigation. Bolden lamented that the world community has yet to establish a set of international norms to guide 21st-century space exploration. While America’s forays into space helped set many of the principles we see today, Bolden emphasized that there are certain things that the U.S. cannot do. This gray area will have to be negotiated by some sort of international body, like the United Nations and its Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS). “The U.N. can try to promote norms,” said Bolden, listing issues like the use of weapons in space and the removal of orbital debris. The commercialization of space is another area that a growing number of countries must navigate, with companies like SpaceX and Virgin planning to send tourists to outer space in the coming years. Bolden hopes that international partners will help the industry strengthen and create space markets, something that could bode well for future NASA missions. “NASA’s journey to Mars [is something we will] take together with our partners in industry,” he said. While the United States seeks to push greater international cooperation on the one hand, it is also looking to boost its own space fortunes at home. For example, while Russia relies on Americans to operate the International Space Station, the U.S. relies on Russia to ferry

While nations will continue to try to oneup each other in their quest to conquer new frontiers in space, the domain is no longer about competition, as it was during the Cold War, but rather about cooperation, according to Bolden. “We are no longer in a space race against each other,” he said. “Rather, we’re traveling together as a human race that’s looking to expand the outer bounds of human possibility and progress.” WD

patents, among other things, could result in price hikes for drugs and smother innovation in the pharmaceutical business. The TPP also does not provide the tobacco industry with the same legal protections as other agricultural sector industries are given.) But McConnell said the biggest obstacle facing the TPP “is the political environment to pass a trade bill.” In nearly 30 years in the Senate, he said he has never seen such a hostile atmosphere. “It looks bleak for this year,” he said. “But the good news is, the TPP doesn’t just go away…. If it’s not dealt with this year, it’s still there to be dealt with next year,” he added, hinting that the United States would not walk away from the deal — but was also in no rush to sign it and give President Obama “bragging rights.” It’s possible, of course, that Congress could quietly take up the TPP during the lame-duck session — or simply wait until a new president takes office. Even then, though, the next occupant of the White House may be in no rush to embrace the deal. WD

Justin Salhani (@JustinSalhani) is a contributing writer for The Washington Diplomat. Anna Gawel is the managing editor.

Karin Zeitvogel (@Zeitvogel) is a contributing writer for The Washington Diplomat.

Photo: nasa

a rearward view of the international space station is seen against the backdrop of earth. Pictured are the station’s four large, gold-colored solar array wings, two on either side of the station, mounted to a central truss structure.

crew and cargo to the station — a dependence U.S. businesses are hoping to phase out. “We’re poised to end our sole reliance on Russia to get our astronauts to space. Our American commercial partners, Boeing and SpaceX, are close to being ready to take our astronauts to the International Space Station, allowing NASA to support job creation right here in the U.S.A,” Bolden said. “The president’s strategy was to use these initiatives to build a commercial space market in lower orbit, strengthening America’s competitiveness in the global innovation economy,” he added, noting that NASA works with nearly 1,000 companies in all 50 U.S. states.

THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT | JUNE 2016 | 45

NOTE: Although every effort is made to assure your ad is free of mistakes content it is ultimately up to the customer to make the final pro

The first two faxed changes will be made at no cost to the advertiser, subse will be billed at a rate of $75 per faxed alteration. Signed ads are conside

WD | June 2016

Please check this ad carefully. Mark any changes to yo

diplomat Classiﬁeds

If the ad is correct sign and fax to: (301) 949-0065 The Washington Diplomat

To place an ad in the classfieds section, please call 301.933.3552 or email proFEssionAL

proFEssionAL

SAHOURI INSURANCE.

needs changes

(301) 933-3552

Approved _________________________________________________________ Changes __________________________________________________________ sales@washdiplomat.com __________________________________________________________________

proFEssionAL

oFFiCE spACE Establish a business presence in the National Capital region

Our prestigious corporate address becomes your business address •Professional reception and administrative services

AUTO | PROPERTY | HEALTH

• Fully furnished ofﬁce and meeting space on an as-needed basis

Insurance solutions for Embassies and Missions.

•Located steps from the Patent and Trademark Ofﬁce, the new National Science Foundation headquarters, and Albert V. Bryan Federal Courthouse •Just off the Beltway and walking distance from two Metro stops

NY: 646.490.2840 | DC: 703.883.0500 Contact Chanel Lewis at: 703-224-8800 or Clewis@intelligentofﬁce.com www.intelligentofﬁce.com

www.embassyinsurance.com

Diplomat Classsifieds - Now available in COLOR Call to place yours at (301) 933-3552.

Carlos Durana Ph.D., M. Ac.

A Caring and Integrative Approach to Health and Wellness. Complementary Medicine Traditional Acupuncture Body Therapies Chinese Herbs Life and Wellness Coaching Cited twice in Washingtonian Magazine as amongst the best in his field. SeasonsInOurLife.com 1701 K St., NW, Ste. 801C Washington, DC 20006 (202) 906-0533 46 | THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT | JUNE 2016

Are You…

SELLING? BUYING? RENTING? Call today to place your classified in the next issue.

301.933.3552

sUbsCripTions

Call 1-800368-5788 Ext. #1 for a FREE Introductory Copy of the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs Nine full-color issues for $29 a year. Mention this ad and get a $20 subscription. Visit our Web site at http://www.wrmea.com

PLACING CLASSIFIEDS ADS Free Ads for Diplomats

Real Estate Ads

Foreign diplomats are entitled to a 25 word ad (additional words are 35¢ each) for merchandise only. Offer limited to one ad per month and does not include real estate or business ads. Must fax a copy of Diplomatic Identification card.

Real Estate ads of 25 words with a photo are $40, without photo $20. Each additional word is 35¢.

Classified Ad Rates

General Policies

Placing Your Ad

Call (301) 933-3552 and ask for a sales representative.

Rates start at $20. Classified ad $20 for 25 words, 35¢ each additional word. Add photo for $20. All classifieds running three months or longer are posted on the Web at no additional cost to the advertiser - a saving of $10/month.

The Washington Diplomat reserves the right to refuse any classified ads for any reason. Tear sheets are not sent for classified ads. If you would like a copy of the paper mailed to you, please add $2 to your payment.

NOTE: Ad materials and full payment due by the 15th of the month prior to publication.

The deadline for ads is the 15th of each month at the close of business.

Deadline

gh every effort is made to assure your ad is free of mistakes in spelling and ontent it is ultimately up to the customer to make the final proof.

axed changes will be made at no cost to the advertiser, subsequent changes at a rate of $75 per faxed alteration. Signed ads are considered approved.

WD | June 2016

EaZVhZ X]ZX` i]^h VY XVgZ[jaan# BVg` Vcn X]Vc\Zh id ndjg VY#

ct sign and fax to: (301) 949-0065

Diplomat

needs changes

real Estate Classiﬁeds (301) 933-3552

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ To place an ad in the classfieds section,

CommErCiAL

please call 301.933.3552 or email sales@washdiplomat.com

CommErCiAL

NOTE: Although every effort is made to assure your ad is free of mistakes in spelling and content it is ultimately up to the customer to make the final proof. CommErCiAL For sALE

EMAIL: JCONNELLY@SUMMITCRE.COM TOURS BY APPT: 202 491 5300

___________________________________________________________________ DIPLOMAT REAL ESTATE CLASSIFIEDS —

Classifieds get superb results! Place your real estate classifed today by calling (301) 933-3552.

kalorama

For sALE

2310 tracy place, nw washington, dc

CALL

NOTE: Although every effort is made to assure your ad is free of mistakes in spelling and The first two faxed changes will be made at no cost to the advertiser, subsequent changes content it is ultimately up to the customer to make the final proof. COMMERCIAL SALES/LEASING — alteration. ARLINGTON EMBASSY ROW AREA — will be billed OFFICE at a rate of $75 per faxed Signed—ads are considered approved. ! T IE WS S V For sale: Bright, 892 sf spacious 1 BR, 1 BA luxury condo The first faxed changes will be made atEmbassy no cost the advertiser, subsequent changesEmbassy Chancery Commercial Office Sales/Leasing K VERtwo Offito ce Space – DC/ 5be Please check this ad carefully. Mark anyviews. changes with fantastic Balcony, gastoFP your and more.ad. Pet 4 RI billed at a rate of $75 per faxed alteration. Signed ads are considered approved. Over the past will 30 years we have specialized in NYC Chancery Buildings / 32OMAC friendly, garage parking, storage, pool, gym. Walk to working with Embassies to find suitable Chancery T Residential Buildings and Land Courthouse Metro, retail,changes restaurants! Elizabeth McGee, needs PO Please check this ad carefully. Mark any changes to your ad. If the ad is correct sign and fax to: (301) 949-0065 and office properties to buy or lease. Development Sites. Leases and Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, (703) 935-3766. Lease Renegotiationneeds Services.changes Embassy Row Area Man- The Please call Guy d’Amecourt for consultation. Washington Diplomat (301) 933-3552 If the ad is correct sign and fax to: (301) 949-0065 sions with parking. Ideal for embassies, law firms, (202) 415-7800 or (202) 682-6261 foundations, etc. Lease or Sale. SCR (202) 491-5300. Approved __________________________________________________________ The Washington Diplomat (301) 933-3552 SUMMIT Commercial Real Estate, LLC James Connelly – The Diplomats Agent Changes ___________________________________________________________ EMBASSY OFFICE BUILDING PARKING FOR SALE Approved WITH __________________________________________________________ Agent has numerous other properties to show! ___________________________________________________________________ COMMERCIAL USES ChangesALL ___________________________________________________________ SELL? BUY? RENT?

To place your classified ad here. 301.933.3552

REAL ESTATE CLASSIFIEDS

CALL: (301) 933-3552

WASHINGTON F I N E P RO P E RT I E S , L L C

FOR SALE 3899 Rust Hill Place, Fairfax, VA 22030 Landmark manor home with updates on .72 acre Early 20th century craftsmanship & charm 5 Bedrooms 3 1/2 Bathrooms Private ofﬁce space with separate entrance Guest house & two car garage Walk to Historic Downtown Fairfax City

FOR SALE

Secluded Retreat on over 18 Acres with Well and Solar. $595,500. STEPHEN R. BILOWUS Realtor (571) 309-4395

Afghanistan continueD • Page 9

of six Taliban insurgents, an act that could further damage any chance of ironing out differences between the two sides. In place of peace talks, Ghani said Afghanistan would directly confront the Taliban and no longer offer amnesty to insurgents (though he didn’t rule out dialogue with fighters who lay down their arms). Certain officials now fear titfor-tat reprisals from the Taliban, especially with the spring fighting season in full swing. “The executions of Taliban have now evaporated any efforts of peace talks,” Ahmad Saeedi, a former Pakistan diplomat, told Bloomberg. “I am really worried about the Taliban’s retaliation that may bomb everywhere.”

For details: www.RugerRanchHomes.com or call Realty Ambassadors: 928-606-5512.

The shift is a far cry from Ghani’s previous outreach to Afghanistan’s southern neighbor. Last December, the head of Afghanistan’s main intelligence agency, Rahmatullah Nabil, resigned. He had strongly opposed Ghani’s attempts at reconciliation with Pakistan, a sentiment shared by many Afghans. “Hoping to persuade Pakistan to bring Taliban leaders to the negotiating table to help end a conflict now in its 15th year, Ghani opened the door for Afghan military cadets to train in Pakistan, and he announced an intelligence-sharing agreement between the two countries,” Ali M. Latifi of the L.A. Times reported. “The moves sparked fervent criticism from opposition politicians and many Afghans who blame Pakistan for turning a blind eye to or directly supporting militant groups in Afghanistan.” Weinbaum told The Diplomat that he thought it was in Pakistan’s interest to have Ghani’s unity government succeed, as it would mean Kabul could rely less on India. Furthermore, a secure Afghanistan works in Pakistan’s favor

because the country’s collapse could destabilize the region. But such arguments fall on deaf ears to Pakistanis who fear a strong Afghanistan backed by India would threaten their strategic interests. Moreover, officials in the nuclear-armed nation worry about the potential blowback if Pakistani forces crack down too hard on the Taliban and its affiliates. “Pakistan has often complained that when it launched military operations in Swat and South Waziristan in 2009, militants belonging to Pakistani Taliban took shelter in Afghanistan and started using it as a base, with the help of Afghan intelligence, to carry out operations against Pakistan,” wrote the Voice of America’s Ayesha Tanzeem in May. With such complexities and rampant mistrust, the prospect of peace talks remains dim. As Weinbaum told The Diplomat, “One side’s got to win and one’s got to lose.” WD Justin Salhani (@JustinSalhani) is a contributing writer for The Washington Diplomat. Anna Gawel is the managing editor. THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT | JUNE 2016 | 47

( 24” W I D E X 33.5” D E E P - C O R O P LA S T )

12TH ANNU ANNUAL EMBASSY

GOLF TOURNAMENT THANK YOU

TO OUR SPONSORS FOR MAKING THIS YEAR’S EVENT SUCH A SUCCESS

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

A B S O LU T E T R AV E L . C O M

Insurance made simple.

AMBASSADOR INSIDER SERIES

48 | THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT | JUNE 2016