May 2011 by The Washington Diplomat

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■ VOLUME 18, NUMBER 5 UNITED STATES

CÔTE D’IVOIRE

World Watches as Congress Wrestles Over U.S. Spending

Former Jordan Diplomat Hopes Arab Elite Gets The Message

It’s not just anxious Americans who have been following the Beltway battle over the federal budget. The city’s diplomats are intently watching the partisan showdown as well to see how much money and manpower the U.S. government releases across the globe. PAGE 11

A former deputy prime minister of Jordan, ambassador in Washington and World Bank vice president, Marwan Muasher now uses his perch at the Carnegie Endowment to advocate for the reforms he’s been urging Arab leaders to adopt — long before the need for those reforms became painfully obvious. PAGE 6

UNITED STATES

Arab Awakening Jolts U.S., Forcing Policy Reassessment Ever since a street vendor in Tunisia lit himself on fire, a vast region from the Atlantic Ocean to the Arabian Sea has been engulfed in turmoil, forcing the U.S. to take a cold, hard look at its strategic interests as the Arab awakening shakes up American policy. PAGE 15

culture

Passport DC Brings World to Washington Passport DC’s annual around-theworld tour opens the doors to dozens of embassies for tens of thousands of visitors. PAGE 46

PEOPLE OF WORLD INFLUENCE

DIPLOMATIC SPOUSES

BACK FROM THE BRINK Laurent Gbagbo’s arrest pulled Côte d’Ivoire, once West Africa’s most prosperous country, back from the brink of civil war. It also cleared up a few things at the Washington embassy, where for a time there were two ambassadors, each loyal to a different president, until Alassane Ouattara’s man, Daouda Diabaté, finally took charge. PAGE 19

Third Time’s The Charm for Tans of Turkey “Honey, I’m very lucky,” says Fügen Tan with refreshingly undiplomatic candor of living in Washington, D.C., which has become like a second home for Fügen and her husband, Turkish Ambassador Namik Tan, who are now on their third posting in the nation’s capital. PAGE 47

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Office for Trade Promotion We Measure Our Success by Your Success About Us The International Trade Center (ITC) is a preeminent forum in the heart of the nation’s capital advancing international commerce and cross-cultural dialogue. As a seamless, unifying framework, the ITC provides a platform for building connections, fostering diplomacy, growing businesses and creating a more prosperous U.S. and global economy. Trade Events As the programming arm of the International Trade Center, the Office for Trade Promotion

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Above Right: Muhammad Yunus, 2006 Nobel Prize Winner, Launches Book Tour at the RRB/ITC

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May 2011

CONTENTS THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT

May 2011

15 Egypt

Language learning

[ news ] 6

PEOPLE OF WORLD INFLUENCE

POLITICS

LANGUAGE LEARNING Despite the advent of high-tech translation tools, students are still flocking to language schools, proving that smart phone apps haven’t replaced face-to-face learning.

The political tightrope over America’s finances has left many diplomats in suspense, so here are some key players to watch on Capitol Hill as the federal budget battle plays out.

U.S.-Afghan relations

[ education ]

A former deputy prime minister of Jordan, Marwan Muasher was speaking out on the need for reform in the Middle East years before the current upheaval swept the Arab world.

[ medical ]

For a while, the power struggle seizing Côte d’Ivoire was also playing out on a smaller scale in D.C., where the city had two ambassadors, each loyal to a different president, until Daouda Diabaté firmly took charge.

[ culture ]

GLOBAL VANTAGE POINT 46

COVER: Photo taken at the Embassy of Côte d’Ivoire by Lawrence Ruggeri.

DESIGN Move over IKEA. Spain’s furniture designers are putting the fun back into function.

DINING Michel in Virginia offers a taste of celebrity chef Michel Richard’s family of restaurants, though it’s still upstaged by its older D.C. siblings.

FILM REVIEWS Aaron Schock wanted to make a documentary about Mexican culture that didn’t deal with immigration, though he ended up with subjects who are themselves everlasting migrants.

FILM FESTIVALS “Film Forward” is an ambitious showcase of 10 awardwinning international films at 10 venues on the National Mall.

CINEMA LISTING

EVENTS LISTING

DIPLOMATIC SPOTLIGHT

DIPLOMATIC SPOUSES

WORLD HOLIDAYS / APPOINTMENTS

She is positive that she’s boring, but Fügen Tan of Turkey is anything but, exuding an honest charm that is downright disarming.

CLASSIFIEDS

REAL ESTATE CLASSIFIEDS

Passport DC is back for its fourth year, opening the doors to dozens of embassies for tens of thousands of visitors in what has become an annual cultural extravaganza.

BOOK REVIEW In “Ideas and Action,” George P. Shultz distills the lessons he learned during a remarkably consequential yet often overlooked career.

EVENTS

THEATER Yasmina Reza’s “Art” is a well-acted, crisply directed dark comedy that examines taste and tact, as well as the emotional threads that bind the fabric of lifelong friendships.

DRUG PRICES

PHOTOGRAPHY A new Meridian International Center exhibit frames America’s relationship with Afghanistan into historical perspective.

Within three months, a synthetic hormone used to prevent preterm labor went from $10 to $1,500 — dramatically exposing the larger problem of exorbitant drug costs.

DIPLOMACY

As the massive reconstruction effort gets under way in Japan, the government needs to think big to build a fundamentally different model of development.

A robotic revolution is changing the face of surgery as we know it, with mechanical arms replacing hand scalpels in hospitals across the country.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development is a low-profile player with a decidedly highbrow reputation, though its power is as misunderstood as it is underestimated.

ROBOTIC-ASSISTED SURGERY

ART “Gauguin: Maker of Myth” traverses the artist’s real-life quest for authenticity that spanned the world, and his imagination.

This spring, different nations came together to learn from each other’s education systems and specifically, how they treat the teachers who form the backbone of those systems.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

COVER PROFILE: CÔTE D’IVOIRE

TEACHING MODELS

As the Arab world undergoes a historic moment of awakening, The Diplomat takes a cold-eyed, countryby-country look at what’s at stake for America.

P.O. Box 1345 • Silver Spring, MD 20915-1345 • Phone: (301) 933-3552 • Fax: (301) 949-0065 • E-mail: news@washdiplomat.com • Web: www.washdiplomat.com Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Victor Shiblie Director of Operations Fuad Shiblie Managing Editor Anna Gawel News Editor Larry Luxner Assistant Editor Julie Poucher Harbin Contributing Writers Rachael Bade, Michael Coleman, Jacob Comenetz, Carolyn Cosmos, Rachel Hunt, Stephanie Kanowitz, Luke Jerod Kummer, Dena Levitz, Seth McLaughlin, Ky N. Nguyen, Gail Scott, Gina Shaw, John Shaw, Gary Tischler Photographer Jessica Latos Director of Sales Ben Porter Account Managers Ryan Bender, David Garber, Chris Smith Graphic Designer Cari Bambach 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 $25 for 12 issues and $45 for 24 issues. Call Fuad Shiblie for past issues. If your organization employs many people from the international community you may qualify for free bulk delivery. To see if you qualify you must contact Fuad Shiblie. The Washington Diplomat assumes no responsibility for the safe keeping or return of unsolicited manuscripts, photographs, artwork or other material. 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.

May 2011

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Marwan Muasher

Veteran Jordanian Diplomat Hopes Arab Ruling Elite Finally Wakes Up by Michael Coleman

n an Arab world where incendiary rhetoric and intransigent — even dangerous — political posturing is commonplace, Marwan Muasher offers a voice of reason. A former deputy prime minister of Jordan, ambassador in Washington, World Bank vice president, and current vice president for studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Muasher was speaking out on the need for political and economic reforms in the Middle East years before the current upheaval swept the Arab world.

Now at Carnegie, buoyed by the latest events, he has a high-profile platform from which to project his moderate yet progressive views. It’s apparent that people who matter are listening. Muasher’s op-eds have been published in major American and international newspapers and he is an occasional guest on National Public Radio,“The Charlie Rose Show” and other influential, intellectual television and radio programs. At Carnegie, Muasher oversees the think tank’s Middle East programs in Washington and Beirut. On a recent rainy day in April, Muasher met with The Diplomat in his tidy office near Dupont Circle to discuss the rapidly evolving developments in the Middle East, as well as the stalled ArabIsraeli peace process and the U.S. role in the region at large. All three are topics he understands very well. In 1995, Muasher opened Jordan’s first embassy in Israel, and from 1997 to 2002, he served in Washington as ambassador, negotiating the first free trade agreement between the United States and an Arab nation. He then returned to Jordan to become foreign minister, playing a central role in developing the Arab Peace Initiative and the Middle East roadmap, after which he served as deputy prime minister, with a focus on reform and government performance. During this time he also led an effort to produce a 10-year plan for political, economic and social reform — a specific blueprint that he says would have changed Jordanian laws to open up elections, improve freedom of the press and reduce gender discrimination, gradually shifting from a monarchy-based system toward a meritocracy. As he put it in a recent Washington Post op-ed: “Little surprise that an entrenched political elite shot down these efforts.” Muasher told The Diplomat that he accepted the Carnegie Endowment post because it provided him with a place to conduct serious, scholarly work that is not saddled with ideological baggage or a preconceived agenda. “I needed a place where I could write and voice my views about the need for reform in the Arab world,” Muasher explained. “I felt that Carnegie could be such a place. It is a highly regarded think

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tank that is seen as objective and researchbased. Our scholars’ opinions are always informed by solid research.” Of course, the political protests and uprisings in the Middle East — which have spread from Tunisia and Egypt to Libya, Yemen and beyond — have dominated the international headlines all spring and by extension, Muasher’s work. Not surprisingly, he had no shortage of opinion about the rapid-fire turn of events. “I think there is an underlying theme that cuts across all of the recent uprisings we have seen, and that is a call for better governments and dignity,” he said.“In all of these countries, they certainly have different visions and different degrees of legitimacy, but the one factor that has united all of these protests is a call for dignity and better government.” He added: “It is an issue I have been concerned with for a very long time because most Arab governments have ignored it and not addressed it in any serious way.” Muasher said many Arab governments

PHOTO: CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL PEACE

“

There is a fear barrier that has been broken. There is a myth that has been shattered that Arabs don’t go out in the street [to protest]. There is a call for better governance that can no longer be ignored. — MARWAN MUASHER

”

vice president for studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

have long acted as if the only pressing issue in the region is whether the Israelis and Palestinians might come to some kind of peace agreement, when in fact there are serious internal problems festering within just about every country in the Middle East. “This is a formula for disaster,” he declared.“The Arab center cannot be credible if it focuses only on peace and ignores other issues. We are seeing the results of this today.” Muasher cited high unemployment, inadequate education systems, an entrenched class of elites and a general feeling of disenfranchisement among Arab

citizens as fueling the discontent and unrest. He said he “believes in” revolutions, but doesn’t see them ushering in fundamental change overnight. “I believe reform must be gradual but I also believe it must be serious,” he said. “The old guard in the Arab world has for a long time used the fact that there are no protests in the street to paint a false picture that the Arab publics were satisfied. But the status quo is not sustainable.” He adds that while reform must be homegrown and gradual, it also must be holistic and can’t rely on cosmetic fixes like bumping up salaries — something governments in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Oman,

Bahrain and elsewhere have tried in order to placate angry citizens. “So far, the response to these uprisings has been either financial handouts or ad hoc programs [from the ruling elite]. Very few countries have said, ‘We are ready to engage in a serious, comprehensive process that looks not at just one or two laws but at everything that needs to be done,’” Muasher said. And part of what needs to be done, according to Muasher, is rebalancing different branches of Arab governments. “We need stronger parliaments that are able to exercise oversight authority on the executive branch that would lead to a system of checks and balances,” he said. “The executive has been too dominant in the Arab world. As a result we have seen things like corruption increase dramatically in recent years. The result is evident in places like Egypt and Tunisia.” He also argues that putting power in the hands of a small cadre of political elite in the executive branches of government leads to arrogance — and corruption. Naturally, the masses who are left out of the

See MUASHER, page 8 May 2011

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Muasher nepotism loop feel isolation and anger. “We need new social contracts between a state and its citizens…. I think that the old way of ruling is a way of the past,” Muasher said.“The state government operates as if it is the master of its people instead of its servant. Here in the United States we use the word ‘public servant’ — but they don’t use that word. People don’t feel as if they are being treated as citizens or as if the rule of law is being applied. There is too much nepotism when people just want to be treated fairly and to feel that they have a part in the decision-making processes of their countries.” In his writings, Muasher has often lamented that Arab governments embraced economic reforms but hardly paid more than lip service to political reforms. “The two processes should go together — both are equally important,” he told The Diplomat. “This notion of economic reform can’t happen without political reform. The results we have seen in economic reform — liberalization of trade, privatization of state-owned industries, globalization, etc. — all of these have been done without the benefits of checks and balances. “And what we have seen in all of these countries is the benefits of these reforms going to an elite few. As a result, economic reform has a bad name in the Arab world. Not because economic reform is bad but because it was not exercised the proper way in a way that ensured no one could abuse the system.” But Muasher says the political elite in Arab countries still don’t seem to get that time is running out on the old ways of doing things. “They act as if the Arab people don’t go into the street today, there is no problem,” he charged.“They use it as an excuse to do nothing.What I am arguing now is that there needs to be a wake-up call and fast by the political elite, understanding that this cannot go on and will not go on as before.

“Whether that is happening or not I still have my strong doubts,” he added. One factor that gives Muasher some hope is that across the Arab world, the population is extremely young.About 70 percent of Arabs are 30 or younger. This youth bulge — which is disproportionately unemployed — has sparked many of the protests. It could also be a major force for change as the younger generations take advantage of social media and travel beyond the region for their education. “They have had exposure to the new world that the old guard has not and they are not willing to stay silent anymore,” Muasher said, although he cautions that gradual reform will not be any easier than revolutionary reform. “This is not going to be a smooth process by any means,” he said. “The Arab governments have made sure there are no strong civil societies or political parties and therefore it is difficult to come up with leadership in this new era. “We have seen this in Egypt and we have seen this in Tunisia, but I also think the initial signs in Egypt are promising,” he continued.“You have seen a younger generation who truly want a pluralistic society, who truly don’t want repeat of a system where the president is everything. I’m not naïve enough to think this is enough to ensure an orderly process, but they do send positive signals.” Muasher noted that a common misperception about the Arab world in the West is that if democratic reforms are instituted, then Islamic radicals will win elections, making Arab-American relations even more strained. “In a democratic, open, pluralistic system, the Islamists will have to compete against a number of alternatives to the political establishment,” he said. “But in a closed political system where people who are dissatisfied with the political system have nowhere to go … some of that support going to Islamists is a protest vote. It’s not because of [widespread] support of Islamist policies.” Muasher predicted that open, democratic systems in most Middle Eastern countries would naturally produce some Islamist representation, but the Islamists wouldn’t dominate Arab governments. “The Islamists will get their fair share, which in a

place like Egypt or Jordan probably is around 20 percent of the population, as all polls indicate,” he said.“That is an important force in society but it is by no means a majority.” He pointed to Egypt as a case study. In the early days of the Egyptian uprising, many pundits predicted the rise of the conservative Muslim Brotherhood. “But the Muslim Brotherhood did not position themselves as leaders of the revolution, or uprising — I actually don’t know what to call it so far,” Muasher said with a laugh. “If they had done so, it would have created a big backlash. I think the Islamists in Egypt so far have indicated they will not field a presidential candidate and won’t contest more than a third of the seats in a new parliament. “There is the beginning of the realization in the Arab world that it is no longer acceptable for any force to be dominant, whether it is Islamists or the traditional political establishment. There is nothing wrong with the Islamists being a part of the process, and they have been part of the process in places like Jordan, Morocco and Kuwait. “The important thing to insist on is that they employ peaceful means.As long as they have peaceful means they are entitled to their positions.” Turning to the subject of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Muasher insists the time is ripe for thirdparty involvement, contrary to the notion of some who say there is too much else happening in the Middle East to focus on the decades-old dispute. “This is exactly the time and exactly the situation that begs a third-party intervention so the dust does settle on the right side,” he argues. Muasher said Obama’s speech in Cairo two years ago, in which he pledged “to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims,” was widely praised in the Muslim world. But in the two years since, that same world has seen mostly war or inaction, especially in the moribund Israeli-Arab talks, from the United States. “The U.S. needs to not just accelerate the pace of Arab-Israeli peacemaking but bring it to a resolution and soon,” he said.“Getting an agreement fairly soon would help the U.S. with its credibility on

other issues in the Arab world.” Muasher believes the Israelis and Palestinians are too firmly entrenched in their competing positions to ever come to a workable agreement. And that’s where the U.S. role can take shape. “The approach so far has been to get the two parties back to the negotiation table and expect that against all odds they will arrive at an agreement…. This bilateral approach has exhausted its possibilities. “Both parties need things from the other party that they can’t get on its own,” he said.“The Israelis don’t just need peace with the Palestinians. They need a solution to the Hamas problem and the Hezbollah problem and the Iran problem. “The Palestinians don’t just want an agreement with Israel — they want support for that agreement from the Arab and Muslim world so they are not called traitors on compromises they will have to make to reach an agreement,” said Muasher, author of “The Arab Center: The Promise of Moderation,” a 2008 book whose basic message is that time is rapidly running out for a comprehensive solution to the festering conflict (also see “Jordan’s Former Foreign Minister on the Promise of Arab Moderation” in the October 2010 issue of The Washington Diplomat). Despite the frustrating lack of movement on the Israeli-Palestinian front, Muasher said he’s excited to see changes pulsating throughout the Middle East, but cautioned that no one can predict what the end result will be. “It’s still too early to see how things will develop in Egypt or elsewhere,” he said.“One thing is sure in my view is that the Arab world is not going to be the same. There is a fear barrier that has been broken. There is a myth that has been shattered that Arabs don’t go out in the street [to protest].There is a call for better governance that can no longer be ignored. Given all of this, what is the response to this? It will be measured not in months or even years. The full repercussions can only be measured in decades.”

Michael Coleman is a contributing writer for The Washington Diplomat.

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POLITICS

United States

Key Foreign Policy Players Try to Master Capitol Hill by Seth McLaughlin

he Beltway battle over the federal budget was temporarily interrupted by the real-life fighting in Libya and natural catastrophe in Japan, but the spending debate roared back to life in mid-April, consuming lawmakers on Capitol Hill as they scrambled to avoid a government shutdown, which would have been the first since 1995.

The game of chicken came down to the wire, but a shutdown was ultimately averted, although that was just round one of what’s set to be a drawn-out tug of war over America’s finances. Round two over the 2012 budget and round three, raising the country’s debt ceiling — which if left unchecked, could prove even more economically catastrophic than a shutdown — promise to be even more epic. But it’s not just politicos in Washington and anxious Americans who are following the partisan showdown.The city’s diplomats have been intently watching the congressional sparring as well. After all, strengthening economic ties with the world’s largest economy is among every diplomat’s top priorities. Whether it’s development assistance or trade and investment, the state of the U.S. government checkbook matters not just to Americans, but to the world. However, after a decade of tax cuts coupled with two wars, a housing boom and bust and an economic recession, America’s bloated and battered checkbook needs rebalancing. Both Republicans and Democrats agree that with a budget deficit of $1.5 trillion and climbing — along with a national debt of about $14.2 trillion — federal spending must be curbed. But by how much, from where and how fast, especially in the midst of a still fragile recovery and sagging unemployment, will be the talk of the town for months to come. Immediately after the dust settled over the budget for the 2011 fiscal year that ends Sept. 30, both sides set their sights on the 2012 numbers that will also decide the amount of money and manpower the United States releases across the globe. Though the State Department and foreign operations budget represent a sliver of total spending, most peg it at about 1 percent of more than $3.5 trillion federal budget, money spent on diplomacy and development has become a convenient whipping post for voters and lawmakers searching for quick answers to the country’s financial mess, but also wary of the fallout from reforming the real drivers of federal spending — popular entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare, and spending on defense (also see “America’s Foreign Affairs Budget Faces Congressional Chopping Block” in the March 2011 issue of The Washington Diplomat). Even if politicians are more willing to broach so-called third rail subjects like

May 2011

Medicare and Medicaid, the international affairs budget still faces the threat of significant cuts by lawmakers determined to show fiscal restraint across the board. A congressman would be hard pressed to take away grandmother’s Medicare and justify giving more assistance to rebel fighters in Libya, for instance, even if the two cases aren’t exactly correlated. Explaining fiscal nuance is not an easy sell. Politically speaking, it’s simply easier for lawmakers to cut foreign aid than to go after programs that have a more noticeable effect on their constituents back in their home districts. But like entitlement programs, the Pentagon is where the actual spending — and by extension potential savings — is. In general, the budget for international affairs has amounted to about $50 billion annually in recent years while the Defense Department racks up roughly $700 billion a year, including most war expenditures. Yet both parties have only flirted with the idea of touching the Defense budget, which has become a sacred cow among lawmakers of all stripes. Public misperceptions also drive the political expediency. Americans think that 25 percent of the federal budget goes to foreign assistance, according to a recent poll by the University of Maryland’s Program on International Policy Attitudes. The real amount? The total international affairs budget comes in at under 1.5 percent. But you can be sure both sides will be clawing over every scrap of that 1.5 percent. As it stands, the fiscal 2011 budget allocated $48.3 billion for State and foreign operations — an $8.4 billion reduction from the president’s requested amount though it was on par with 2010 levels.As part of the $38 billion of cuts in the 2011 budget, about $500 million was carved out of the State Department’s budget compared to last year, while U.S. payments to the United Nations will be decreased by $377 million. Pay for Foreign Service officers was also frozen, and USAID operating expenses were trimmed by $39 million. But the GOP is eyeing far bigger cuts in foreign aid for 2012. President Obama has sounded the starting gun on next year’s spending battle by rolling out a $3.7 trillion request that included $47 billion for the State Department and USAID — roughly a 1 percent increase compared to 2010 levels. Combined with additional diplomacy and

PHOTO: LARRY LUXNER

development efforts, including the Peace Corps and the Millennium Challenge Corp., the president is requesting $50.9 billion in foreign assistance.That’s $3.7 billion less than what was requested in fiscal 2011. Obama is also requesting $8.7 billion in supplemental funding for the State Department and USAID in fiscal 2012 as they can take on additional responsibilities in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. In general, most (though not all) Republicans have been highly critical of any increase to the international affairs budget in a time of fiscal austerity, arguing that America needs to get its own economic house in order before sending money abroad. Some conservatives also want better vetting of foreign aid programs to make certain they indeed strengthen national security and that federal money isn’t being funneled into countries with poor records of democracy and human rights. Others though have suggested the budget line should be zeroed out altogether, or severely gutted. In response, Democrats have sounded the alarm, warning that cuts to foreign assistance don’t make a dent in deficit reduction and would be penny-wise but pound-foolish over the long haul.They’re backed by most of the

military brass, which agrees that the country’s soldiers should not be doing the job of its diplomats. USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah was far more blunt, telling Congress recently that the proposed 2011 cuts to foreign ops would directly lead to the death of 70,000 children who otherwise would have received immunizations, malaria and other health treatments. It’s clear the budget battle goes beyond mere numbers. What ultimately gets axed will hinge in large part on what Democrats and Republicans find to be the most pressing national security challenges confronting the country, ranging from the drawdown of troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, to the volatile Arab revolutions in Libya,Yemen and Bahrain, to the level of certain U.S. foreign aid packages — a budget tightrope that also leaves many diplomats in suspense. So here’s a guide to some of the up-andcoming players who’ll have a strong say over U.S. foreign policy for at least the next two years, including members of the Republican Party who are leading the charge in the budget-cutting frenzy.

See CONGRESS, page 13 The Washington Diplomat Page 11

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May 2011

from page 11

Congress PAUL D. RYAN Wisconsin Republican As the new chairman of the House Budget Committee, Paul Ryan has essentially become the architect of the spending debates, forcing lawmakers to fundamentally rethink the size and scope of the U.S. government, both at home and abroad. In April, the Wisconsin Republican revealed his “Path to Prosperity” plan for the 2012 budget that would dramatically pare back future government spending, slashing $5.8 trillion over the next decade by redefining programs such as Medicare. The House adopted the plan on a strictly partyline vote, though it’s all but dead on arrival in the Democratic-controlled Senate. Critics have charged that Ryan’s spending cuts would devastate average Americans, including the poor and elderly, and some have openly laughed at his blueprint’s “voodoo economics” that tax cuts (he proposes about $2.9 trillion over the next decade) would pay for themselves and virtually eliminate unemployment, as New York Times columnist Paul Krugman recently wrote. Others though have praised his willingness to tackle highly popular social programs whose unsustainable spending trajectory is putting the nation’s future at risk. As fellow New York Times columnist David Brooks put it: “If voters want taxes that amount to roughly 18 percent of G.D.P., then they are going to have to accept a government that looks roughly like what Ryan is describing.” But beyond the domestic ramifications, Ryan’s proposals will help shape the role that the United States plays overseas by giving the House Appropriations Committee the financial parameters for the spending debate. Ryan and GOP leaders in the House had offered a spending plan for the rest of fiscal 2011 that would have reduced State and foreign operations spending to $44.9 billion, trimming funds from global health programs, contributions to international organizations and disaster assistance. As for 2012, Ryan has grander ambitions. His plan would slash international affairs and foreign assistance by 29 percent in 2012 and 44 percent by 2016 — while boosting the defense budget by 14 percent over the same time period. Critics blasted the plan as draconian and potentially devastating to American power abroad.“Cuts of this magnitude would harm U.S. exports and kill American jobs, force the U.S. to abdicate our moral responsibility to help those most in need, and essentially cede the playing field to China in many parts of Asia, Africa and Latin America,” Howard Berman (D-Calif.), the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a statement. Others charge that Ryan’s cuts would eviscerate American diplomacy and development, leaving only the military as the face of U.S. engagement with the world. Foreign Policy’s David Rothkopf, writing in the blog “Death Panels for Diplomacy,” argued that “at just the moment when aid is most critical on initiatives of vital national security from fighting terrorism to stabilizing the Middle East to winning support for the U.S. in regions where our rivals are spending furiously to tip the scales in their favor, Ryan would effectively shut off the lights in Foggy Bottom and say that America will now do less, be less engaged, be less influential — right up until the point at which any issue must be resolved with force.” While Ryan’s decision making has been showered at times with criticism by many on the left, he’s also come under fire from some conservative members, many of then Tea Party backed, who have been even more skeptical of foreign aid, urging the House leadership to adopt a radically May 2011

lower ceiling of foreign aid or eliminate it altogether. To his credit, Ryan has pushed back against some of those critics and worked to undercut the false belief that getting rid of foreign aid will solve the country’s massive fiscal mess. “They literally think you can just balance” the budget by cutting “waste, fraud and abuse, foreign aid and [National Public Radio],” the Wisconsin Republican said in an interview with the Associated Press.“And it doesn’t work like that.” Ryan has not offered any details on how he’d eventually cut the foreign budget by 44 percent, which has been overshadowed by the domestic elements in his proposal. Although he’s focused more on explaining those cuts, Ryan has defended the overall plan as necessary to keep the country from going broke, which in turn would inevitably erode U.S. influence abroad. “America is facing a defining moment,” he stressed in a Wall Street Journal op-ed. “The threat posed by our monumental debt will damage our country in profound ways, unless we act.”

REP. ERIC CANTOR Virginia Republican Shortly after the election, Eric Cantor’s GOP colleagues elected him to be the majority leader in the House, making the Virginian congressman the first Jewish House majority leader and putting him second in charge to House Speaker John Boehner, Ohio Republican. From his perch atop the lower chamber, Cantor essentially serves as gatekeeper. He’s responsible for drawing up the chamber’s daily floor schedule and has a strong say in what bills come to the floor for action, including those dealing with spending and international matters. That could be a problem for Democrats because Cantor has been vocal about the administration’s handling of Iran and Israel. He raised some eyebrows last year when, according to news reports, he told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the new GOP majority will serve as “a check” to the policies of the Obama administration, which initially pushed for freezing Jewish settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Asked about Cantor, one U.S.-Israel relations expert said,“Cantor is a status quo; Israel does no wrong [among] Republicans, plain and simple.” The expert added:“He is an impediment to the president in that any major peace move will likely be denounced by him and Rep. Ileana RosLehtinen [R-Fla.] as bad for Israel, and he will be solicited by Israeli leaders to back them in Congress, potentially against the president’s plans.” In February, some news reports credited him with playing a role in convincing the administration to make the sole veto vote on a U.N. resolution that condemned Israel’s settlement activities in the Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, as illegal — despite the support of the 14 other Security Council member states. Cantor has already floated the idea of separating financial assistance to Israel from the rest of the foreign operations budget in an attempt to safeguard it from members of his own caucus who are angling to slash aid. He’s also campaigned to end U.S. taxpayer support for the Palestinian Authority. A supporter of using the power of America’s purse to demand change abroad, Cantor has said the House would work to defund nations if they don’t share U.S. strategic interests.

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KAY GRANGER Texas Republican

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Continued on next page The Washington Diplomat Page 13

Continued from previous page where foreign aid is spent, helping to draft funding bills for international affairs. She’s among the lawmakers who’ve questioned whether federal dollars are going to foreign governments with poor records of good governance, and has urged greater safeguards to ensure that civilian assistance isn’t diverted to corrupt actors in such places as Afghanistan — that includes closely scrutinizing the money channeled to Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Since taking over the subcommittee, Granger has pushed back against the president’s budget requests, while praising the GOP’s spending proposals and calling for some assurance that foreign aid isn’t being used a pseudo-stimulus bill for foreign countries. The Texas Republican provided a glimpse into her foreign policy vision in March in her opening remarks during a committee hearing where Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testified on her department’s fiscal 2012 budget request. The United States, Granger said, must “achieve clear objectives and demonstrate results” in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq, and address the cartels that continue to traffic drugs through South and Central America, “bringing violence to our backyard.” Also, the country should support reform efforts under way in North Africa and the Middle East, while “continued investments in democracy promotion and military assistance will be critical to maintaining peace in a very difficult environment.” But it must do so without breaking the bank, she added, warning that “justifying the total funding levels proposed in [the president’s] budget simply will not be possible.” “Plans to increase State and USAID staff, support large multiyear commitments, and boost lending by international banks must be reconsidered,” she declared, arguing that “we cannot continue to spend like we have in the past.”

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The Washington Diplomat

REP. ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN Florida Republican The new chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the outspoken Ileana Ros-Lehtinen wasted little time letting people know that she’ll take a more hard-line approach to America’s relations with the United Nations than her Democratic counterparts did when they ran the show in recent years. The first committee hearing the Florida Republican held was titled “The United Nations: Urgent Problems That Need Congressional Action,” and she promised early on this year to tie U.S. payments to the United States directly to bureaucratic reform — a pledge that’s sure to dredge up the longstanding divide between Republicans and Democrats over the usefulness of the world body and whether the U.S. should pay its dues, about 22 percent of the U.N. budget, with no strings attached. “The majority of our members are on board to reform the corrupt and mismanaged U.N. and get a much better return for our dollars,” the Florida Republican said in an interview with the Washington Times. “Cutting the budget is not enough, because you need to reform the monster, you need to reform the beast, and if you don’t get fundamental reform, you are still rewarding a corrupt, mismanaged agency.” Democrats, though, have said that reviving the debate over U.N. dues — a cause célèbre of former President Bush’s combative U.N. envoy, John Bolton — is short sighted and could actually undermine the reform process already under way at the world body. Ros-Lehtinen failed in her initial bid to force the United Nations to return $179 million in U.S. overpayments by a vote of 259 to 169, mostly in light of the fact that much of the money had already been

designated for security measures aimed at protecting the international headquarters in New York. Ros-Lehtinen has also set her sights on foreign assistance. Her predecessor on the committee, Howard Berman (D-Calif.), had drawn up a bill to reform the unwieldy foreign aid process, which is all but dead in the water given that Ros-Lehtinen isn’t likely to resurrect it. Rather, she supports reducing the amount of money appropriated for State and foreign operations, saying that the substantial increase in USAID’s budget between 2008 and 2010 “is just not feasible in light of what is happening here at home.” “Those who complain about diminished levels of U.S. aid funding need to ask themselves: How much less would an insolvent United States be able to do?” Like Granger though, Ros-Lehtinen is generally in favor of military operations and doesn’t seem eager to target defense funding. To that end, news reports suggest that Ros-Lehtinen will express her concerns about the proposed U.S. troop drawdown later this year. And like Cantor, Ros-Lehtinen is a staunch supporter of Israel, as well as an ardent critic of Venezuela’s Hugo Chávez. And true to her reputation as a fierce anti-Castro crusader, the Havana native and longtime member of the CubanAmerican lobby will undoubtedly resist any easing of economic sanctions or travel restrictions on the communist island.

men and women to serve in the military, as well as Democratic attempts to attach a proposal to the annual defense policy bill that would have provided a path to citizenship for some children of illegal immigrants. Whatever one thinks about the McCain’s new attack dog approach, he continues to hold powerful sway as the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, which is responsible for all matters relating to defense policy in the United States, including oversight of the Pentagon and the nation’s armed forces. It appears McCain is poised to push back against the White House’s decision to set timetables for the removal of troops from Iraq at the end of the year and Afghanistan in July.“We should not undercut our strategy in Afghanistan by holding to arbitrary timelines for withdrawal based on politics, rather than an honest assessment of conditions on the ground and the readiness of Afghan forces,” he has argued. McCain also teamed up with Sen. Joseph Lieberman, Connecticut Independent, in urging the administration to aid the civilians revolting against Libya’s Muammar Qaddafi and was among the first leaders in Congress to vocally call for a no-fly zone over the North African country. McCain also adamantly opposed the administration’s efforts to close Guantanamo Bay prison and has been a leading advocate for taking a tougher stance against Iran.

JOHN MCCAIN Arizona Republican

RICHARD LUGAR Indiana Republican

Since losing the 2008 presidential election, political insiders generally agree that John McCain’s political persona as a moderate maverick has markedly shifted to the right, as he’s grown increasingly angry with the administration and Democrats. He’s railed against the campaign to allow openly gay

Richard Lugar, the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is an elder statesman of the U.S. Senate and was a key ally in the administration’s successful push to ratify the new START

See CONGRESS, page 18

May 2011

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Arab Revolt

As Arab World Roils in Uncertainty, What’s at Stake for U.S. Interests? by Luke Jerod Kummer

ince Mohamed Bouazizi, a street vendor in Tunisia, lit himself on fire only a few months ago, a vast region from the Atlantic Ocean to the Arabian Sea has been engulfed by varying degrees of turmoil and instability. Until then, the Middle East and North Africa were rife with autocratic dictators, overwhelming disparities of wealth, religious extremism and the omnipresent threat of terrorism, but the political situations in most of these countries actually seemed pretty fixed. Many of the regimes had crystallized over decades, and leaders wielded power with an iron grip. Few could have predicted just how dramatically and quickly that stability would unravel — certainly the entrenched political order didn’t see it coming, nor, it seems, did the United States. After being caught off guard by tumult in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Bahrain, Syria and elsewhere, the United States is being forced to reevaluate its interests and policies across the region. Pundits keep searching for a grand, sweeping doctrine to define the Obama administration’s reaction to the upheaval, and although some consistent themes have emerged — a call to respect peaceful protests, for example, and protect civilians — the U.S. government’s response will most likely be tailored to reflect each nation’s unique circumstances. So here is a cold-eyed, country-by-country look at what’s at stake for America as the Arab world undergoes a historic moment of awakening, and its leaders face an equally historic day of reckoning.

hj EGYPT

LEADER IN JAN. 2011: President Hosni Mubarak THE STAKES: Egypt is the most central and most populous Arab state. Both because of its shared border with Israel and the historic treaty between the two nations dating back to 1979, Egypt is the lynchpin to Israeli security in both the short and long term, and its support has been key to moving the Arab-Israeli peace process forward through difficult times. After sustained organized demonstrations and violent reprisals from the government in December and January, President Obama publicly called for President Hosni Mubarak to step down and the military to assume power in the run-up to elections. Now, the United States is even more heavily invested in Egypt’s future. “How Egypt goes may well determine how the rest of the region goes,” said Emile Hokayem, a senior fellow for regional security at the U.K.-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) who focuses on the Middle East. “U.S. interests here are very clear, to be honest. It’s about seeking to stabilize the situation and getting Egypt right.” The administration is determined to create a model in May 2011

PHOTO: LARRY LUXNER

Cairo has somewhat calmed down since the popular uprising in Tahrir Square that ousted longtime President Hosni Mubarak, but sporadic demonstrations continue by protestors frustrated with the ruling military and the slow pace of dismantling Mubarak’s regime. As a lynchpin of American and Israeli security, Egypt’s future is critical to U.S. interests in the region.

Egypt for a democratically elected regime that is more participatory than the kleptocracy it replaced. The United States would also be very pleased if it could pull that off without jeopardizing Israeli security or emboldening religious extremists.

hj SAUDI ARABIA

LEADER IN JAN. 2011: King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud THE STAKES: Maintaining an even keel in Saudi Arabia is of supreme importance to the American and global economies because it is the Middle East’s largest producer of oil, and one of the few countries in the world capable of increasing oil output to make up for shortages elsewhere. As custodian to the holiest sites in Islam, Saudi Arabia plays a unique role in the Muslim world. Because of this legacy and the vast wealth of some of its citizens, the Saudis have considerable and far-reaching influence across the Middle East, Europe, Asia and beyond. “I think a collapse of the Saudi regime followed by any significant level of disorder in the kingdom would probably be the single most destabilizing event that one could think of in the Middle East,” said James Dobbins, director of the RAND Corporation’s International Security and Defense Policy Center. Despite deep historical ties, relations between the United States and the Saudi monarchy have been strained by recent events, especially after President Obama withdrew support for Mubarak, a Saudi ally. The situation worsened when the administration seemed reluc-

tant to support Saudi intervention in Bahrain. Although the Saudi government helps to export a fundamentalist form of Islam, it’s also bent on fighting terrorism, in large part for its own self-preservation.“It’s possible that a successor regime would be less sectarian and that it would possibly be more internally focused, but it’s also possible that you would have a regime that is more extremist. I think Saudi society has been so closed and so resistant to broader modernizing influences for so long that it’s very unpredictable,” said Dobbins. There have been subtle stirrings of dissent in Saudi Arabia, but there is no organized opposition and, given the extremely tight control of the government, there is not likely to be one in the foreseeable future. Because the country wields so much power and is an essential counterweight to Iran, ultimately, the United States will likely need to realign its foreign policies with the kingdom’s to ensure stability and achieve its geostrategic aims.

hj LIBYA

LEADER IN JAN. 2011: Col. Muammar Qaddafi THE STAKES: Widespread organized protests sparked violent retaliation from Qaddafi and threats of genocide. The United States and NATO have successfully instituted a no-fly zone in Libya and led air strikes under the aegis of a U.N. Security Council resolution. Critics of a military intervention argue that although most Americans would be

Continued on next page The Washington Diplomat Page 15

Continued from previous page happy to see Muammar Qaddafi go, his country of 6.5 million isn’t vital to U.S. security or strategic interests and therefore doesn’t warrant entangling American forces in a conflict with another Muslim nation. But the administration clearly hopes to achieve a moral victory by supporting democracy in Libya, preventing a humanitarian crisis and showing that it will not brook governments targeting their own civilians when demonstrations arise. These benefits outweighed the costs of a limited intervention, Obama argued, because the United States was “faced with the prospect of violence on a horrific scale” and in a unique position, backed by an international mandate, to stop it. Geographically, Libya’s placement on the map, however, has also influenced America’s reaction.“I think that if Libya were located on the moon, rather than in between Egypt and Tunisia, then one might have responded differently. But if the U.S. has an interest in Tunisia and Egypt making a democratic transformation and peacefully moving from an authoritarian to more representative governance, then it has an interest in preventing events in Libya from undermining that prospect — as would be the likely case if Qaddafi were to prevail and he were thereby able to demonstrate that repression works,” said Dobbins of RAND. But the United States also harbors deep unease that the rebel groups it is lending support to may have strains of terrorist organizations within their ranks, and that weapons used to fight Qaddafi may eventually be aimed against U.S. troops or interests. The prospect of the rebels simply being inept and incapable of overthrowing Qaddafi is also a huge concern for the United States, which is wary of getting dragged into a stalemate or lengthy civil war. On the flip side, Libya had contributed a somewhat sizeable amount of oil to world markets and stabilizing the country would help to bring down high energy prices.

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The Washington Diplomat

hj BAHRAIN LEADER IN JAN. 2011: King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa THE STAKES: Peaceful protests among the majority Shiite population have been met with violent crackdowns by the minority Sunnicontrolled monarchy, backed by military troops from the Gulf Cooperation Council. Neighboring Arab countries fear that a successful Shiite-led revolt will spread Iran’s influence, while also possibly bolstering the aspirations of would-be Shiite revolutionaries within their own borders — especially in Saudi Arabia (which is just 16 miles from Bahrain), where the Shiite population is concentrated in an important oil-producing area. The United States also naturally seeks to limit Iran’s presence in Bahrain — a tiny yet strategically located country whose government had been held up as a model of reform until recently — though Americans may not be as jittery about the consequences of a Shiite government coming to power as their allies in the Gulf.“I think the United States shares their concern but probably feels a little more confident of its ability to cope with the challenge than do the countries of the region,” said Dobbins of RAND. “Besides Saudi Arabia, they are very small and almost powerless, except insofar as they’re rich. Naturally they tend to be more insecure than we are. If we miscalculate it’s not the end of the United States. If they miscalculate it could be the end of Bahrain, or one of the other states.” Of chief importance to the United States, however, is maintaining a safe base for the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, which is stationed in Manama and has been essential in patrolling the Persian Gulf, supporting the war in Afghanistan, protecting Iraqi oil terminals, averting pirates and maintaining pressure on Iran.

May 2011

hj YEMEN LEADER IN JAN. 2011: President Ali Abdullah Saleh THE STAKES: If any country could become a Somalia-like vacuum of power and a breeding ground for extremists, U.S. officials worry itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Yemen, where the devil they know â&#x20AC;&#x201D; President Ali Abdullah Saleh â&#x20AC;&#x201D; may be better than the one they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t. Repeated protests in Sanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;a have been violently suppressed by the government, led by Saleh for the last 32 years.The Arab worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s poorest country, Yemen is beset with warring tribes, Islamic jihadists and a separatist movement in the south (the country only unified in 1990). The United States has been forced to rely on Saleh to keep Yemen from tearing apart at the seams and, more importantly, containing al-Qaeda, which has operated in lawless parts of the rugged country for more than a decade. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yemen actually looks like the most failed state in the Arab world at this point,â&#x20AC;? said Hokayem of IISS.â&#x20AC;&#x153;Even Iraq looks more like a state than Yemen does.â&#x20AC;? Many foreign policy experts fear that unrest will allow Yemen to become a safe haven for terrorism and piracy. Connections between Yemen and the failed attempt to blow up a Detroitbound airplane on Christmas Day 2009 and packages containing incendiary devices that were sent from Yemen to Chicago last year have stoked these worries. In the latter case, cooperation between U.S. and Yemeni authorities was vital to diffusing the plot. In the face of mounting protests against Salehâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s government, however, some have suggested that Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states should take more responsibility for curtailing hostilities in Yemen. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yemen is too big and too toxic for the U.S. to handle,â&#x20AC;? Hokayem argues.â&#x20AC;&#x153;So the question is can the U.S. agree with the Gulf states on a common policy that basically subcontracts Yemen to the Gulf states.â&#x20AC;? Others dispute to what extent terrorist organizations, such as al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, could exert their will in Yemen even without Saleh â&#x20AC;&#x201D; who welcomed the groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fighters before switching allegiances to the United States after 9/11, welcoming all the aid that came with the switch, though that money rarely trickles down to the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s impoverished masses. In a recent article in Foreign Policy, Ian Bremmer, president and founder of Eurasia Group, argues that the terrorist organization is not favored by the majority of Yemenis, and the United States has enough intelligence on the ground in Yemen to use targeted air strikes to keep al-Qaeda in check there.

hj SYRIA

LEADER IN JAN. 2011: President Bashar al-Assad THE STAKES: Syria has long been ruled by a small Alawite sect and maintains close ties with Iran and Hezbollah, despite the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s avowed secularism. (For example, last year the minister of higher education issued a ban on full veils for both teachers and students at Syrian universities.) At the same time, Bashar al-Assad, who came to power after the death of his father in 2000, has continued to lob fiery rhetoric against the United States and Israel while supporting terrorist groups in the Palestinian territories and Lebanon, where Syria still exerts tremendous influence. Complicating matters somewhat, in 2008, Israel and Syria announced that they had held indirect negotiations to reach a comprehensive peace agreement over their decades-old territoriMay 2011

al dispute. Those talks have since collapsed, although Syria is viewed as a fairly predictable neighbor for Israel. Meanwhile, the United States has been reluctant to show support for protestors in Syria, in part because it feels that overt American criticism would probably strengthen Assad, according to Dobbins of RAND.â&#x20AC;&#x153;Also, I think the United States doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know what would replace Assad,â&#x20AC;? he said of the Western-educated doctor who many had hoped would usher in gradual change after his fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s three-decade-long rule. On the one hand, the United States would like to sever Iranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reach through Syria to Lebanon and by extension Israel, but as Assadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s secular disposition has become a rarity in the region, it seems risky to chance creating another theocratic state. In addition, Syria has not actually launched direct attacks against Israel for decades. Hokayem of the IISS said that Gulf states would also like to stanch Iranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s influence in the region by cutting off Assad, but â&#x20AC;&#x153;the capacity of these states to cope with change is limited and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s showing. Even though getting rid of Assad is one way to weaken Iran, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also going to upset the region even more.â&#x20AC;?

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hj JORDAN

LEADER IN JAN. 2011: King Abdullah II THE STAKES: Jordan has been a key ally to Israel since 1994 when the two nations signed a peace treaty normalizing relations. As with Egypt, Jordanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s support and shared intelligence is considered essential to protecting Israelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s security and preventing terrorist attacks. Jordan has also been one of Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s closest, most reliable allies in the region for decades and its ruler, King Abdullah II, is widely viewed as a pro-Western, moderate leader. Because of the large Palestinian population living in Jordan â&#x20AC;&#x201D; which has also taken in a sizeable number of Iraqi refugees since the U.S.-led war there â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and its shared border with the West Bank, any solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will require cooperation from Jordan. Thus any change in government would likely have negative consequences for the peace process. Also, theoretically the king has been pushing for reforms in his country since establishing a 10-year national agenda in 2006 that outlines initiatives for social, economic and political progress. But in reality, change has been slow going and many have accused the government of clamping down on dissent.The United States also fears that any change in leadership in Jordan could empower a strong religious undercurrent that so far has been largely contained by the king but if unleashed could, potentially, have spillover effects in Iraq.

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ALGERIA LEADER IN JAN. 2011: President Abdelaziz Bouteflika THE STAKES: After the military, with the support of Algeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s secular elites, quashed the Islamic opposition in 1992 following its gains in an election, an ensuing civil war killed well over 100,000 people. Widespread hostilities ceased in 2002, but intermittent violence has continued in the country while some rebel groups have cemented ties with al-Qaeda. U.S. interests in Algeria are modest besides fighting terrorism in general, though Algeria is very important to Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ally, France. However, Algeria presents the United States with somewhat of an existential dilemma because,

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from page 14

Congress nuclear treaty with Russia (he also worked with Obama on nonproliferation issues when the president was a freshman senator). As one of the few moderate Republicans left in the Senate, his vote has become increasingly critical to the Obama administrationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s overseas agenda. But Lugar â&#x20AC;&#x201D; who is sure to face a Tea Partybacked challenge when he comes up for re-election â&#x20AC;&#x201D; can also be a thorn in his former nuclear protĂŠgĂŠâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s side. Elected in 1976, he could be the most important person in Congress when it comes to approving long-stalled free trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama. In March, Lugar said he could only support the Obama administrationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s South Korea free trade agreement if the Colombia and Panama trade pacts signed by former President George W. Bush are also submitted to Congress for approval. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Jobs are being lost in Indiana,â&#x20AC;? Lugar said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Trade opportunities are being lost all because the Obama administration is bowing to interest group pressure.â&#x20AC;? He has also cautioned against getting sucked into a conflict in Libya, saying the United States shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t launch a military intervention, including a no-fly zone, in another Muslim country â&#x20AC;&#x153;without thinking long and hard about the consequences and implications.â&#x20AC;? And, of course, there is the omnipresent budget back home. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With roughly 145,000 American troops still in

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Iraq and Afghanistan and with a budget that, according to the presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own proposal, will carry a deficit of approximately $1.5 trillion this year, we have to recognize that war spending is especially difficult to control,â&#x20AC;? Lugar warned.

JOHN KERRY Massachusetts Democrat As much as the Republican takeover of the House seismically shifted the political landscape, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy to forget that Democrats will retain control of the Senate for the next two years, and plenty of them will have a strong hand in guiding U.S. foreign policy and, specifically, President Obamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s agenda. Perhaps the most consequential among them could be John Kerry, who won kudos late last year by helping Obama win passage of a landmark nuclear arms pact with Russia and who continues to be in a position of power as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which handles treaties and confirmations. Rumors constantly swirl that Kerry could still one day be secretary of state â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a position he was reportedly seeking when Obama won the presidency â&#x20AC;&#x201D; but it looks like the one-time presidential candidate has hit his stride in the Senate as a quiet but influential foreign policy player (and occasional troubleshooter). So far, Kerry has focused much of his attention on the Middle East, arguing that the way the United States responds to the uprisings in the Arab world will â&#x20AC;&#x153;shape our strategic position in the Middle East â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and how Muslims around the world see us â&#x20AC;&#x201D; for decades to come.â&#x20AC;? In a speech at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Kerry said he was working with Sens. McCain and Lieberman on legislation supporting the transition in Egypt and Tunisia â&#x20AC;&#x153;that

will encourage movement toward democratic reform in the Middle East, and that will spur sustainable economic development throughout the region.â&#x20AC;? The package, he said, will promote independent media and include financial assistance for smalland medium-size businesses in an attempt to draw additional private investment from outside the government and bolster both countriesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; fledging economies. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I know that we face a budget crisis in our own country, but democracy assistance is an investment, not a gift,â&#x20AC;? said Kerry, who also advocated early on for a no-fly zone to help the Libyan rebels. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We can either pay now to help brave people build a better future for themselves, or we will certainly pay later with increased threats to our own national security.â&#x20AC;? Kerry has also been highly active in Sudan â&#x20AC;&#x201D; visiting multiple times ahead of the historic independence referendum for Southern Sudan â&#x20AC;&#x201D; as well as Pakistan, helping to craft a major development assistance package in a bid to shore up Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shaky relations with Islamabad. On that front, Kerry has stressed the importance of U.S.-Pakistani ties after a tensions mounted over a CIA contractor who shot two Pakistanis dead in an alleged botched robbery that caused a diplomatic uproar. Kerry has also criticized Republican proposals to cut USAID and State funding, while defending the roughly $60 billion requested in the presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2012 budget for international affairs as â&#x20AC;&#x153;a small investment for such a great return.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;These cuts are not abstractions. These are people,â&#x20AC;? he said in a recent committee hearing. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Cutting these programs will do almost nothing to rein in our budget deficit, but it will cost thousands of lives. And by reducing our diplomatic capacity around the globe, we will increase the threats to our own country.â&#x20AC;?

Seth McLaughlin is a contributing writer for The Washington Diplomat.

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Interests like in Gaza in 2007, America sided with those who negated the results of a democratically held election because Islamist-based parties won the vote. Furthermore, although some have accused organizers of the recent protests in Algeria of having ties to extremist groups, the ruling government â&#x20AC;&#x201D; under the ironclad grip of Abdelaziz Bouteflika since 1999 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; is no angel either, charged with unleashing a brutal crackdown on the opposition and muzzling public dissent. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I believe that at least some elements of the opposition were violent, but the degree to which they were provoked by the government is subject to debate,â&#x20AC;? said Dobbins of RAND. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Algeria has violently suppressed its opposition movement in the past and probably radicalized them further as a result.â&#x20AC;? Much of the opposition today espouses an Islamist identity, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unclear if that model more closely resembles the Taliban or the moderately conservative AKP that controls Turkey.

hj TUNISIA

LEADER IN JAN. 2011: President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali THE STAKES: WikiLeaks released a succinct summary of U.S. interests in Tunisia â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the trigger for the so-called Arab spring â&#x20AC;&#x201D; in a 2009 cable from Ambassador Robert F. Godec: â&#x20AC;&#x153;By many measures, Tunisia should be a close U.S. ally. But it is not.â&#x20AC;? Godec continued, â&#x20AC;&#x153;While we share some key values and the country has a strong record on development, Tunisia has big problems. President Ben Ali is aging, his regime is sclerotic and there is no clear successor.â&#x20AC;? Of course, Tunisians took to the streets and took care of that problem themselves â&#x20AC;&#x201D; forcing the longtime dictator to flee to Saudi Arabia in January after a mostly peaceful revolution that sparked the wave of protests now rocking the entire region. The United States quickly lent its support, at least rhetorically, with President Obama saying in his State of the Union address that â&#x20AC;&#x153;the United States of America stands with the people of Tunisia.â&#x20AC;? Considering that the United States did not have to commit anything other than moral support to associate itself with a major democratic victory in the Arab world, it seems to have taken advantage of an opportunity to share the limelight without expending too much. Indeed, Tunisia is a much more vital interest for Europe, given its proximity, longstanding economic and political ties, and the current influx of Tunisian refugees arriving on European shores. In the future, the United States will look to prevent the rise of extremist elements from within Tunisia and from escaping beyond its borders. Thus, continuing to foster closeness between Tunisia and Europe is a U.S. objective. Tunisia, which already had a well-educated middle class, strong womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rights and a progressive populace, could also become a natural U.S. ally â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and some say with very little investment, the United States could help build a thriving democratic buffer in the region. And if its experiment with democracy succeeds, Tunisia could once again serve as an inspirational model to protesters in other fledging Arab autocracies. On that front, all eyes will be on upcoming parliamentary elections, tentatively set for July, to see if the shaky interim government can steer Tunisia toward democracy. It will be a critical test of whether the change that protesters have been clamoring for can truly take hold in the Arab world. And it would be only fitting that it takes place in the country where it all began.

Luke Jerod Kummer is a contributing writer for The Washington Diplomat. May 2011

COVER PROFILE

Ambassador Daouda Diabaté

Côte d’Ivoire Pulls Back From War, But Now Must Pick Up the Pieces by Larry Luxner

aouda Diabaté was driving from his home in Potomac, Md., to the Embassy of Côte d’Ivoire the morning of April 11 when his cell phone rang with the news that he — and much of the world — had been waiting to hear for more than four months: Former President Laurent Gbagbo, who had refused to accept defeat in the country’s November 2010 runoff election, had finally been captured by forces loyal to the new president, Alassane Ouattara. “I was so happy, you can’t imagine,” recalled Diabaté,“not only for myself, but for the Ivorian people who have been suffering unnecessarily for so long. I phoned back home to confirm that information, because at first I thought it was too good to be true.” Gbagbo’s arrest ended a nightmarish standoff between the two rivals that, over a four-month period, killed an estimated 1,500 people, drove another 1 million from their homes, and threatened to plunge what was once West Africa’s most prosperous country back into full-scale civil war. It also cleared up some ambiguities at Côte d’Ivoire’s new gray-brick Washington embassy, where for a while, Diabaté didn’t know who he could trust. “When Gbagbo was captured, I tried to imagine what he must have been thinking, knowing that five weeks earlier, he still had the opportunity to leave the country on a red carpet,” Diabaté told The Washington Diplomat the day after Gbagbo’s arrest made world headlines.“All this is his responsibility.After the election results were announced, Gbagbo should have congratulated the winner and let him rule the country.” In retrospect, perhaps, but Gbagbo clearly wasn’t in a congratulatory mood. Instead, he stubbornly clung to power despite Ouattara having been unequivocally declared the winner of an election years in the making — mostly because Gbagbo kept postponing it — by Côte d’Ivoire’s Electoral Commission, not to mention the United Nations, African Union, European Union, United States and most of the world. Interestingly, the international community seemed to have little appetite this time around for another African strongman ignoring the will of his people, showing rare unanimity in throwing its weight behind Ouattara’s camp. The United States, European Union and other nations quickly slapped economic sanctions to bleed Gbagbo’s coffers dry and starve him of military support.The United Nations, despite its innate aversion to conflict, held firm, even boosting the number of peacekeepers in the country by 2,000 to nearly 12,000 troops who came under fire by Gbagbo loyalists. African heads of state flocked to Abidjan to negotiate a graceful exit for Gbagbo. Even the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) threatened military action if Gbagbo refused to cede power, a bold move for an African bloc even if it was largely a bluff. Gbagbo — nicknamed “Le Boulanger” for his ability to roll his adversaries in flour — was not phased. He rebuffed the worldwide pressure while unleashing a vicious crackdown on Ouattara’s supporters, trying to bide his time while Ouattara himself remained largely holed up in a hotel guarded by U.N. peacekeepers. Frustrated with the stalemate, Ouattara’s rebel troops finally retaliated, successfully dislodging Gbagbo with the help of U.N. and French forces but in the process, becoming

May 2011

PHOTO: LARRY LUXNER

“

This is a very sad and difficult period for our beloved country. At one time, before I was ambassador, we were looked at as a model of prosperity and stability in the best sense of the word. But today, unfortunately, I represent my country in a time of disaster.

”

— DAOUDA DIABATÉ

ambassador of Côte d’Ivoire to the United States

tainted by the same charges of war crimes leveled at their opponent. As Ouattara finally assumes office and daily life resumes in the paralyzed port city of Abidjan, the country has pulled back from the brink of war, but the fight to unify Côte d’Ivoire is far from over. That’s because the country has been plagued by deepseated ethnic, religious and regional divisions for decades.To really understand the roots of these fault lines, one must go back to 1960, when the New Mexico-size country won independence from France. Under the one-party rule of its first president, Félix Houphouët-Boigny, the economy boomed and by 1980, the number of French citizens living there had doubled. In 1983, Houphouët-Boigny moved the country’s capital city to his hometown, Yamoussoukro, 150 kilometers north of the commercial capital of Abidjan. But then Côte d’Ivoire’s crop-dependent economy — once dubbed the “Ivorian miracle” — took a turn for the worse, and amid rising tensions, Houphouët-Boigny was forced to accept a transition to multiparty democracy. But that transition has so far only further polarized the country, with each election mired in controversy and bitter recriminations that continu-

ally resurface every few years. In fact, many of the same figures keep cropping up in Côte d’Ivoire’s sad decline over the last two decades. After the president’s death in 1993, Henri Konan Bédié won a power struggle with Ouattara, who had served as prime minister and had exercised the duties of president during HouphouëtBoigny’s final illness. In 2000, Gbagbo defeated Bédié in an election from which Ouattara was excluded because his parents had been born in neighboring Burkina Faso and was, therefore, not a “pure” Ivorian. Not coincidentally, Ouattara is also a Muslim, drawing support from the north, while the south is largely aligned with Gbagbo, a Christian — underscoring the religious fissures that have been growing since Houphouët-Boigny’s death. Those fissures cracked in 2002, when an unsuccessful armed uprising in the northern half of the country tried to oust Gbagbo after his contested election victory two years earlier that had also sparked widespread protests. (In what would later be seen as an irony, France intervened to bolster Gbagbo during the coup attempt.) Although the insurrection failed, it quickly devolved into a civil war from 2002 to 2003, fracturing the country into the rebel-held north and government-controlled south. After a shaky ceasefire, French and African peacekeepers established a buffer zone and tried to get the various competing factions to form a power-sharing government and tackle festering issues such citizenship requirements, who can run for office, and land tenure laws that many experts say have fueled the cycle of violence and grievances. By 2004, the reunification effort broke down and fighting flared again. Gbagbo ordered airstrikes against rebels in Bouaké, a northern stronghold. One of those strikes killed nine French soldiers, prompting France to destroy the African country’s air force. The 15,000 French citizens living in Côte d’Ivoire then became the target of nationalist mobs, and ever since, Gbagbo has eyed the French with suspicion, accusing them of orchestrating this latest conflict. The perpetual instability also allowed Gbagbo to keep extending his presidential term, gaining a five-year mandate in the process and stalling elections that the international community had originally set for 2005.

Continued on next page The Washington Diplomat Page 19

Continued from previous page Interestingly, Gbagbo and Ouattara, both former professors, weren’t always mortal enemies. After clashes erupted over the disputed 2000 election that had barred him from running, Ouattara called on his party to refrain from fighting and recognize Gbagbo. For his part, Gbagbo in 2007 allowed Ouattara to run in the upcoming presidential election. The goodwill vanished though when Ouattara actually won that election, which was intended to heal the splintered country, not tear it apart. “Our people had been suffering for more than 10 years because of civil disturbances and the instability that followed the 2000 elections and the attempted coup of 2002,” the ambassador told us. “Since this time, Côte d’Ivoire has never known peace. We’ve had a lack of justice, a lack of democracy, lack of free speech and lack of the rule of law. We lost our reputation for stability.” The long-delayed election finally took place Oct. 31, 2010. In the first round, Gbagbo’s Ivorian Popular Front (FPI) won 38 percent of the vote, followed by Ouattara’s Rally of the Republicans (RDR) with 32 percent and Bédié’s Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire (PDCI), with 25 percent. With nobody winning a majority, a runoff was scheduled for Nov. 28 between the top two candidates. Bédié decided to throw his allegiance behind his former rival, Ouattara.As a result, the 69-year-old Ouattara easily carried the day with 54.1 percent, compared to 45.9 percent for Gbagbo. Perhaps taken by surprise, Gbagbo immediately had the Constitutional Council annul the results of various pro-Ouattara precincts and gave himself the victory despite international condemnation. “The United Nations, recognized as the certifier of the election, certified that it was fair, democratic and transparent,” said Diabaté.“There was no doubt. The Carter Center also confirmed this. Even the governors appointed by Gbagbo certified that there was no fraud.” The ambassador also noted that the runoff’s 84 percent turnout was “a clear indication” of how

seriously the 21 million inhabitants of Côte d’Ivoire took this vote. “We spent almost five years preparing for elections. The outcome of the election in Côte d’Ivoire was certified as one of the most well organized elections on African soil. The international community was looking at that election to be duplicated elsewhere as a model to show the way to 17 other African countries which are going to stage elections this year.” But now Côte d’Ivoire has become a model of what the international community doesn’t want happening after an election (also see “Will the Year of African Elections Cement Democracy or Sow Discord?” in the April 2011 issue of The Washington Diplomat). “This is a very sad and difficult period for our beloved country. At one time, before I was ambassador, we were looked at as a model of prosperity and stability in the best sense of the word. But today, unfortunately, I represent my country in a time of disaster. It has been very difficult for us as Ivorian diplomats to perform during this period of mass killing and lack of democracy.” Difficult is an understatement. For months, the presidential standoff also led to a diplomatic tussle around the world, as nations recognized Ouattara’s ambassadors over Gbagbo’s in a show of solidarity that created some awkward situations, especially here in Washington, where a microcosm of the power struggle played out between two ambassadors, each loyal to a different president. So for a short while, the city effectively had two ambassadors from the same country: Gbagbo’s man in Washington for the last three years, Ambassador Charles Koffi, and Diabaté, a veteran career diplomat who, in fact, was Koffi’s predecessor, having been appointed ambassador to Washington in 1994 by Bédié after serving as envoy in Ethiopia and Morocco. “Let me be very clear,” said Diabaté, 63, who grew up in Bouaké and got his education at the University of Abidjan. “There are two kinds of ambassadors: one who has nothing to do with diplomacy, and career diplomats. I’ve been a professional diplomat

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Heavy weaponry used by forces loyal to former President Laurent Gbagbo is destroyed in Abidjan by U.N. and French and U.N. troops — who were careful to stress that Alassane Ouattara’s men were the ones to apprehend Gbagbo to avoid the appearance of foreign intervention in Côte d’Ivoire’s presidential power struggle.

“There were substantial numbers of people who supported Gbagbo. That’s why he was able to defy the international community for so long. Those people need to be reconciled,” he said in a media CREDIT: UN PHOTO / BASILE ZOMA conference call the day after Gbagbo’s for more than 35 years. When Gbagbo became capture. “Clearly, there has to be disarmament, parpresident, I had already been ambassador for almost ticularly of all the irregulars on both sides. There six years. also has to be a significant effort to reintegrate “If I had been a political appointee, as soon as them into Ivorian life.The drama isn’t over yet.” the presidency changed, I would have resigned,” he Peter Pham, director of the Atlantic Council’s said.“But there are a lot of things I don’t share, and Michael S.Ansari Africa Center, says the government they realized I was not with the [Gbagbo] govern- will also need to finally resolve the lingering issues ment, so they removed me from here.” that were put off after the 2002-03 civil war. In November 2007, Diabaté — who’s fluent in “A lot of the fundamental issues that caused the English, French, Spanish and Portuguese — was civil war still persist. Ouattara has a very tough road transferred to Brazil and was replaced by Koffi. ahead of him. He made it tougher by the fact that Three years later, the tables would be turned. the transition didn’t occur through peaceful means, Last December, when it became clear that but by military means. He’s also now heavily reliant Ouattara had won the elections and Gbagbo was on his prime minister, the former head of the rebels, refusing to relinquish power, a low-level State without whose forces he would have never made it Department officer interrupted Koffi’s Miami vaca- to power. tion to tell him he had 30 days to leave the country. “Ouattara has spoken about the need for nationLike his boss though, he stayed on. In mid-January, al unity. But his appointments of government offiOuattara appointed Diabaté to the Washington post, cials to date have all been northerners, including and a month later the State Department accepted the ambassador himself,” Pham added. “He’s got to his credentials. reach out. He only won the second round of elecThe stage seemed set for a confrontation, but tions because the third-place finisher [Bédié] threw Koffi — who has known Diabaté since the mid his southern votes to Ouattara.” 1970s and has said he has nothing personal against Jendayi Frazer, a former U.S. assistant secretary of him — quietly relented and returned to Côte state for African affairs who’s now with the Council d’Ivoire. on Foreign Relations, said Ouattara is already taking Still, it was a struggle for Diabaté just to get the crucial steps to bring Côte d’Ivoire under control. keys to the embassy and its official vehicles — not “He’s signaling his forces to put down their arms, to mention ridding the mission’s walls of all the as well as those who supported Gbagbo. He also framed portraits of Gbagbo. needs to be very clear that the United Nations still “Of course, an embassy is the kind of place has a role to play in Côte d’Ivoire.They need to help where you find everybody. Since Côte d’Ivoire aims him secure the country during this transition phase to be a democratic country, we tolerate all kinds of and carry out their mandate, to protect the civilian opinions,” he diplomatically noted. population and help restore human rights.There’s a Diabaté said the president’s daughter, Marie humanitarian crisis, with a million IDPs [internally Singleton, had long been the embassy’s vice consul, displaced persons]. He’ll have to restore the econobut that she stopped coming to work after he was my and start bringing these people home.” sworn in as ambassador. She added: “It’s widely recognized that the “You cannot know peoples’ opinions, but what I source of this crisis lay at the feet of Gbagbo. tell them is that the election is over, we have a new Ouattara’s biggest challenges will be more on the president, and that they should stand ready to work governance side than on the issue of atrocities, with the new administration. That’s how a demo- which he so far is handling quite well.” cratic country is run.” Not everyone agrees.Washington resident Gnaka Diabaté, who said he knew Gbagbo through his Lagoke, who worked for a pro-Gbagbo newspaper position as permanent secretary at the Ministry of in Abidjan for eight years and now condemns Foreign Affairs, was first consul at the Ivorian Ouattara through postings on his website, insists Embassy in Liberia from 1979 to 1981 — which that Gbagbo is the lesser of two evils, arguing that coincided with the assassination of Liberia’s presi- the election obscured the bigger issues of outside dent, William R.Tolbert. interference and internal division. “Our fear at the time was that the crisis would “When it comes to the relationship between cross over to Côte d’Ivoire,” he recalled.“After that, France and Côte d’Ivoire, Gbagbo symbolizes the we witnessed the crisis in Sierra Leone. Although it resistance against neocolonial interference,” Lagoke may happen to any country, I never imagined that told The Diplomat, complaining that the mainCôte d’Ivoire would reach the bottom. I don’t rec- stream media has covered the conflict unfairly. “In ognize my country,” he lamented, pointing out that Africa, we have a serious problem. France is a neoliving standards have fallen at least 40 percent, with colonial power, and does everything it can in order annual per-capita income now at only $1,200. to break every leader it doesn’t control. Ouattara That’s why Diabaté sees his mission here as a was the godfather of the rebellion that split the fairly straightforward one: to get the world’s richest country.” country to help what was once Africa’s most promDiabaté dismisses such talk of French neocoloising developing nation get back on its feet and nialism as outdated rhetoric. “They used to say it move past the horror of human rights atrocities was the Americans who kept Gbagbo in power. My committed by both sides in this long-running con- answer is that foreigners never voted in Côte flict. d’Ivoire. It’s a new era in which no leader can kill “Fortunately, the Ivorian people spoke their his own people and the people will just stand on minds and made their choice through a transparent the sidelines.” and democratic election. The United States, being Campbell, the former U.S. envoy to Nigeria, the temple of democracy, should now help Côte agrees that Gbagbo has longed played that neocolod’Ivoire,” he said. nialism card to his advantage. Although he doesn’t But the real work will fall to the country’s new see a vast conspiracy, Campbell says the United president, whose priority is to unify a frayed nation, Nations and France clearly stepped in to contain a half of which backed the old president. John spiraling humanitarian disaster. Campbell, former U.S. ambassador to Nigeria and “One would hope that with Ouattara’s reaching now a senior fellow for Africa studies at the Council out, and various steps presumably under way to on Foreign Relations, says the first thing Ouattara end the fighting, that the French will need to keep must do is reach out to the 46 percent of Ivorians troops there.The fact remains that the French were who voted for Gbagbo in the runoff. indeed involved.Whether or not they were directly May 2011

involved in Gbagbo’s capture, everybody could see their helicopters circling overhead.” But he added that “we were in the last days of a civil war taking place in a city of more than 3 million people, with every potential for a major bloodbath. Under those circumstances, I’m not prepared to second-guess what the U.N. did to bring about an end to the crisis.” Richard Downie, deputy director of the Africa program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told The Diplomat that France isn’t exactly helped by its less than stellar reputation for meddling in Ivorian affairs. “But this is a line being used to great political effect by Gbagbo, presenting Ouattara as a puppet of the French. I think they felt compelled to act. Civilians were being targeted by heavy weapons. Ultimately the French did the right thing — and they were careful to let Ouattara’s forces deliver the coup de grace.” Now that he’s taken the reins, one of the biggest challenges for the new president — who earned both his master’s and doctorate degrees in economics from the University of Pennsylvania — will be putting the country’s shattered economy back on track. His background seems geared to do just that: From 1994 to 1999, Ouattara served as deputy managing director of theWashington-based International Monetary Fund. “We are fortunate to have a president with the caliber of Mr. Ouattara, who is used to such challenges,” Diabaté said. “In his position of deputy managing director at the IMF, he used to work on post-conflict reconstruction in many countries. Now that the Ivorians are fed up, I think everybody has learned the lesson that we should focus on reconstruction.” Already, the 27-member European Union has targeted 400 million euro in assistance for Côte d’Ivoire.“If the EU has done this, I think the United States can do at least that much,” the ambassador suggested. Asked how much in dollar terms the recent fighting has cost his country, Diabaté cited “billions in direct and collateral damage,” though he couldn’t

be more specific.“Companies were obliged to close down, and banks were ransacked. Cocoa and coffee could not be exported from the port. These industries suffered at least 70 percent in losses,” he said. Oil and gas exports bring $3 billion in foreign exchange annually for Côte d’Ivoire, which puts hydrocarbons slightly ahead of the country’s second-place export, cocoa. Côte d’Ivoire controls 40 percent of the world’s cocoa crop and is among Africa’s top three coffee exporters. “The international community, having backed Ouattara, now needs to come forward and help him. He’s got to normalize the situation as quickly as possible,” said Pham. “That means lifting the embargo on cocoa exports and getting the cocoa out very quickly. There’s a second crop due in two or three weeks, and it has no place to go if the previous crop hasn’t been moved.” In addition to reviving the cocoa industry, another urgent priority is reconciling the country’s various warring factions. Downie warns that Ouattara is inheriting a volatile society and his immediate focus needs to be on restoring security.“In Abidjan, you’ve got a security vacuum right now. This security situation has plagued the country for a decade. Ouattara needs to forge a new national army, one that’s subordinate to civilian control, and to disarm paramilitary groups that have been running ragged around the country for some time.” Downie noted that Ouattara doesn’t have particularly strong control of the forces that have been fighting for him — and that many of the soldiers who had supported Gbagbo switched sides only for pragmatic reasons. “Ouattara needs serious security-sector reform,” added Pham. “You cannot attract investments with irregulars on both sides walking around heavily armed.” Campbell agrees, noting that “once security is restored, the legitimate government will benefit from the fact that the international community is watching. What worries me is that too often, the international community has a very short attention span and simply moves onto the next crisis that dominates the news cycle.Were that to happen, the

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whole process would take much longer and might be compromised.” One reason the world’s attention might be diverted from Côte d’Ivoire is the other African civil war making headlines: the one between Libyan strongman Col. Muammar Qaddafi and rebels trying to oust him. In fact, some observers say Gbagbo may have gambled that the international community would be too consumed by the uprisings in the Arab world to expend its energy on Côte d’Ivoire, even though the violence there eclipsed what’s happening in many Arab states. “In absolute terms, the crisis in Côte d’Ivoire is worse than the humanitarian crisis in Libya,” according to Campbell.“The population of Côte d’Ivoire is significantly larger. Secondly, it is the U.N. that has been the principal outside organization involved. In Libya, it’s NATO.Thirdly, there is significant progress toward resolving the crisis in Côte d’Ivoire, whereas in Libya, it goes on and on.” Ultimately, Ouattara will also have to decide what to do with Gbagbo, who’s currently being held at an undisclosed location. “He won’t be executed for his crimes.The president will take care of that issue, and the judiciary system will have all the necessary arrangements,” Diabaté said.“Of course, the president’s top priority now is reconciliation and reconstruction of the country. But in order to reconcile, we must know what happened.That’s why he wants to establish a truth and reconciliation commission. There has been so much impunity in Côte d’Ivoire. Anyone who has committed crimes will face justice.” Frazer said any trial of the former president must be credible so that it doesn’t end up looking like a kangaroo court convicting him of crimes without sufficient evidence. “I’m not a fan of another African case at the International Criminal Court, so I would rather see Mr. Gbagbo taken out of the country, held in some type of custody and then Ivorian courts being relegitimized to hold a trial against him, or some type of regional African court to address this issue,” she said. Downie suggested that if it were up to him,

  

Gbagbo would be tried by the International Criminal Court.“He has serious charges to answer. But being pragmatic, Ouattara faces a common problem: Do you want peace or justice? Sometimes you can’t have both, and you have to decide which of the two is more important,” he said. “Given the fragmentation of Côte d’Ivoire, he must favor peace over justice.That might mean erring toward leniency.” Pressed for his opinion on what should happen to Gbagbo, the ambassador was clearly unwilling to say much at this point. “I am not a judge,” Diabaté told The Diplomat. “But in my mind, yes, he is guilty of many crimes. And for each kind of crime, there is an appropriate punishment.” What happens to Gbagbo, who retains widespread support, is one of many thorny issues that can tip the balance in a fragile country where tensions still run high. Many of the 135,000 Ivorians who fled to neighboring Liberia remain there, too afraid to come home. As of press time, sporadic fighting continued throughout Côte d’Ivoire as troops loyal to Ouattara showed off a cache of 532 cases of missiles discovered in the basement of Gbagbo’s presidential palace — along with crates of mortars, grenades and ammunition littering the adjacent gardens — evidence that the bloodshed could have been far worse. Diabaté says he has no immediate plans to travel to Côte d’Ivoire. Rather, he’ll use the next few months to lobby aggressively for U.S. assistance to his ravaged nation. “With the new administration in power, all pending issues will be addressed to pave the way for stability, peace and progress,” he said.“I’ll spend my time meeting with American authorities, explaining to them now that the crisis is over, the time has come to rebuild our beautiful country.This year, we are going to have 17 elections in Africa. In my view, democratic elections are the only way for Africa to have rule of law and good governance. Otherwise, poverty will expand everywhere.”

Larry Luxner is news editor of The Washington Diplomat.

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DIPLOMACY

International Organizations

OECD at 50: Multilateral Powerhouse Sheds Image as Rich Man’s Club by Jacob Comenetz

f the influence of an international organization to shape global political and economic outcomes were measured by its name recognition, then the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) would not rank very high compared to more recognizable acronym counterparts such as the UN, IMF, NATO or WTO. Nicola Bonucci, the OECD’s director of legal affairs, opened a recent symposium at George Washington University Law School on the body’s role in international economic law with a jesting reference to “this completely unknown organization called the OECD.” He cited a prominent international jurist who admitted not having heard of the OECD’s anti-bribery convention, one of its trademark legal instruments. The OECD’s influence may be subtle, but it’s very real — and increasingly relevant as it’s quietly risen to become an indispensable source of information for governments grappling with the complexities of globalization. Before the concepts of “soft power” and “smart power” came into vogue, the OECD was epitomizing these principles as a relatively low-profile body using peer review and pressure to learn from and synchronize successful policies among its like-minded members. Although low profile, the group is sometimes viewed as decidedly highbrow. Often oversimplified as an exclusive club of the rich, the OECD is undeniably home to some of the world’s wealthiest industrialized democracies — with 34 members that range from Australia to France to South Korea to the United States. But it has also evolved to reflect a constantly changing world, most recently admitting members such as Estonia, Chile and Israel. An OECD brochure admitted that the organization has been variously called “a think tank, a monitoring agency, a rich man’s club and an unacademic university.” “It has elements of all, but none of these descriptions captures the essence of the OECD.” That essence, the group says, is to promote free market economies backed by democratic institutions to improve the well being of all citizens. The Paris-based organization, which has a 2011 budget of nearly $490 million, is not a multilateral lending agency like the International Monetary Fund, although its work spans the economic spectrum and includes tackling issues such as the health of national housing markets and regional development aid. According to the group’s website:“The OECD provides a forum in which governments can work together to share experiences and seek solutions to common problems. We work with governments to understand what drives economic, social and environmental change.” This analysis ranges from measuring global trade and investment flows, to setting international standards on nuclear power plants or even the quality of cucumbers, to how much leisure time people should have, to evaluating national pension systems.“Along the way, we also set out to make life harder for the terrorists, tax dodgers, crooked businessmen and others whose actions undermine a fair and open society,” according to the group.

‘MINILATERAL’ MEETING OF THE MINDS The OECD can be thought of as “a restricted forum on

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PHOTO: OECD

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), led by Secretary-General Angel Gurría, right, holds a conference on the global economic outlook. Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, the OECD’s mission to promote free market economies backed by democratic governance has taken on a newfound urgency since the international economic crisis.

“

First and foremost, the OECD is a research and networking organization. That’s really fundamentally what it’s all about…. [It’s] a restricted forum on virtually unrestricted topics. — JAMES SALZMAN

”

Duke University law professor

virtually unrestricted topics,” in the words of Duke law professor and OECD expert James Salzman, who spoke at the George Washington University conference. “First and foremost, the OECD is a research and networking organization. That’s really fundamentally what it’s all about,” he said. It’s an organization that embodies political scientist Anne-Marie Slaughter’s concept of “transgovernmentalism,” bringing together around 40,000 government officials and experts a year to provide the context for “transnational problem-solving and the harmonization of national law.” At a time when many more widely recognized organizations struggle to achieve global consensus in the face of immense challenges and thinning resources (one need only think of climate change,Afghanistan, or the Doha trade talks as examples), the Paris-based OECD has emerged as a powerful example of what Moisés Naím calls “effective minilateralism” — that magic number to enact real international action.

At the George Washington symposium, held in cooperation with the American Society of International Law, Naím, a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and former longtime editor-in-chief of Foreign Policy magazine, challenged the audience to think of recent examples in which the world came together to get something done.The list was brief. Naím then listed failed attempts: Seattle, Doha, Kyoto, Copenhagen, Cancun, Seoul.At each of these summits, multilateralism lost traction and thereby some of its allure, given the lack of agreement. “There’s nothing more legitimizing than success,” Naím said, citing the G20 and OECD as vehicles that have recently boosted cooperation and delivered results while other all-inclusive inter-governmental forums got mired in disagreement. Indeed, as the OECD prepares to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its founding with a ministerial-level meeting of its governing council in late May that will be chaired by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the organization appears to be enjoying a resurgence. What was previously derided as a “rich man’s club” and a “talk shop” for arcane economic topics has emerged as a global go-to institution for sound information, advice and comparative analysis — especially in a time of global economic uncertainty. In fact, the economic downturn has lent newfound muscle to the group’s mission, as evidenced by a smattering of its recent work. One OECD report, for instance, urged developing countries to press ahead with economic reforms by liberalizing labor markets and removing investment barriers to ensure a self-sustaining global recovery as stimulus funds dry out. The group has also been involved in talks over Portugal’s financial bailout. (Incidentally, it also presciently warned the Portuguese government last year that it had to brace for

See OECD, page 68 May 2011

GLOBAL VANTAGE POINT

Asia

In Japan, Sun Will Rise Again, But Disaster Shines Light on Stagnation by Yuriko Koike

OKYO — In Japan, memorial services for the dead are normally held 49 days after their passing. The bereaved mourn throughout this period. The number of victims of the earthquake and tsunami that assaulted the Tohoku region of northeast Japan has now reached around 30,000, if those who are still missing are included. This was the largest natural disaster to strike Japan in its history, and the entire nation has been in mourning. Throughout this period,television stations,in response to viewers’ feelings, have refrained from showing frivolous programs and gaudy commercials. Many of the hanami events, for celebrating the annual eruption of cherry blossoms, a much-loved activity for us Japanese, have been canceled. Music and sporting events, along with town gatherings, have also been canceled or postponed. Bizarrely, the American rock singer Cyndi Lauper’s concerts were just about the only events that weren’t called off. The strong bonds (kizuna) of the Japanese people create great solidarity during dark times such as these. One virtue of kizuna can be seen in people’s inability to enjoy themselves in their usual ways in the face of the loss of so many countrymen and the knowledge that 200,000 more are enduring harsh conditions in evacuation centers. But there are concerns that these bonds of kizuna may also bind the Japanese economy, which must recover as soon as possible — not only for the benefit of the Japanese, but also because disruptions in Japan’s economy are hitting the rest of Asia, owing to the production chains of which Japan is an integral part. But today’s strong kizuna and mentality of mourning have led to sharply diminished consumption.The tourism industry has been directly hit by people refraining from travel, and the abundant hot springs in the Tohoku region, normally popular with tourists and totally unaffected by the earthquake or tsunami, have become a victim of the disaster. Similarly, the baseless rumor that all of Japan is soaked in radiation has caused tourism from abroad to plummet. Meetings and parties in Tokyo have been canceled, and this has directly affected not only hotels and inns, but also the liquor industry and the food and beverage industry. The restaurant industry, too, is being pushed to the wall. It is now no problem to get reservations at restaurants with three Michelin stars. Despite the great efforts made to manage refrigeration amid blackouts caused by power shortages, customers are not turning out. Likewise, customers who formed lines to buy up water and toilet paper immediately after the disaster are now slow to return to supermarkets. And this tendency to shun all purchases except disaster-related goods is not limited to east Japan. It is a nationwide trend. This curtailed consumption, however, comes at a time when Japan’s economy is already weak. Indeed, the Japanese economy, which has endured two decades of sluggishness, has been falling behind in the global

May 2011

PHOTO: U.S. NAVY / MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 1ST CLASS MATTHEW M. BRADLEY

A Mickey Mouse toy lies among debris and rubble that blankets the town of Ofunato in Japan, four days after a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami struck the country. As heartrending as the tragedy is, the government must now focus not only on reconstruction, but on building a bold new model for regional development that can decentralize Japan’s sluggish Tokyo-centric economy.

If there is a ray of light to come from the horrors suffered by the people of the Tohoku region, it is that the Japanese understand that what they need most of all nowadays is clear leadership with a coherent and bold plan for rebuilding and renewing their country. economy even more since the shockwaves caused by Lehman Brothers’ collapse in 2008. Now it has been struck by a combination of prolonged deflation and the shocks caused by the recent natural disasters. The end of April will mark 49 days since the earthquake and tsunami hit on March 11. The profound disruption of the economy will continue at least until that time. It took a year for consumption to recover after the Kobe earthquake in 1995, but the widespread damage did create widespread demand back then, and should do so again. Enormous demand will be created for construction of temporary housing and, later, for the reconstruction of lost towns. The estimated damage of ¥25 trillion is also the size of the potential reconstruction demand. But Japan’s government needs to think big and creatively. If towns suffering from depopulation before they were destroyed are transformed in their reconstruction, they could mark the emergence of a new

model for regional development that can decentralize Japan’s Tokyo-centric economy. Farmland that had been worked by an aging population with no successors, and that was subdivided into blocs that were too small, has now become vacant, opening the way for much larger-scale farming. Similarly, individually operated fishing businesses whose potential heirs ended up choosing other careers can now be reorganized and consolidated, thereby taking advantage of greater economies of scale. Perhaps most importantly, the nuclear accident has shed a stark light on the need for safe, renewable energy, which had been shunned in the past. The current government has plans to generate power using large-scale solar and wind power plants in the disasteraffected areas. But Japan’s economy has for too long been stuck in a ditch as a result of its being bound by over-regulation and a rigid adherence to precedent. So, if there is a ray of light to come from the horrors suffered by the people of the Tohoku region, it is that the Japanese understand that what they need most of all nowadays is clear leadership with a coherent and bold plan for rebuilding and renewing their country. Indeed, the only way truly to honor those who lost their lives is to create a new model Japan from the tsunami’s wreckage, rather than simply restoring towns and their economies to their previous decadent conditions.

Yuriko Koike, Japan’s former defense minister and national security adviser, is chairman of the Executive Council of the Liberal Democratic Party. Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2011. www.project-syndicate.org

The Washington Diplomat Page 23

BOOK REVIEW

George P. Shultz

Former Secretary of State Embodies ‘Ideas and Action’ Throughout Career by John Shaw

eorge P. Shultz is too often overlooked when analysts discuss the most significant American diplomats of the last half century.

Soft-spoken, methodical and steady, Shultz lacked the star quality of Secretaries of State Henry Kissinger and Colin Powell, the conspicuous deal-making acumen of his successor at State, James Baker, or the conceptual creativity of Zbigniew Brzezinski, a former national security adviser. But Shultz’s career in government and diplomacy was extremely consequential, especially while he worked as President Ronald Reagan’s secretary of state to guide U.S. foreign policy through the final tumultuous years of the Cold War. And now, at the age of 90, Shultz continues to make contributions to public policy. He is an important leader in a growing movement that seeks the eventual abolition of nuclear weapons, and he has made constructive proposals to tackle America’s fiscal problems. He’s even written about how to make health care in California more affordable and, more recently, reflected on the WikiLeaks scandal. During his stellar career — which included leadership positions in academia, business and government — Shultz held four cabinet-level postings. In addition to serving as Reagan’s secretary of state from 1982 to 1989, he served as secretary of labor, secretary of treasury and the White House budget director under President Richard Nixon. Shultz has taught at Stanford University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Chicago, where he was also dean of the university’s Graduate School of Business. Today, he is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford. In his latest book,“Ideas and Action,” Shultz distills the lessons he learned during this remarkably productive and varied career. Not a full-scale memoir, the book is a kind of George Shultz sampler of what he dubs the “10 Commandments of Negotiation” — with personal reflections on his work, his views on negotiating tactics, the perils of nuclear weapons, and the leadership skills of Ronald Reagan. It also includes plenty of photos and several short essays by others about Shultz. Shultz’s central thesis is the importance of blending ideas and action into his professional life. “We have grown accustomed to drawing a bright divide between the world of ideas, a world dominated by ivory towers, and the world of action, a world dominated by oval offices, market floors and fields of battle. My life and career, however, have known no such bright dividing line,” he writes. Describing his moves from university to government to business and back into government, Shultz says this “mixedup career” has given him valuable insights. “I have benefitted enormously from having had the chance to move back and forth from a life of ideas to a life of action, from a world of reflection to a world of high-level decision making,” he said. Shultz writes wryly about the different worlds he has inhabited and the lessons he has drawn from each.“When I went into business, I quickly learned that you need to be careful when you tell someone working for you to do something because the chances are high that he or she will do it. In government, you don’t have to worry about it, and

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matic work. The first commandment of negotiating, according to Shultz, is to be in control of your constituency. By this he means that a negotiator must fully understand the needs and goals of those he represents in the negotiation. As an example, Shultz recalled that as he prepared to lead the U.S. delegation in arms control talks with the Soviet Union in 1985, he purposely assembled a large team with representatives from all agencies in the U.S. government interested in the talks. This was cumbersome but helped him to fully understand the perspectives of all the key players, keep them informed about the substance of the talks, and secure their full support when an agreement was reached. He noted that a group of senators were official observers to the negotiations. This was critical because arms control agreements require Senate approval and senators made it clear that if Shultz wanted their support when the treaty was ultimately voted on, they wanted to be brought in at the start of the talks. Shultz says it’s also essential to understand the needs of the other side and to develop strong personal relationships with your counterparts. But he argues convincingly that it’s possible to put too much weight on personal compatibility — overlooking the fact that ultimately all parties are negotiating on the basis of their perceived interests, not whether they like their interlocutors. To that end, Shultz believes negotiators should always try to ascertain what is most important to their PHOTO: 2011 counterparts.And while negotiations should be viewed FREE TO CHOOSE PRESS, BY RAY FRAYNE, BECHTEL CORPORATION as an ongoing process, it’s vital that negotiators not become too intent on preserving their relationships with their counterparts. Shultz recalled that when he joined the Reagan administration in 1982, the U.S.We have grown accus- China relationship was strained. Reflecting on the impasse and drawing from academic studies showing tomed to drawing a bright that negotiating parties sometimes come to value their relationship too much, he directed American diplodivide between the world mats to shift their focus to substantive issues and pay attention to just tending to the relationship. This of ideas, a world dominated less led to progress in several areas. Shultz writes that negotiators must be seen as credby ivory towers, and the ible, operate truthfully and set realistic goals.Timing is especially critical, he adds, and negotiators must assess world of action, a world dominated by if the situation is ripe for an agreement. The former secretary of state also argues that oval offices, market floors and fields of strength and diplomacy go hand in hand. A strong, battle. My life and career, however, have confident nation has significant diplomatic leverage, he says, while emphasizing the need for governments known no such bright dividing line. to stay engaged with other nations even when they disagree with them. — GEORGE. P. SHULTZ, author of “Ideas and Action” “The test of successful diplomacy is whether objectives are accomplished.While diplomacy without pressure is idle talk, refusing to talk is no substitute for the in the university, you are not supposed to tell anybody to pressure essential to elicit change,” he writes. do anything in the first place,” he quips. Throughout the book, Shultz offers frequent and fulHe makes a strong case for the value of sheer persissome praise for Reagan, describing the former president as tence, especially when working in government, arguing principled and practical, courageous and trustworthy, that “certain problems just have to be worked at — must be forceful but restrained. He tells the story of Reagan honorworked at — if a situation is to be prevented from deterioing his pledge to West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl to rating.” Shultz adds that in the U.S. government, few deciattend a ceremony at the Bitburg cemetery despite fierce sions are ever final. Those on the losing side of a policy public criticism when Americans learned the cemetery debate often begin to work immediately to reverse the included the remains of SS troops. Reagan hoped Kohl decision. would move the event to a different venue but when Kohl Shultz’s reflections on negotiating are compelling. His refused, Reagan still attended the ceremony. He had given “10 commandants” showcase his vast experience, practicality and wisdom, deriving lessons from labor mediations and university administration that were useful in his later diploSee SHULTZ, page 68

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May 2011

EDUCATION ■ A Special Section of The Washington Diplomat

■ May 2011

Speaking the same Language by Jacob Comenetz

Despite High-Tech Translation Tools, Local Mulilingual Learning Thrives In a recent video segment for the New York Times called “The Monolinguist’s Crutch,” assistant technology editor Sam Grobart gleefully divulges that he can’t remember any of the Spanish he learned during six years of taking it in school. Does this concern him? No, he says, because “now, thanks to technology, I don’t have to!” Grobart goes on to demonstrate the capabilities of several new smartphone applications, including UN Translator, which can understand dozens of languages. “All I have to do is type in the words I don’t know,” he said. The app gives a passable translation that allows him to at least get the gist.

PHOTOS: ISABELLA & FERDINAND SPANISH LANGUAGE ADVENTURES

Continued on next page

■ INSIDE: Singapore and Finland are teaching the world a thing or two about educational success by putting the emphasis on educators themselves. PAGE 31 ■

May 2011

EDUCATION

The Washington Diplomat Page25

Continued from previous page The Google Translate app takes this a step further. It can “hear and speak more than 50 different languages,” Grobart said. He tests it with a Spanish-speaking colleague, asking his device whether he may ask her a question. But the Google Translate app mistranslates this, speaking it as “where is the question?” Such hiccups aside, the new translation apps are impressive. They take machine translation, a field with a decades-old pedigree, including the Georgetown-IBM experiment in Russian-English translation that made headlines in 1954, and deliver it to the smartphonewielding masses. More than a diversion, these translation apps can actually help people who don’t share a common language to communicate, given the right situation. While Google Translate and related tools are sure to benefit many people, and not only “monolinguists,” they will not satisfy those for whom foreign language learning, more than a technological challenge, is a pathway to cultural exploration, a social activity and a vehicle for professional advancement, among many other things. And in a city as multicultural as Washington, D.C., being multilingual can be a badge of honor. Sometimes it’s also prerequisite, especially for diplomats and specifically for ambassadors, for whom understanding different languages is often part of the job description. To gain an overview of local language learning options, The Diplomat interviewed several institutions that offer classes for children and adults in Washington. Not surprisingly for a city full of embassies, international organizations and cultural institutes, the city’s offerings are extensive — far greater than could be featured in a single article. But more than being great in number, language learning programs

Alexandra Migoya and Pilar O’Leary, below, created Isabella & Ferdinand Spanish Language Adventures in 2008 after realizing they could not find an immersion program for their own daughters that combined high-caliber language instruction as it’s taught in Spain and Latin America with an exploration of Spanish history and culture. PHOTOS: ISABELLA & FERDINAND SPANISH LANGUAGE ADVENTURES

in the nation’s capital stand out for their international affiliations and unique educational approaches. They are all united by a passion for the intense adventure that learning a foreign language can provide. This journey begins at an early age — as young as 12 months — at Isabella & Ferdinand Spanish Language Adventures, headquartered in the Palisades neighborhood of Northwest Washington.The program’s co-founders, Pilar O’Leary and Alexandra Migoya, believe that Spanish is best learned while young, and with as much cultural exposure as possible. The duo — both of whom have roots in Latin America and share a passion for languages, as well as Georgetown law degrees — created Isabella & Ferdinand in 2008 after realizing they could not find a Spanish immersion program for their own daughters that united “the teaching of high-caliber Spanish, taught the way it is at the highest levels in Spain and Latin America, combined with rich history and culture.” O’Leary and Migoya found they were not alone and that other

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EDUCATION

May 2011

parents wanted their children to be raised bilingually, with the high standards of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages and the Madrid-based Instituto Cervantes. They developed a curriculum in partnership with the Georgetown Spanish Department, embassies of Spain and various Latin American countries, along with other institutions to teach children Spanish “free of Spanglish, Anglicisms or slang,” as they put it. In addition to this focus on proper Spanish, the Isabella & Ferdinand program takes advantage of its D.C. location, with excursions for children and parents to Spanish and Latin cultural events at venues such as GALA Hispanic Theatre and the National Gallery of Art, where students recently went on a treasure hunt to find works by Catalan artist Joan Miró. The program has also brought in actors to personify the cultural heroes it teaches about, including Christopher Columbus, O’Leary said. In addition, it has had clinics on flamenco dancing and taken children to the Mexican Cultural Institute to see the Day of the Dead displays. “We’re always on the lookout for new things to expose kids and families to,” she said. While the program is relatively small, with a total of four teachers and classes of eight students on average, O’Leary foresees its expansion as the demographic makeup of the United States continues to shift toward Spanish speakers and more parents realize the value of starting their children’s language learning while they are still very young. In the next five to 10 years, she says, they would like to have a presence in several “attractive markets” beyond D.C., including Miami, New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. In the meantime, Isabella & Ferdinand is gearing up for the launch of a children’s music record in Spanish,“Olé and Play!” on April 19 at the Library of Congress to raise awareness of the nationwide launch of the Isabella & Ferdinand curriculum. Another new entrant to the Washington market, by way of Chicago, is Language Stars, which opened its new language immersion center for children in Reston, Va., last month. Founded in 1998, the company has served more than 20,000 students through its center-based foreign language programs as well as school-partnership programs. So far, Language Stars is mostly based in Chicago, though it’s been expanding its presence in the D.C. region with locations in Bethesda, Md., and Alexandria,Va., in addition to the new Reston center. There, nearly 100 students — ranging in age from one to 10 years old — are being taught Spanish, Mandarin Chinese and French by a team representing more than 21 nations. Even if one is not lucky enough to learn a foreign tongue at such a young age, adult education opportunities in widely used languages such as Spanish and, more recently, Mandarin abound. If you want to learn a language such as Turkish,

Georgetown University

PHOTO: PUMA COMMUNICATIONS AND CULTURAL SERVICES

A mother and daughter play with a teacher at the opening of a new language immersion center for children in Reston, Va., run by Language Stars, a Chicago-based group that’s served more than 20,000 students through its center-based foreign language programs and school partnerships.

however, your options are more limited. This lack of opportunities, combined with increased interest in the language due to Turkey’s growing importance as a pivotal global player in a combustible region, inspired the Rumi Forum to start offering Turkish classes last year. The Rumi Forum, a D.C.-based organization dedicated to interfaith and intercultural dialogue, was founded in 1999 by Turkish Islamic scholar and spiritual leader Fethullah Gülen, who had heard that numerous people in the D.C. area were interested in learning Turkish, said the forum’s president, Emre Celik. “Basically we recognized a demand, and we thought with our background and the fact this organization was founded by Turkish Americans, we could play a part in bringing that to the Washington, D.C., area,” Celik explained.“Turkey is on the rise in terms of global attention so a lot of people are wanting to improve their understanding of Turkey. And the best way to do that is through Turkish language and culture.” So far, around 40 to 50 students have completed the intensive program, which includes eight four-hour classes per month, over a twomonth span. Currently, 20 students are enrolled in classes held at the Rumi Forum offices in downtown D.C. Though it’s still small, with a single teacher, Celik is optimistic that more people will be attracted to the classes once word gets out. He points out that learning Turkish at the Rumi Forum focuses on more than just the language — it teaches about traditions, norms, etiquette and even food. “I think they really appreciate that — it’s more than just pen and paper classroom. We really do encourage students to pick up on all aspects of Turkish culture as that’s what will help them,” Celik said, noting the forum recently organized a Turkish dinner for its students.

Continued on next page

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EDUCATION

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Continued from previous page Another organization dedicated to languages not commonly taught in the United States is the Global Language Network, or GLN, a unique nonprofit institution founded by polyglot George Washington University student Andrew Brown in 2005 and formally established as a nonprofit three years later. The GLN is probably best known for offering language instruction free of charge, but its educational philosophy goes beyond teaching uncommon languages at little cost to the general public. As its current president, Bulgarian native Zarko Palankov, explained, the GLN is as much about language learning as it is about the social interaction that accompanies it. The GLN model works because both teachers and students are highly self-motivated, Palankov said. To enroll in a class, students pay just a $25 processing fee, plus a $100 deposit that is fully refundable, provided they miss no more than one quarter of all class meetings. The instructors are volunteers who are native speakers of the language they teach and who are motivated by the chance to share that language. They also enjoy the perk of first choice of other language classes, for which demand can far exceed supply. Palankov points to this unique aspect of GLN: that it is a learning place for teachers as well as students. Another striking feature: The network is highly multicultural. Out of 650 students this semester, more than 100 are native speakers of a language other than English, Palankov says. The students, though averaging in their mid-20s, are extremely diverse in background and range from “VPs at Bank of America to taxi drivers.” Though the GLN has a full-time staff of just two, it is able to serve hundreds of students thanks to its community of some 40 teachers per semester and around 25 to 30 organizational volunteers, who help to ensure the operation runs smoothly. Palankov hopes that the success of the GLN model — more than 2,000 people expressed interest in taking classes this semester — can allow it to expand out of the classroom space it occupies on the George Washington University campus to sites around D.C. and beyond. The GLN has already partnered with organizations such as Deloitte and the International Food Policy Research Institute.

“It is not uncommon to find that people have a kind of ‘to-do list’ for personal development, and that list includes learning another language.” — TIMOTHY KEATING chair of arts, humanities and social sciences at the Graduate School PHOTO: ISABELLA & FERDINAND SPANISH LANGUAGE ADVENTURES

Isabella & Ferdinand Spanish Language Adventures, where children as young as 12 months take classes, believes that Spanish is best learned while young, and with as much cultural exposure as possible — which is why the group organizes excursions to Spanish and Latin venues throughout Washington, D.C.

Step two, Palankov says, provided the group can establish itself in D.C. and raise sufficient funds, is to expand to other cities on the East Coast. Looking ahead, he sees the model working across the country and around the world. “We have to live up to our name,” Palankov said. The GLN, though a relatively new, unconventional endeavor, has already taught languages to thousands of students. But in terms of total number of language learners “served,” few if any D.C. institutions can match the Graduate School, founded in 1921 and formerly affiliated with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In over 30 years of language classes, the Graduate School has educated more than 100,000 students and taught nearly 50 different languages. As Timothy Keating, chair of the Arts,

Humanities and Social Sciences Department, points out, despite the recent proliferation of translation technologies and technology-enabled distance learning, these tools remain at best supplemental. Demand for classroom-centered education remains strong. “It’s not impossible to learn another language online or via audio CDs, as the many products of that sort on the market suggest,” Keating said.“But speaking a language is social interaction, and a classroom is a good place to get that. Immediate feedback from an instructor is also a very positive feature of face-to-face instruction.” According to Keating, people choose to take language classes at the Graduate School for a variety of reasons, beyond the convenient location at L’Enfant Plaza and the breadth of languages offered, which include Farsi, Urdu and Korean in addition to the most popular languages (which are, in order: Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, French and Italian). Some enroll in language courses to enhance skills needed

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EDUCATION

May 2011

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EDUCATION

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for their job, and others because they plan to travel to the country where that language is spoken. A third reason Keating cited is the fact that some people are “heritage speakers of a ‘home language,’ so called because they have been raised in the U.S., educated in English, but have lived in a home where a language other than English is spoken.” According to Keating, there are 55 million heritage language speakers in the United States. Asked what trends can be discerned in the popularity of languages, Keating said that perhaps for geopolitical reasons, enrollment has shown a growing interest in Arabic and Chinese. “It is not uncommon to find that people have a kind of ‘to-do list’ for personal development, and that list includes learning another language,” he said. Yet another longtime presence in the Washington adult language education world, the Middle East Institute has been offering courses in languages spoken in that region since 1953. With recent front-page attention to the uprisings convulsing the Arab world, the institute has seen interest in its language classes and other programs soar. Though the Middle East Institute (MEI), located two blocks from Dupont Circle on N Street, offers courses in Arabic, Dari, Farsi, Hebrew, Pashto and Turkish, program assistant Ankit Sheth said that “Arabic is definitely the most popular, hands down.” Around 70 percent of the institute’s students take Arabic, with Farsi becoming more popular in recent years, according to Sheth. His colleague Cameron Mackenzie noted that the institute’s language department had seen a rise in beginner Arabic, especially after all the revolutions in the Middle East.

“We tend to have a lot of Arabic 101, but this time around classes filled up prior to any others filling up. We have three sections of Arabic 101, and they filled up weeks before beginning of term. It’s a 30 percent increase in students at the 101 level,” he said. The students who take classes at the institute tend to choose it for the unique enrichment opportunities it offers as part of a leading think tank on the region. “I think because of the history of MEI as the oldest think tank focused on the Mideast, and because of the language department being so integrated in MEI as a good source of funding for the agency, we’ve developed a round-table philosophy — where there are small classes, all our students together with teacher who is from the region mostly, and exchanging love of learning,” Mackenzie explained. Sheth highlighted the fact that the institute’s casual yet intensive atmosphere draws students with a strong interest in the region who seek an intimate learning environment. “It’s the small classes.You get more face-toface time with the teacher … and it helps you network a little bit better with people interested in the same career field,” he said. “We allow students to come in early before class, so they can converse amongst themselves … it’s more of a relaxed atmosphere, to a certain extent.You’re still very much immersed in the language while you’re here.” The resurgent interest in the Middle East Institute’s language classes is additional proof that traditional language education, far from being supplanted by new technologies, is alive and well in Washington. Because as much as an app or online learning tool can help people speak the same language, without person-to-person contact, things can still get lost in translation. Jacob Comenetz is a contributing writer for The Washington Diplomat.

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EDUCATION

May 2011

[ teachers ]

Model Teachers Singapore, Finland Offer Lessons With Their Emphasis on Educators by Dena Levitz

ducation is not only about learning — it’s about the teachers who make learning possible. Education has also always been something of a competitive pursuit, with rankings and scores showing how school districts, college campuses and even entire nations stack up on a relative scale. Earlier this spring, mixing international camaraderie and competition-driven improvement, nations came together to learn from one another’s education systems — and specifically, how different countries treat the teachers who form the backbone of those systems. In mid-March, the U.S. Department of Education, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), along with various other groups joined together to put on the first-ever International Summit on the Teaching Profession. Organizers hope the two-day event, held in New York City, becomes a jumping-off point for the United States to learn from some of the highest-performing nations in educating their citizens — and the world-class teachers behind that performance. Attendees spoke at length about what it takes to recruit and retain quality teacher workforces and emphasized that educators are the key to achieving knowledge and, consequently, higher test scores — by extension, producing students who are better able to compete in a globalized world. U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, in a release about the event, touted the extraordinary opportunity for the United States to “broaden our perspective on how to effectively recruit and support teachers.” “This is an area where we need to move forward with a sense of urgency because building a strong teaching force is critical to having a successful education system,” he said. Two countries featured prominently both before and during the high-profile event were Singapore and Finland, whose strengths lie in their focus on teachers and the teaching profession as a whole. In the latest 2009 Program for International Student Assessment conducted by the OECD — which tests 15-year-old students across the globe in math, science and reading — Singapore and Finland scored at the top for all three categories, while Shanghai, China, dominated the rankings. (South Korea, where teachers are often viewed as “nation builders,” also consistently scored at the top alongside Singapore and Finland.) The United States, in stark contrast, fell near the middle of the pack, placing 14th in reading, 17th in science and a below-average 25th in math. The biggest difference between these leading countries and the rest of the pack, according to experts, is the elevated status of teachers in their societal frameworks. Compared to the United States, educators from these foreign nations earn more money, receive more training, and are handpicked to serve in the classroom because of their superior intellect and talent.As a result, teaching is a deeply respected profession in these societies. For example, Finland, in recent years held up as a standard bearer by education observers, sent a delegation of officials to the conference in New York City, where they talked about the rich talent pool from which the country draws its

May 2011

PHOTO: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

A representative from Finland talks at the International Summit on the Teaching Profession, organized in part by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, whose 2009 international student assessment ranked Finland among the top countries in the world for reading, math and science.

quality teaching force. Only one out of every 10 applicants makes it into the training pool to become a teacher in Finland. This elite selection process in turn feeds the tremendous respect and regard held for educators, all of whom must hold master’s degrees. In a report drafted prior to the summit, Andreas Schleicher, a senior OECD officer, and Dr. Steven L. Paine, vice president of strategic planning and development at McGraw-Hill Research Foundation, point out that it’s practically a national calling to be a teacher. “In Finland, it is a tremendous honor to be a teacher, and teachers are afforded a status comparable to what doctors, lawyers and other highly regarded professionals enjoy in the U.S.,” they write. Despite the rigorous selection process, Finland has been lauded for its flexible, creative approach to teaching, including less homework and fewer school hours than in the United States, as detailed in the recent Time magazine article “Finland’s Educational Success? The Anti-Tiger Mother Approach.” “Finland’s only real rivals are the Asian education powerhouses South Korea and Singapore, whose drill-heavy teaching methods often recall those of the old Soviet-bloc Olympic-medal programs,” wrote Time’s Joshua Levine. Although the Asian education model is often viewed as one of the strictest and most disciplined around, it has one critical element in common with the Scandinavian approach that accounts for both successes: the overwhelming focus on teachers. And interestingly, whereas in Finland teachers are vigorously vetted and the majority of applicants aren’t able to crack into the profession, Singapore — though also rigorously selective — seems to nurture and encourage its teach-

EDUCATION

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ing hopefuls every step of the way. In the prosperous city-state, young people in the top third of their secondary schoolsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; graduating classes are recruited to become teachers. In their report, Schleicher and Paine noted that the government offers these prized pupils a monthly stipend while theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re still in school that is competitive with the monthly salary for graduates in other strong fields. In exchange for accepting the compensation, the students must commit to teaching for at least three years after graduating. A similar method is employed for identifying Singapore principals. According to Schleicher and Paine, exceptional teachers each year are

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said that one of the main goals of the International Summit on the Teaching Profession was for the United States to â&#x20AC;&#x153;broaden our perspective on how to effectively recruit and support teachers.â&#x20AC;?

located and separated out as potential school leaders who will undergo extensive interviews and exercises. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Approximately 35 candidates a year are then chosen from among the initial pool for six months of executive leadership training,â&#x20AC;? their report said.â&#x20AC;&#x153;This process is comprehensive and intensive, including an international study trip and a project on school innovation.â&#x20AC;? For those teachers who remain educators instead of the principal track, training and pro-

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Over the years, we have grown the national belief which everyone embraces, that if you have a good education, all doors are open to you and you can have the career you want. This myth taps our Asian culture which values education in and of itself as an enabler.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; CHAN HENG CHEE ambassador of Singapore to the United States

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fessional development is not only available, it’s actively encouraged. Singapore provides teachers with an entitlement of up to 100 hours of training per year to keep up with the latest strategies and trends. Along with development, teachers are evaluated annually, with positive reviews entitling them to bonuses of 10 percent to 30 percent of their base salary. Ambassador of Singapore Chan Heng Chee told The Washington Diplomat that her country’s educational system recognizes that students have different aptitudes, interests and learning styles, and “we cater to these differences,” along the way providing ample financial and academic support to those who need it. “Singapore is a country without natural resources,” Chan said of her island of 5 million people. “We believe our people are our

May 2011

At the first-ever International Summit on the Teaching Profession held March 16 and 17 at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, education ministers, teachers and union leaders from around the world convened to discuss best practices in building a worldclass teaching workforce.

best natural asset. We believe in educating every person to his or her best potential. Over the years, we have grown the national belief which everyone embraces, that if you have a good education, all doors are open to you, and you can have the career you want. This myth taps our Asian culture which values education in and of itself as an enabler.” The ambassador noted that the United

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LINDEN HALL

States and Singapore have had a longstanding memorandum of understanding based on sharing best educational practices. Given the success of the summit, the hope is to continue this sharing arrangement and bolster it further. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Looking forward, we can do more in teacher development and school leadership,â&#x20AC;? she said.â&#x20AC;&#x153;We can always enlarge the scope. For instance, the Ministry of Education has been working with American institutions renowned for their outreach programs in the life sciences. Our teachers do science attachment programs and our students attend the International Science and Engineering Fair and the Research Science Institute program of MIT. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have fostered a few university alliances,â&#x20AC;? Chan added. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The latest is the announcement by National University of Singapore and Yale University which will establish a Yale-NUS College in 2013. The Singapore University of Technology and Design also signed an agreement with MIT to develop new curricula and research projects.â&#x20AC;? S. Iswaran, Singaporeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s senior minister of state for education, echoed the need for collaboration and cooperation in his remarks during the closing session of the international teaching summit, where he stressed to Duncan and other nationsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; representatives the value of leadership when it comes to education and, particularly, emulating his countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s impressive results. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; S. ISWARAN â&#x20AC;&#x153;A lot of the ideas weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve discussed are Singaporeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s senior minister excellent ones. But without good leadership, coupled with the quality teacher of state for education workforce, it will be irrelevant,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Education is a process that needs time.Therefore the leaders must have the gumption and temerity to allow sufficient time for change to have its effect to be able to assess it.â&#x20AC;? Summit organizers are expected to post an updated report on the lessons learned from the event and then outline next steps.

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MEDICAL ■ A Special Section of The Washington Diplomat

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RoboDoc Meet the Machine Who May Be Performing Your Next Surgery

by Carolyn Cosmos Dr. Christopher Pohlman, a physician at Boulder Community Hospital in Colorado, specializes in minimally invasive surgery, operating through tiny openings in his patients. But those incisions aren’t done with a traditional scalpel by hand. And Pohlman doesn’t hover over the body when the cuts, exploration and surgical repair are done inside his patients. See ROBOTICS, page 39

■ INSIDE: Patients are getting sticker shock from drugs that can easily cost more than what some people make in an entire year. PAGE 42 ■

MEDICAL May 2011

The Washington Diplomat Page 35

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MEDICAL Page 36

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May 2011

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MEDICAL May 2011

The Washington Diplomat Page 37

Look past the monuments and the museums and you’ll ﬁnd one of the nation’s top hospitals. Located just three miles from the nation’s capitol is another national treasure — Washington Hospital Center. With 1,600 dedicated physicians, the Hospital Center is a leader in the research, diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular and neurological disease, cancer, endocrine disorders, kidney disease, and geriatric and respiratory care. All this plus convenient services like valet parking make a trip into the city well worth your while. For an appointment with an experienced specialist, call our International Services ofﬁce at (202) 877-2102.

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MEDICAL Page 38

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May 2011

Getting Harder to Put Your Best Foot Forward? Inova Joint Specialists Can Help.

During robotic-assisted surgery, the surgeons “operate” from a high-tech console near the patient using joystick handgrips to guide every move of the robots’ hands while watching images of what’s happening inside the patient’s body on a virtual-reality, threedimensional screen. PHOTO: BOULDER COMMUNITY HOSPITAL

from page 35

Robotics Rather, his second-hand man — or in this case, machine — does the work while Pohlman guides the robotic “hands” from a high-tech console nearby. The hardest part of doing general surgery with a robot is positioning the patient, Pohlman told The Washington Diplomat. The robot’s four long instrument-like arms stretching down from its towering body have to be placed just so. “It’s like docking a space station.” This outer-space sight is becoming more and more common in surgery rooms nationwide as robotic-assisted surgery becomes standard practice for certain procedures. And more often than not, that mechanically artistic precision is courtesy of the da Vinci Surgical System, by far the most widely used robotic system around. In the span of just over a decade, da Vinci brand robots are now being used at more than 1,000 hospitals and clinics around the country for a variety of surgeries ranging from gynecological disorders to heart bypass to gallbladder removal to prostate and other types of cancer. The robots’ every move is watched and guided by surgeons like Pohlman. In a typical surgery, Pohlman makes three to six puncture wounds called “ports” and then threads a miniature camera into one of them so that what’s happening inside the patient shows up on nearby video screens. Pohlman performs these surgeries weekly, some with and some without the help of the hospital’s da Vinci robot. He also does traditional “open” operations with larger incisions, including hernia repairs “not suited to the robot.” When the da Vinci is on duty, Pohlman sits at a console a few feet from his patient with a virtualreality, three-dimensional screen magnifying whatever images the camera picks up. He controls the robot’s arms and the surgical tools at their tips with joystick handgrips. A computer eliminates normal human hand tremors, making his moves more precise and, as he described it, “more elegant.” Such minimally invasive surgeries have been shown to cause significantly lower blood loss and reduce the likelihood of infection, according to Kim Capps, head surgical nurse and manager of robotic surgery at Boulder Community Hospital. “With a prostatectomy or a hysterectomy, patients used to lose 600 milliliters [about 20 ounces] of blood. With robotic surgery it’s a tablespoon,” she said. “And because the openings are the size of two dimes, robotic surgeries reduce the chance of infection.” Almost all surgical robots around the globe are da Vinci models developed and sold by a California company, Intuitive Surgical Inc. However, while surgical robots can offer many benefits, including less pain for the patient and faster recovery times, “the robot is a tool, not an end all. Just because the technology is there, it doesn’t mean it’s always best,” Pohlman cautioned. For example, a da Vinci robot makes Pohlman’s operations on an esophagus or a stomach valve easier to do. It’s “a snap” to correct gastroesophageal reflux disease now, he said. Still, the da Vinci is of questionable benefit for certain surgeries such as removing a tumor on the pancreas. It can

also be problematic for some patients, including those who have scar tissue from previous procedures. Maryland cardiac surgeon Dr. Johannes Bonatti similarly underscored that all surgeries, especially complex ones, carry risks of complications and death — and studies show robotic surgeries have about the same complication rates as other types of surgery. Bonatti is a professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore and a recognized innovator in robotically assisted heart procedures. Another downside to the da Vinci is sheer cost — each system runs upward of $1 million, with more than $1,000 worth of parts needing replacement after each procedure and lengthy training times for surgeons to become proficient in using the robot. But that hasn’t deterred da Vinci’s stunning rise in the medical market. As Bonatti himself put it: “There’s an excitement in my field right now, as heart surgery becomes more and more precise, less destructive, and more patient friendly with the help of robots.” Dr. Elisa Trowbridge, a reconstructive surgeon and assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology with the University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville, agrees. She points out that “these days, you can’t be a gynecologist and a surgeon without robotic training.Top-notch physicians are expected to know about it.” The Food and Drug Administration approved the da Vinci robot for surgery in the United States only 11 years ago, although the first da Vinciassisted surgeries were already being done in Belgium (on gallbladders) and Germany (prostate).Yet by last December, 1,676 da Vinci systems were installed in more than 1,500 hospitals worldwide. This impressive upsurge was influenced by early adopters in the United States who brought the system into the medical mainstream, according to Intuitive Surgical Senior Marketing Director Christopher Simmonds. He noted that U.S. surgeons have driven robotic developments in the fields of urology and gynecology while general surgery has been most strongly influenced by advances in South Korea. The international footprint is clearly growing. Intuitive notes that Malaysia and India, for instance, have four da Vinci robot systems each, while Germany has about 50 and Britain nearly 30. Interestingly, surgical robots and “tele-surgery” were developed in the 1980s at the former Stanford Research Institute, now SRI International, funded by the U.S. military for possible battlefield use. Intuitive Surgical was a 1995 commercial spin-off. For obvious reasons, remote off-site surgery continues to attract attention from the Department of Defense and NASA. The expansion of robotic surgery varies according to particular specialties, with prostate surgery the most frequently performed robotic procedure worldwide. Prostate cancer, in fact, gave birth to the practical application of robots in medicine. Dr. Mani Menon, director of the Vattikuti Urology Institute at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit introduced the use of robotic surgery to remove a cancerous

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MEDICAL May 2011

The Washington Diplomat Page 39

Continued from previous page prostate gland back in 2000. Since then, he’s become a leader in the field, performing thousands of robotic-assisted surgeries. Menon was a protégé of Johns Hopkins University’s Dr. Patrick Walsh, who pioneered a new approach to prostate surgery that kept patients from becoming impotent and incontinent after the procedure by sparing delicate nerves in the prostate. Despite the innovation, Walsh still relied on a surgeon’s hands to physically explore the patient’s pelvis area. Menon’s robot changed all that, and da Vincis are now used in about half of all prostate surgeries in the United States. That also means that prostate cancer provides some of the best-documented results for the robots’ performance. This March, a major study at Henry Ford involving 3,000 patients found that “robot-assisted surgery to remove cancerous prostate glands is safe over the long term, with a major complication rate of less than 1 percent.” One reason why robotic prostate surgery took off when robots entered the scene, many experts say, is that open prostate surgery can be unwieldy and difficult. It involves an awkward location and tiny nerves that directly affect continence and potency. As a result, it had a lot of complications and unhappy patients, even if they were cured of the cancer that brought them to the operating table. Most studies have confirmed that robotic surgery for prostate cancer is effective in eliminating or controlling the cancer while preserving sexual function and continence. Robotic prostate surgery is now a mature discipline with “enough well-trained people” to produce consistently good outcomes, said another founding father in the field, Dr. William D. Steers, chair of the Urology Department at the University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville who is also president of the American Board of Urology and has performed hundreds of robotic prostatectomies. When the FDA gave robotic surgery a green light in 2000, Steers went to the robotic prostate pioneers at Henry Ford, took a sabbatical to learn their techniques, then brought Ford folks

last year, has been a surgeon for 12 years, robotics are a relatively new tool for him. “I was a skeptic,” he admitted. “But I started watching fellow surgeons doing it and the benefits are real.” Among them he noticed reduced blood loss; with cancer patients, the visual magnification allowed for a more complete surgery; there were “fewer air leaks” in lungs, a common complication; and with chest surgeries where some areas are difficult to see, the robots offered “superior visualization,” Mortman said. But for all their benefits, robotic surgeries have real risks — and real critics. PHOTO: BOULDER COMMUNITY HOSPITAL The lack of tactile feedback with the robot means “everything is visual,” Pohlman pointed out. Dr. Christopher Pohlman performs “That can be dangerous. You have to make sure to gallbladder removal surgery on the keep all instruments in view” and have well-trained writer, Carolyn Cosmos, at Boulder surgical assistants. Community Hospital in Colorado A more general problem is that all minimally invausing a da Vinci Surgical System, sive and laparoscopic surgeries, including the robotwhich are now in use at more than ic ones, have a steep learning curve. And there are 1,000 hospitals and clinics around plenty of detractors who maintain that a machine the country for a variety of condisimply can never mimic the “touch” that an experitions ranging from cancer to heart enced doctor has cultivated over years of work. bypasses to gallbladder removal. Indeed, with a robot, the lack of physical feedback means that a surgeon’s brain has to do without that back to Virginia to help set up a similar program there.“Prostate highly honed sense of touch, relying only on the visuals the surgery is humbling because it’s so complex,” he told The robot provides. Diplomat. “You have to preserve microscopic nerves” that conBut just as a blind person’s brain can develop a “sense of trol urinary and sexual functions. Steers recognized right away hearing,” Steers of the American Board of Urology says a robotic that the visual detail and magnification of a da Vinci system and surgeon will eventually learn to get tactile or “haptic” (a sense of the computer-aided hand control enable surgeons to do pre- touch) information from the visual input, as the brain translates cisely that. sight cues into touch signals.The key, however, is practice, pracThe advantages of the robot are similar for a chest surgeon tice and practice. operating on the lungs, according to Dr. Keith Mortman, a thoAnother difficulty is overly high patient expectations fueled racic surgeon at Washington Hospital Center in D.C. Although by optimistic anecdotes and sleek advertising. Robotic surgery Mortman, named one of Washingtonian magazine’s “top doctors” may be precise, but it’s not perfect, and there are no guarantees

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to learn

RESOURCES that prostate patients who had a robot operate on them won’t experience including hospital frequencies, because higher volthe same post-surgery problems as those who didn’t. Robotic surgery tends umes of robotic surgery are indicative of more In the Washington area, to speed up recovery times, but likewise, there are plenty of exceptions and experienced surgeons and staff. robotic surgery proceeach case is individual. Future surgeons are now trained three ways, dures are performed at various There’s also the concern that the trend toward robotics is needlessly Trowbridge explained: on inanimate objects, on lab hospitals, including: pushing the procedure on patients without regard to cost or benefit, a animals, and on virtual trainers.“The future of trainGeorge Washington University Hospital, worry that’s especially acute among prostate patients.A recent article in the ing is digital,” she noted. Washington, D.C. Steers believes the best robotic-surgery training New York Times by Gina Kolata for instance detailed the pressures that www.gwhospital.com/Hospital-Services-O-Z/ takes place when there’s a da Vinci double console patients exert on physicians to provide them with a robotic surgery that Robotic-Surgery that lets the student and mentor work in tandem, promises less pain and shorter recoveries. The desire is only natural — Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, Md. but that’s an expensive approach. “My bias? hospitals readily promote these benefits.And with da Vinci systems costing www.hopkinsmedicine.org/surgery/about/innovaEverybody should do a sabbatical in robotic suranywhere between $1 million and $2.3 million, hospitals have a strong tions/min_invasive_robotic.html gery,” he said. financial incentive to make sure they get used.That in turn may be pushing Looking to the future, Steers said robotic surgery some surgeons into robot-aided procedures before they’re ready. Suburban Hospital, Bethesda, Md. would be well served if it had more “centers of But there are simple ways for patients to protect themselves and find an www.suburbanhospital.org/Robotics/ RoboticsOverview.aspx excellence” all around the country. These would excellent surgeon, experts advise. generate better outcomes across the board. He also First, unless there’s a truly compelling reason to try an experimental Inova Health System hospitals, Virginia believes better data needs to be collected through procedure or use an inexperienced surgeon, you want someone who’s had www.inova.org/healthcare-services/surgicalmore multinational clinical trials, national repositoall that practice, practice, and practice. services/types-of-surgical-procedures/da-vinci/ ries and tighter reporting standards. How much is enough? Exact numbers may not always be the best guide, index.jsp But the future is, to some degree, already here but generally,“you want someone who operates every week” with a robot, — with robots taking over where human hands says Trowbridge of the University of Virginia Health System. She believes that most surgeons need at least 100 surgeries to reach a very good performance level have left off. My own recent experience perhaps offers a glimpse into a revolutionary field whose future remains positive overall, but not perfect. — and even more for complex procedures. Likewise, Steers recommends against any physicians who perform only a handful of A trip to the emergency room for what I thought was food poisoning had actually left robotic surgeries a year, although “some low-volume facilities and surgeons do well.” me a candidate for gallbladder removal with the option of using a da Vinci surgical robot. However, because prostate surgery is one of the most complex procedures, he recom- After consulting with Pohlman on the advantages and disadvantages, I decided to give Dr. mends someone with case experience “in the hundreds” for prostate patients. da Vinci a try. Bonatti of the University of Maryland Medical School also agrees that “high volume The gallbladder removal went as planned and two hours later, a bit light-headed, I was produces quality,” advising that patients should also consider the quality not just of the home again.The next morning I took a Tylenol, got up, and made breakfast for my family. surgeon, but of the entire operating team. He said the best way for a surgeon to learn But within weeks I joined the ranks of patients who expect too much from robots, minimally invasive surgery is a fellowship that lasts one or two years. dismayed that I lacked my old energy.At the end of the day, whether the cuts were made Pohlman had a yearlong fellowship in laparoscopic techniques and robotic surgery, by metallic or human hands, I still had major surgery and had to cope with the trauma during which time he was practicing and learning all day long under an experienced of that surgery, minimally invasive or not. I will never know if the stress would have been mentor. The shift from open to laparoscopic surgery is “the most difficult,” he said, but greater with a more invasive procedure. Whatever the case, who would have thought once you master it,“moving to the robot is easy.” that a simple gallbladder removal could represent a shiny bold new frontier in surgery. For his part, Mortman did a fellowship in minimally invasive chest surgery and shadowed expert practitioners. He advises patients to ask for robotic-related numbers, Carolyn Cosmos is a contributing writer for The Washington Diplomat.

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MEDICAL May 2011

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[ pharmaceuticals ]

Price Palpitations Exorbitant Drug Costs May Price Out Patients

PHOTO: BIGSTOCK

Drug companies often claim that the high prices of medications are necessary to compensate for the enormous cost of bringing a drug to market, but that doesn’t explain why older drugs, whose prices should have already been calculated to cover those costs, soar in price when a new drug enters the market.

by Gina Shaw

n January, an injectable form of the drug progesterone, a synthetic hormone used to prevent preterm labor in some 130,000 pregnant women every year, cost as little as $10 from your local pharmacy. Just three months later, the same drug skyrocketed to $1,500 per dose — although after a public outcry, the price tag dropped to $690 per dose. That’s still a 69-fold price increase. Why? Did the drug magically get better? Did manufacturers discover a brand new indication? Nope. The Food and Drug Administration granted exclusive approval to KV Pharmaceutical to produce the drug under the brand name Makena, designating it an “orphan drug” with seven years of monopoly protection. The agency decided that because the drug is a sterile injectable drug, granting specific approval to a manufacturer under FDA guidelines would offer a greater assurance of safety. Originally, KV planned to charge $1,500 per dose for the drug — which, if injected every week for the recommended 20 weeks, would have cost a whopping $30,000 per at-risk pregnancy. But after an uproar, the St. Louis-based company brought the price down to what it apparently thinks is a much more reasonable $690. It also noted that it will expand its financial aid program so that 85 percent of women who need the drug will pay no more than $15 per dose, according to a company statement. But the $690 price tag is still pretty jaw dropping, especially given that KV didn’t pay a dime to develop Makena — the initial clinical trials were taxpayerfunded through the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) at the National Institutes of Health.

“This stuff is really cheap to make — this would be as if a brand new company somehow got a patent on Tylenol or aspirin and decided to sell it at $100 a pill,” Dr. Christopher Harman, director of the Center for Advanced Fetal Care and chief of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, told Internal Medicine News. He found the price hike a particular outrage because the women at highest risk of premature birth — young African American women — may be the least able to afford it. The FDA has said that companies who were making the progesterone injections previously can still market their drugs as a generic, contradicting a letter sent by KV to compounding pharmacies telling them that the FDA would enforce their exclusive right to make the drug. Progesterone injections are far from the first drug to take a sudden and startling trajectory upward in price. Last fall, Novartis introduced a drug called fingolimod (Gilenya), the first oral medication for multiple sclerosis. The sticker price on this medication was startling enough: $48,000 a year, far more than some people’s annual salaries. But this was the first drug of its kind, with no direct competitors. Maybe the premium wasn’t all that surprising — until other multiple sclerosis drugs, many long on the market, suddenly joined the band wagon and started going up in price as well. Copaxone, manufactured by Teva, now costs more than $42,000 per year, nearly 40 percent more than its price at the beginning of 2010.Another

See DRUGS, page 44

MEDICAL Page 42

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May 2011

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MEDICAL May 2011

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from page 42

Drugs

the doctor will hear you now

want better health care? start asking more questions. to your doctor. to your pharmacist. to your nurse. what are the test results? what about side effects? don’t fully understand your prescriptions? don’t leave confused. because the most important question is the one you should have asked. go to www.ahrq.gov/questionsaretheanswer or call 1-800-931-AHRQ (2477) for the 10 questions every patient should ask. questions are the answer.

company, Biogen Idec, has also raised prices for two other MS drugs, Tysabri and Avonex, though not as much as the Copaxone hike. Drug companies often claim that the high prices of medications are necessary to compensate for the enormous cost of bringing a drug to market (estimated at around $1 billion over about nine years). But why should older drugs, whose prices should have already been calculated to cover those costs, go up in price when a new drug enters the market? Dr. Edward Fox, clinical associate professor of neurology at the University of Texas Medical Branch and director of the MS Clinic of Central Texas, thinks it’s all about painting a competitive picture. “With the onset of new medications that come at a premium, companies have raised the price of older medications in order not to appear inferior to the new drug.They look at the price as being meaningful when it comes to expectations. If a certain drug is priced lowest, it must be less worthy somehow.” Given the high cost of medications for multiple sclerosis and drugs for conditions like cancer, it’s almost impossible to get them without either having excellent insurance, or being in such dire financial straits that you qualify for a drug company’s “compassionate access” program. But as prices leap ever higher, even “good” insurance and assistance programs are leaving many people behind. Insurance plans are raising co-pays to compensate for the new sky-high drug costs. “On a weekly basis, I’m dealing with patients who have what I would call a medication crisis,” Fox said.“Many of my patients have co-pays of between $300 and $800 a month. There aren’t too many families who can easily absorb that cost.” And with prices increasing at exponential rates, the income thresholds set by drug manufacturers to enter their compassionate access programs will also need to be higher and higher to assist the growing number of people who are greatly burdened by the cost of their

medications. What’s the answer? Many physicians who are watching their patients struggle to afford their medications — and spending too much of their time appealing insurance company denials of ever-more expensive drug coverage — say that the government needs to step in. “I’ve always felt that when a medication is approved and a price is set, it should be set across the board,” said Fox.“I’m a free-market supporter, but I do not believe in differential pricing of medications for different health care plans. If it’s got a price, it should be the same for Medicare, Blue Cross, Tricare, whatever. If you do that, and it’s truly transparent pricing, companies are more likely to compete with one another in terms of reasonable pricing.” In return, Fox says, drug companies should be given a longer effective patent life for their medications (at least, the ones they actually developed them— DR. EDWARD FOX selves). Currently, the patent life director of the MS Clinic of Central Texas for a new drug is 20 years — but that begins on the date of the patent application. Drugs are usually patented before the FDA approval process, which can take many years.As a result, the effective life of the patent is often less than 10 years. “The patent clock shouldn’t start ticking until approval,” Fox suggested.“If drug manufacturers had a longer and more predictable patent life, they’d better be able to predict profitability for a certain drug, and might be willing to accept price controls.” But something has to be done, and soon, Fox said. “We’ve reached a boiling point. My patients are afraid that they won’t be able to get the medications that have made a huge difference in their lives.”

“We’ve reached a boiling point. My patients are afraid that they won’t be able to get the medications that have made a huge difference in their lives.”

Gina Shaw is the medical writer for The Washington Diplomat.

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culture & ■ WWW.WASHDIPLOMAT.COM

arts

entertainment

■ MAY 2011

DIPLOMATIC SPOUSES

Fügen Talks Turkey Third time’s the charm for Turkish Ambassador Namik Tan and his refreshingly frank wife Fügen Tan, who are enjoying their third D.C. posting. PAGE 47

ART

Gauguin’s Gut Punch Paul Gauguin’s art still has the effect of a visceral punch to the gut. Last month a woman made headlines after physically attacking one of the artist’s paintings. But the show “Gauguin: Maker of Myth” is the real headline-making event. PAGE 50

PHOTOGRAPHY

Camaraderie Before Conflict America’s early relations with Afghanistan formed a picture of cooperation that faded from public view as conflict replaced the camaraderie. PAGE 52

EVENTS

The Embassy of Trinidad and Tobago welcomes visitors during Passport DC 2010.

PHOTO: DON TANGUILIG

SPREADING ITS

WINGS Fuel surcharges, baggage fees and those pesky security pat downs make traveling a trek in and of itself these days. But the fourth installment of Passport DC’s annual around-the-world tour in Washington effortlessly opens the front door to different nations ranging from Bahrain and Botswana to Ukraine and Uzbekistan. PAGE 46

DINING

FILM REVIEWS

Michel Richard ventures into Virginia, though he hasn’t left his D.C. namesakes far behind. PAGE 56

Aaron Schock’s documentary “Circo” shines a spotlight on a family-owned circus in Mexico. PAGE 58

[ events ]

Embassies With Ease Passport Renews Its Washington Around-the-World Tour by Stephanie Kanowitz

uel surcharges, baggage fees and those pesky security pat downs make traveling quite a trek these days. Even ambassadors apparently aren’t exempt from the occasional hassle: Last December, Indian Ambassador Meera Shankar was subjected to a pat down at a Mississippi airport, causing a minor diplomatic ruckus. Cultural Tourism DC also creates quite a stir — but the positive kind — with its annual around-the-world tour in Washington that makes different nations as accessible as taking a few steps or riding a bike. The organization is back this month with the fourth installment of Passport DC, its citywide cultural showcase that includes the popular embassy open houses on May 7 and 14, with at least 35 embassies participating.The diverse list spans the globe, from Bahrain, Botswana, Ecuador and European Union member states, to Haiti, Mexico, Micronesia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. At the embassies, which will open their doors to thousands of visitors from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., guests will be treated to a taste of the countries’ culture, literally. Many offer customary foods and drinks in addition to artistic presentations. For example, the Embassy of Egypt, a first-time participant in Passport DC, will serve coffee, tea and basbousa, a traditional dessert of syrup-drizzled sweet cake. Given the governmental upheaval the country has faced in recent months, Mohamed Saleh, cultural attaché for the PHOTOS: DON TANGUILIG embassy’s Egyptian Cultural and Educational Bureau, hopes visitors will ill As part of Passport DC, dozens of embassies from leave with a new understanding of Egypt. “I hope they will get more Australia to Saudi Arabia open their doors to the public exposure to the Egyptian culture, like how beautiful the country is,” he each year and offer a taste of their national culture, told The Washington Diplomat. “Hopefully there will be some discusfrom traditional food and drinks to dance and musical sion about the new frontier for Egypt and how things are moving back performances. Nearly 20,000 people participated in home as well.” last year’s Passport DC, which is now in its fourth year. To that end, the embassy will show two films about Egypt’s culture and history, and it plans to include a discussion panel, Saleh said. but the overall range is 5 to 13 years. Another first-timer, the Embassy of Bolivia, will feature dances and Passport DC originated from the dishes from every region of the country, such as potato-inspired plates European Union Embassies’ Open House, from the Andes, banana-based foods from the lowlands and fruits from which was first held in 2007 and then the east, in addition to some twists on traditional tastes using quinoa. absorbed into Passport DC when it started “We want to promote our culture a lot more and our in 2008. IIn it its fifirstt ttwo years, Passport DC was staged during the i 2008 artists and our craftspeople,” said Luis Alipaz, first secretary Passport DC first part of May with three events that attracted 28 embassies and at the embassy. “We hope that people discover a new 11,000 people. Last year, it expanded to nearly the entire month of in May Bolivia.” May and brought onboard Fiesta Asia and more than 100 smaller Other embassies are experienced Passport DC particithroughout Washington, D.C. international events at venues throughout the city. Thirty-four pants. The Embassy of Brazil, which joined the event last For more information, please embassies participated, and attendance almost doubled to 20,000 year, will expand its involvement this year by adding music call (202) 661-7581 or visit (also see “Jam-Packed Passport: Itinerary Expands for This Year’s and Capoeira — part self-defense, part dance — demonstrawww.PassportDC.org. Citywide International Showcase” in the May 2010 issue of The tions to its tour of the ambassador’s residence. Embassy Washington Diplomat). Most Passport DC events are free, although officials say they expect 4,000 guests. Besides the open houses (one for EU countries on May 7 and the Around the World some require a small admission fee. The success of the unique endeavor is both surprising and expected, according to Embassy Tour on May 14), Passport DC encompasses festivals such as the National Asian Heritage Festival’s Fiesta Asia Street Fair, which attracts 10,000 people, as well as Cultural Tourism DC Executive Director Linda Donavan Harper.“There’s nothing else the Meridian International Children’s Festival, which aims to introduce kids ages 9 and like it [in the world],” Harper said.“We knew that there was certainly interest. In talking to people anecdotally we know that people think of the embassies as sort of the younger to new cultures. Both will take place May 21. Joining those Passport lineup veterans will be the Kids World Cinema Festival, most mystical and magical thing in the city. You drive down [Massachusetts Avenue] which is hosted by the Alliance Française de Washington with help from various and it’s,‘What flag is that?’ and ‘Gee, I wish I could get in that door.’” So her organization, whose mission is to promote D.C. culture beyond the sights of embassies and local venues such as Hillwood Museum and Goethe-Institut. Although Alliance Française has presented the film festival since 2009, this is the first time it has the National Mall, saw an opportunity to merge local interest and embassies’ desire to share their culture in this new age of public diplomacy and soft power. teamed with Passport DC. “I think there’s a real interest in that one-on-one diplomacy,” Harper said.“The world The films highlight 10 countries — the United States, Québec, Brazil, Britain, France, Germany, Spain, Australia, Japan and Senegal — and will consist of five 90-minute is so small now.Technology really allows one to think about how we have that opporscreenings, with at least one movie from each country, shown over five days: May 13, tunity to shake an ambassador’s hand or to see where he sits and works or to taste the 14, 20, 21 and 22. All the movies have English subtitles and are followed with an arts- food from another country. And that’s pretty special.” and-crafts workshop, such as origami after the Japanese films, and discussions addressing the films’ cultural contexts. The appropriate viewing age depends on the movies, Stephanie Kanowitz is a contributing writer for The Washington Diplomat.

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May 2011

[ diplomatic spouses ]

Disarming Charm On Third Posting, D.C. Like Second Home for Turkish Couple by Gail Scott

he is positive that she’s boring, but honey (one of her favorite expressions), she’s anything but. In fact, Fügen Tan, wife of Turkish Ambassador Namik Tan, is full of life, exuding a surprising openness and effervescent spirit that is downright infectious. “Honey, I’m very lucky. I live in America in a residence that is like a castle, a dream house,” she beamed of her diplomatic home with refreshingly undiplomatic frankness. “I’ve changed a few things to make it feel more like home,” Fügen explained as we settled into the comfy area she created in the grand second-floor salon of the official Turkish Residence overlooking Sheridan Circle.“It was too royal, too formal for us and too dark. I must have light! Of course, we don’t live here on this floor. We really live upstairs. We spend all our time in the sunroom up there.” Pointing out the priceless blue and gold Sevres vases,Turkish silver and other precious valuables that have been collected over the years, she admitted the stately surroundings can be intimidating. “I’m so afraid something important will get knocked over and broken, especially when there are a lot of people here. I’m always watching. These things are too precious, too antique and so valuable. It’s not easy to live in a house that’s like a museum.” The candor of this friendly and forthright diplomatic wife both disarms and charms the people she meets. And she is as open about her personal life as she is about her diplomatic life. “I was only 17 when I met my husband.A friend introduced us and that was it! I never dated anyone else. He is the only man I have ever known, honey. As much as I love our children, my husband is very important and always comes first,” she told us. “My husband is my best friend. I think he is very nice, elegant, friendly, charming and very handsome. He still has that ‘baby face’ I fell in love with,” she said, stopping to laugh. “And I still love him too much!” Yet sitting in the opulent residence as the wife of Turkey’s ambassador in what many rank as the world’s top diplomatic posting, she also remembers how tough their diplomatic life together was in the beginning. “Our first post was Moscow. I was only 24 and my husband 26. Our daughter Asli was two and a half then and I didn’t speak Russian.That first year was so very difficult; it was too cold,” she recalled. learn. And as a young Turkish diplomatic couple, we had to be “The second year there I started learning careful with our expenses, too. My family back in Turkey didn’t Russian from our housekeeper. I couldn’t write Washington is like our second want to come visit us in Moscow or Abu Dhabi; they wanted us to or read in Russian but I spoke with her all day. It became a joke that my husband — who had home…. Honey, I know where every- come home instead. “So, I went home often. We had a good time. My family helped Russian lessons twice a week — could read and write the language perfectly, but he couldn’t thing is and I know how to drive there. me, so did my family’s housekeeper, and as a young mother with two little children, my life was so much easier with that built-in speak it at all. And I, with my informal lessons at I still go to my old hairdresser in family support system.” home, couldn’t read or write a word but could After nearly five years abroad in Moscow and Abu Dhabi, the speak Russian. He was always asking me, ‘How Virginia and love driving to see all Tans returned to Turkey for two years before their initial posting do you say this or that and I knew the answer. to Washington, two decades before returning to take on the “I went out shopping and found my way my Turkish and American friends. ambassadorship. around Moscow from our little apartment,” she “The first time we lived here from 1991 to 1995, my husband continued. “I was impressed how clean their — FÜGEN TAN was first secretary at the embassy. Then the ambassador was metro was, how each station was elaborately Nüzhet Kandemir. We lived in Vienna [Va.] on Cedar Lane. We decorated with different designs in bronze or wife of Turkish Ambassador Namik Tan were able to live in a big suburban house because the landlord marble, like a museum. I loved finding antique shops where I could buy fine china like Herend and Meissen at very low prices. It was liked us so much that he gave us a very special rate. We loved those four years here.” Two years later, they would be back. so cheap then. Now I wish I had bought more.” “The second time, from 1997 to 2001, my husband was first counselor working again Living in Moscow, she also learned “how educated and cultured Russians are.They like with Ambassador Kandemir who was still here. Then Ambassador Baki Ilkin came. That to read and not only know their country’s culture but they knew Turkey’s too.” Just as she was beginning to get used to Moscow though, the nuclear disaster at time, we lived in McLean.” Now this third time, her husband is the ambassador, after having served as spokesman Chernobyl in neighboring Ukraine upended their quiet posting. “Even though we were far away in Moscow, everyone naturally became concerned. for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ambassador to Israel and deputy undersecretary of Since I was pregnant then with Aras, I was extra careful about what I ate and drank. Other bilateral political affairs and public diplomacy (also see Ambassador Tan’s cover profile, diplomatic families brought me special treats from their home countries and one “Turkey Emerges,” in the January 2011 issue of The Washington Diplomat). Today, unlike their previous postings, their two children are grown and living on their American diplomat ordered special vitamins especially for me. Everyone was so kind. “I went home to Turkey to have the baby and when I came back, we were reassigned own in Istanbul. Asli, 29, is looking for her next career move after working for two interto go directly to Abu Dhabi — from too cold to too hot. These were such challenging national companies. After graduating second in her class from McLean High School in posts, especially when we were so young and just starting out.We arrived in the UAE with Virginia, she and her brother Aras returned with their parents to Turkey, where she a four-and-a-half-year-old and a one-year-old baby. It was not easy.” Continued on next page She added:“In both places, everything was so different from Turkey. I had so much to

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Continued from previous page attended Bilkent University in Ankara while Aras went to Turkish public high school. Asli though missed her American friends, so she transferred to the George Washington University in her junior year, living with family friends and graduating with a GWU degree. Aras, now 25, works for a well-known Turkish company that takes its name from the ancient city of Ephesus. He too dreamed of being an American college student, living in the dorms and enjoying campus life, so also returned to the Washington area to study at Virginia’s George Mason University. “This time they didn’t want to come with us,” Fügen said, noting that today,“they are independent and their lives are in Turkey.” “Our children are very different from each other,” their mother observed. “At McLean High, Asli came home one day and told me that she was a ‘nerd’ and said, ‘I should be smart because it is not easy to live in another country.You have to have extra talent to succeed away from home and I want to be a success.’ She was so smart and studied hard. She didn’t worry about being popular. “Our son was the opposite. He wanted to be just like American kids. He spoke their teenage slang that none of us understood and wore his pants down low…. He had little interest in anything that wasn’t American,” Fügen recalled. “Now, they love Turkey,” she said. “By going to Turkish public schools, they learned about our culture when they were young … and now live happily in Turkey.We are especially glad that they have so much love for Turkey because we do. Sometimes if you move often to a different country, as diplomatic families do, the children don’t feel like any country is their ‘home.’” For her part, Fügen is delighted to be back here. “Washington is like our second home,” she said with a big smile. “Honey, I know where everything is and I know how to drive there. I still go to my old hairdresser in Virginia and love driving to see all my Turkish and American friends.” She’s also quick to tell me her favorite local haunts. “Rio Grande!” she exclaimed, immediately naming her favorite restaurant, part of the popular Uncle Julio’s brand of Mexican eateries. “I love going to the one in Reston and I still like shopping at Tysons Corner. I’m used to going there, even though so much has changed.” And all three times in Washington, she has found Americans

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incredibly welcoming. “People are so friendly here — much more open, very positive and so willing to help others,” Fügen said, although she lamented that many Americans don’t know more about her country. “Turkey is a fascinating country which has a rich history and culture. My country is not only a bridge between Europe and Asia, but also it is cradle of many ancient civilizations and cultures,” she said. “It is a tourist destination that Americans must see at some point their lives.” She added:“Sometimes people do not understand the true nature of Turkey and the Turks … and we are viewed through the prism of symbols and stereotypes.Turkey is a country that is solidly anchored in West, a predominantly Muslim yet secular country with a multiparty democracy and free market economy in one of the most volatile neighborhoods in the world.” And in her opinion, the Turkish Embassy’s highly touted new Ertegün Jazz Series is the perfect vehicle to showcase Turkey’s “legendary tolerance.” Organized by her husband with help from the group Jazz at Lincoln Center and Boeing Co., the series of jazz concerts honors the memory of Ahmet Ertegün, the founder and chairman of Atlantic Records, a Turkish descendant and one-time D.C. resident. When they were young, Ahmet and his brother Nesuhi — along with their father, Munir Ertegün,Turkey’s ambassador in Washington from 1934 to 1944 — held the first racially integrated jazz concerts

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The Washington Diplomat

Fügen Tan and her husband, Turkish Ambassador Namik Tan, are now on their third posting to Washington, D.C., although this time around their two children, Asli, 29, left, and Aras, 25, are living on their own in Istanbul.

in then-segregated Washington that became, according to jazz journalist Bill Gottleib, the city’s “most famous private jam sessions.” To mark their revival, the Tans invited leading members of the Congressional Black Caucus to the inaugural concert on March 1, which also coincided with Black History Month. “Honey, it could be that this series, especially if it continues after we’ve left, could become my husband’s ‘signature’ here,” Fügen proudly pointed out. “Ambassador Ertegün and his sons were the first to welcome Washington’s Afro-American musicians and fans to an integrated jazz session at the Turkish Embassy during segregation,” she said. “Now with this series, we are once again opening this same residence to again introduce Washington’s jazz lovers to the young, up-and-coming musicians who are in the early stages of their promising careers. For Turkey, which now has its own international jazz festivals each year, this cultural outreach is a natural gesture of friendship and respect.” Gail Scott is a contributing writer for The Washington Diplomat and lifestyle columnist for the Diplomatic Pouch.

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May 2011

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[ art ]

Pursuit of Purity ‘Gauguin: Maker of Myth’ Chronicles Real-Life Quest for Authenticity PHOTO: KIMBELL ART MUSEUM, FORT WORTH

by Gary Tischler

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aul Gauguin clearly still has the power to inspire — and apparently enrage. Last month a woman pummeled one of the artist’s paintings at the National Gallery of Art of two nude Tahitian women, screaming that the $80 million work was “evil.” The woman, who remains in custody, reportedly had a history of schizophrenia. Gauguin — the self-taught French post-impressionist master who abandoned a business career to travel the world in search of artistic fulfillment and primitive beauty — grappled with his own emotional demons, including bouts of depression and illness in his final years living on the islands of the South Seas. It’s safe to say though that he dealt with his demons and his own preoccupation with evil in a somewhat more constructive way. And today, far from “evil,” his naked Polynesian women, devil masks and palm trees have become internationally iconic images — and a window into the mind of a tortured man trying to rekindle a vanishing culture. And technically speaking, not only did Gauguin pioneer modern art forms with his use of symbols, bold coloring, primitivism and other styles, he interwove ritual, myths, meaning — and a bit of angst — into works that clearly retain their emotional potency today. That’s the theme of a major show at the National Gallery of Art that was somewhat overshadowed by the strange attack in April. But the exhibition “Gauguin: Maker of Myth” is the real headline-making event. Nearly 120 sumptuous works are on display in the first major examination of the artist’s oeuvre in the United States since “The Art of Paul Gauguin,” the previous blockbuster retrospective at the National Gallery in the late 1980s. Co-organized by the Tate Modern in London, this show features self-portraits, genre pictures, still lifes, landscapes and sculpture, spanning the great, rambling, drifting journey of Gauguin’s life — from his beginnings as a middle-class stockbroker, complete with wife and children, to hop-scotching faraway islands in search of mysteries and often mistresses. It was a pursuit, both personal and artistic, for spiritual authenticity, for cultural purity before it could be tainted by the touch of Westerners — like Gauguin himself, it might be noted. That pursuit for purity led Gauguin from the comforts Paris to an artist’s colony in rural Brittany, all the way to Peru, Martinique, Panama and finally to the islands of French Polynesia, where he sought an escape from European “civilization” altogether. Here he found a different but disappearing civilization, immersing himself in Maori culture while pondering questions of life, death and beyond. And here we see the man himself lurking in his various disguises, not only as painter, ceramist, wood-cut engraver and printmaker, but also as a storyteller — infusing religious and mythological symbols drawn from Gauguin: Maker of Myth both European and Maori legends through June 5 to tell visual narratives that are raw in their simplicity and powerful in their intimacy. National Gallery of Art Unlike the 1980s retrospective, this exhibilocated on the National Mall between tion comes at you in sections that themati3rd and 9th Streets at Constitution Avenue, NW. cally chronicle the artist’s search for himself For more information, please call (202) 737-4215 through his art. Every step of the way Gauguin or visit www.nga.gov. produced astonishing, unforgettable work that could have been achieved by no one else. Every step of the way he also seemed to indulge his appetite for the exotic. “Maker of Myth” veers like the man himself, starting with Gauguin’s self-portraits before sections examining his “Quest for Spirituality,” which documents the emergence of religious themes in his work;“Earthly Paradise/Paradise Lost,” depicting his first foray into Tahiti; “Re-creating the Past” and the lost Polynesian culture that he never quite found; “Archetypal Females” as he sought the eternal mythical woman; and “Religious Commonalities,” in which Gauguin unearths connections among different faiths. Gauguin’s reputation as something of a modernist painter is unsurpassed because, although he’s tends to be lumped in with all the impressionists mostly because of time and proximity, his work hardly resembles any of theirs. He arrived at his distinctive style honestly, by way of experience hotly pursued, with both wild abandonment and artistic

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The Washington Diplomat

PHOTO: THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO, HELEN BIRCH BARTLETT MEMORIAL COLLECTION

Paul Gauguin, whose 1885 self-portrait is pictured at top, traveled the Pacific to find primitive purity, although when he found the footprints of Western culture, he simply recreated his dream of unspoiled worlds in works such as “Mahana no Atua (Day of God),” above, and “Two Tahitian Women,” left.

purpose. Gauguin’s art, more than most of his contemporaries, is about him, his burning, hungry soul. His personal reputation, however, is a bit less high-minded — and much more lurid, self-indulgent, wild and maniacal, if not entirely mad. Of course, Gauguin rationalized his shameless behavior with a poetic articulateness that was difficult to resist. As he’s reported to have said upon leaving PHOTO: THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART for the South Seas:“There in Tahiti, in the silence of beautiful tropical night, I shall be able to listen to the sweet murmuring music of my heart’s movements in loving harmony with the beings around me. Free at last with no money troubles and able to love, sing, and die.” Even a wife would shed a tear listening to this beautiful drivel, just long enough to allow him to escape. He hoped that escape would yield a natural, unspoiled Nirvana, whether in coastal France, imbued with its ancient Celtic flavors, or the unexplored tropics. But he never quite found Nirvana. Rather, in Tahiti, he was confronted with the trappings of Western missionaries and colonial rule. So he resurrected the native Polynesian women and gods he’d always envisioned in his canvases, woodcarvings and writings. The Pacific may have never quite lived up to his dream, but Gauguin’s recreation of his dream continues to haunt us today. With Gauguin, it’s always a slippery slope. Genius of his kind, with such a purpose, is Promethean. But we know what happened to Prometheus — the Greek champion of mankind, known for his wily intelligence, who stole fire from Zeus, gave it to mortals, and was then punished by having an eagle eat away at his regenerating liver every day. Gauguin too yearned for the most primitive fire, and it’s quite possible he found it and passed it on, still hot to the touch, biting to the eye, and wounding to the heart. Gary Tischler is a contributing writer for The Washington Diplomat.

May 2011

NEXT at the C orcoran show cases work b Corcoran Coll y the ege of Art + D e s ig n’s graduatin seniors, and re g presents all d is c ip li nes of the Bachelor of F ine Arts degre e programs in design, ﬁne art , and photogra phy. For more info rmation abou t this dynamic related progra exhibition, mming, and th e participating please visit w artists, ww.corcoran.o rg/next. lks ry ta e l l a nd rg rs fo rocess, a tion. o t a r d cu iration, p he exhibi n a , lty sp in t , facu ut the in on view s t n e st u d s abo ct works J o i n s c u ss i o n e d sel di n i d h e n a b tions alk n e t n i alk ery T l T l a y . r G .m lle m 4, 1 p rt Ga rnalis A y u a o e j M n Fi oto ay, d Ph nesd n a d e y ion W raph .m. cuss s g i o t D l e ho 1p : Pan Art P , May 11, s t s i t y Fine a T Ar k nesd NEX s y Tal ’ r Wed n e l a l r a G . rco sign e Co 12, 7 p.m e h D t t a di ay Mee al Me ay, M t i d s g r i Thu nd D gn a , 1 p.m. i s e y 18 hic D Grap sday, Ma ne Wed

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[ photography ]

Before the War ‘Small Things’ Puts Big Chunk of U.S.-Afghan Ties Into Perspective by Rachael Bade

n April, a small-town Florida pastor who has about 30 followers but clearly craves the international limelight finally made good on his longstanding threat to publicly burn the Koran, denouncing it as “evil.” Furious Afghans protested, and a mob stormed a United Nations office in Mazar-i-Sharif and brutally murdered seven workers they called puppets of a disrespectful America (though none were American). That gun-toting pastor, Terry Jones, a former used furniture salesman, got the attention he so craved and that U.S. government officials had so sought to downplay — generating the latest negative headline about the tumultuous U.S.-Afghanistan relationship. Even before the war today that continues to both test and shape that relationship, America’s ties with Afghanistan were controversial, with the U.S. government funding Mujahideen fighters as a bulwark against the Soviets in the late 1970s, not knowing the fighters would eventually morph into the Taliban. But America’s relations with Afghanistan were formed long before these conflicts, and a new Meridian International Center exhibit tries to put that relationship into perspective. Co-sponsored by the State Department, “In Small Things Remembered:The Early Years of U.S.-Afghan Relations” features more than 80 reproductions of archival photographs and documents that depict a range of Americans and Afghans working together from 1911 through the 1970s. The pictures reveal an untold story — one of cooperation and mutual respect that rarely makes the front pages. PHOTO: DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM / SULTAN HAMID One image from 1911 features A.C. Jewett, a former General Electric engineer who traveled to Kabul to construct Afghanistan’s first The Meridian International Center dug hydroelectric plant. Jewett spent eight years in the country working as up archival photographs documenting the chief engineer for Emir Habibullah Khan. In the photo, he stands besides early years of U.S.-Afghan relations, an Afghan sitting atop an elephant as the duo pushes a boulder at a conuncovering a picture of cooperation with struction site. scenes such as Dwight D. Eisenhower’s Another photo from 1946 captures a group of young Afghan boys in trip to Afghanistan, the first ever by an baseball uniforms. American J. Robert Fluker had introduced baseball American president, above, and a USAID while teaching at Habibia College in Afghanistan. Fluker taught the game, rural works project in Helmand Valley, left, Americans donated the uniforms, and Time magazine reported that bagwhere U.S. Ambassador Theodore Eliot pipers “tootled” music while girls “whooped and whirled” on the sidelines and USAID Director Vincent Brown, right, during the country’s first taste of America’s favorite pastime. congratulate Herat Gov. Gholam Ali Ayin On hand for the recent exhibition opening in Washington were newly and Rural Development Department appointed Afghan Ambassador Eklil Hakimi, Marc Grossman, the special President Mir Mohammed Sediq. envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, and Earl Anthony Wayne, deputy PHOTO: AMBASSADOR THEODORE ELIOT ambassador at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, which initially proposed creating the unprecedented collection of photographs. Dwight D. Eisenhower’s trip to Afghanistan — Grossman said the pictures show that the U.S. relationthe first ever by an American president. One In Small Things Remembered: ship with Afghanistan didn’t start on Sept. 11, 2001 — shows his motorcade winding among huncontrary to popular belief. Instead, they portray an extenThe Early Years of U.S.-Afghan Relations dreds of Afghans cheering in the streets, tosssive and cooperative history not defined by “the burning ing confetti and waving American flags. Later through June 5 of a book and killing people,” the envoy said, but by the presidents also featured include John F. Meridian International Center students, diplomats, engineers, agricultural experts, Peace Kennedy, Richard Nixon and Lyndon B. 1630 Crescent Place, NW Corps volunteers, presidents and others who worked Johnson. For more information, please call (202) 667-6800 or visit together to build a nation. “Education and Outreach” highlights the www.meridian.org/insmallthingsremembered/. “This relationship is based on individuals and people U.S. aid programs that operated between the keeping their word to one another and lending a helping 1950s to the late 1970s, including images of hand.This is the power of the individual.” Grossman said. Peace Corps volunteers teaching Afghan children music or women medicine at Organizers broke the exhibit into five sections chronicling the evolution of bilat- nursing schools. eral relations. The first,“Early Contacts,” took place between 1911 and 1948 before In one 1953 photo, an Afghan man in a turban and traditional robe stands reading the two nations exchanged ambassadors. In one 1921 photo, Afghan Princess an American cookbook in a magazine section that includes publications such as Fatima Begum stands out amid a group of suited-up men on Capitol Hill. Her fashion National Geographic and Woman’s Day, providing a striking contrast with the caught the eye of the American press corps, according to Library of Congress bearded Afghan man. records. The princess wore a dress cut off at the knees and black nylons, a sheer “Cultural Diplomacy” traces the artistic exchanges that took place long before headscarf loosely adorned her hair, and a 45-carat-diamond necklace draped around the notion of public diplomacy become popularized today — as jazz legends such her neck. as Duke Ellington and groups such as the Joffrey Ballet exposed Afghan audiences In the “Official Visits” section documenting diplomatic exchanges between the See AFGHAN, page 57 two countries, we see a series of photographs from 1959 that capture President

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May 2011

[ theater ]

Impassioned ‘Art ’ Taste is Subjective, and Explosive, Among Three Friends by Michael Coleman

ust about anyone who has spent time in modern art galleries can appreciate the conflict at the heart of Yasmina Reza’s play “Art” now on stage at Signature Theatre. At the outset of this briskly paced and furiously funny play, Serge purchases a canvas painted white for $200,000 fully convinced that it is not only a transcendent piece of artistic creativity, but also an irrefutable commentary on his own sophistication. His friends Yvan and Marc aren’t so sure. In fact, Marc declares this piece of “art” a euphemism for excrement. Of course, when it comes to art, taste is subjective. What one might deem trash another may view as a treasure. Yvan, who can’t quite seem to make up his mind about the painting, vacillates between placating Serge and commiserating with Marc. On the one hand, Yvan finds it ridiculously priced. But on the other, he strains — with some self-professed success — to see its simplistic beauty. By prevaricating, Yvan unintentionally exacerbates long-simmering resentments among all three of the men. Above from left, John Lescault (as Serge) For the next 80 minutes or so, audience members are and Mitchell Hébert (as Marc) gaze at a white treated to “Art,” a well-acted, crisply directed, one-act dark canvas that Serge bought for $200,000, comedy that examines the nuances of taste and tact, as well while at left, Marc tries to reason with his as the emotional threads — thick and thin — binding the friend Yvan (played by Michael Russotto) that fabric of lifelong friendships. Matthew Gardiner’s direction is the purchase wasn’t a waste of money, in assured, and the scenic design by James Kronzer captures a Yasmina Reza’s “Art.” contemporary feel while remaining muted enough not to be distracting. dramatic acting and comedic timing. Signature has a deserved reputation for solid acting, but Hébert also makes great use of a particuthis small, three-actor cast is exceptional for its dramatic larly expressive face and mannerisms that range, rapid-fire delivery and sheer believability. The men sell his scenes and make the viewer want each bring different conceits and neuroses to the table, makto root for him. ing for consistently compelling emotional exchanges. Serge, meanwhile, is generally comfortReza, a female playwright of French descent, eloquently able in his own skin and obviously a sucmines the familiar contempt often harbored just below the cess, but he longs for the elder Marc’s endorsement of his surface of long-time male friendships. The characters in “Art” Art art purchase. Marc is not nearly so generous. In fact, he tells plumb the depths of each others’ insecurities with deft skill Yvan that the purchase fills him with ““some indefinable through May 22 and bracing honesty. Their attacks and retreats remind us of unease.” Later, he pronounces himself “offended” that a the fragility of friendships and how even the smallest misunSignature Theatre friend of his would make what he views to be such an derstanding can morph into something much more serious. 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington, Va. irrational and ill-conceived expenditure. It is doubly impressive that Reza’s dialogue in “Art” — filled Tickets are $55 to $81. Serge, by contrast, defensively exclaims that he doesn’t with such personal vindictiveness — can elicit howls of For more information, please care if Marc likes the painting but is insulted by his condeknowing laughter from an audience. call (703) 820-9771 or visit scension. In one of the more compelling exchanges, he As the play progresses, the men work through their differwww.signature-theatre.org. berates his friend as a traitor. ences of opinion over the art, the women in their lives and “There was a time when you were proud to be my what they each mean to each other. It’s not always pretty but friend, when you congratulated yourself on my being a maverick,” Serge bellows it is often funny. John Lescault as Serge is thoroughly convincing as an erudite, yet simultane- at Marc, who employs a world-weary sneer in most of his interactions with his ously down-to-earth (if slightly insecure) art patron and dermatologist, while his friends.“You enjoyed exhibiting me untamed to your circle — you whose life was cast mates are equally compelling. Marc (Mitchell Hébert), the smug, razor- so normal. I was your alibi!” Marc sighs dispassionately before offering this retort: “Why can’t we exchange tongued aeronautical engineer gives the play punch, while Yvan (Michael one single dispassionate word?” Russotto), a sensitive stationery salesman, gives it heart. Apparently, that’s because dispassion is not on the menu of this impassioned Hébert, portraying the least formidable character of the three actors, manages to nearly steal the show. His five-minute monologue detailing all of the tribula- and highly enjoyable play. tions associated with his impending wedding — complete with staccato bursts mimicking his fiancée’s family members — melds a marvelous combination of Michael Coleman is a contributing writer for The Washington Diplomat.

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May 2011

PHOTOS: SCOTT SUCHMAN

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[ design ]

FUN-ctionality Spanish Furniture Designers Blend Peculiar With Practical by Rachael Bade

[ Page 54

ost art thrives on aesthetic appeal and emotional impact: Pablo Picasso’s bizarrely intriguing shapes, Claude Monet’s gracefully beguiling landscapes,George Balanchine’s use of patterns in the alignment of his dancers, Philip Glass’s composition of musical notes that practically weep. But utility and functionality? Let’s just say that’s not the selling point of most art. Enter “BRAVOS: Groundbreaking Spanish Design,” an exhibit of 21 vanguard 21st-century designers from Spain that smartly mix artistry and practicality. On display at the Katzen Arts Center and sponsored by American University, the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation and the Embassy of Spain, the exhibit highlights the niche between art and design. It also dispels a few misconceptions. For one thing, while artists such as Picasso, Salvador Dalí and Joan Miró solidified Spain’s artistic reputation in the 20th century, the country is not usually associated with smart utilitarian design in the way that Sweden is, for example. But after its embrace democracy in the late 1970s and the ensuing political, social and economic changes, Spain gradually became an innovator in contemporary product design.Today, Spanish designers are among the world’s most artistically avant-garde and economically productive. The pieces at the Katzen Arts Center epitomize this blend of practical function and playful whimsy, with heavy emphasis on the latter. But this doesn’t look anything like your typical IKEA showroom. For instance, a mannequin-like pair of large upper thighs and butt cheeks provides a visual laugh and a sitting chair, too. There’s also a set of half-dozen hollowed-out pillows stacked in a pyramid with open cubbyholes instead of cushioning; the compartments serve as storage space. Curator Juli Capella, a world-renowned Spanish architect and designer who selected the pieces for the show, said his artists aim to create objects that reflect things used in everyday life, such as chairs and plates, but with a newfound twist. For example, an ordinary dish drying rack morphs into a teepee-shaped structure with ridges that hold dinner plates, saucers and silverware at the bottom and cups and mugs at the top. Meanwhile, strangely striking light fixtures by Luis Eslava, a 35-year-old from BRAVOS: Groundbreaking Valencia, feature red and white magnets Spanish Design that can be put on or taken off — a quick and easy filter for dimming or through May 15 magnifying light. American University Museum The best part of the exhibit is the at the Katzen Arts Center brain stimulation each piece provides. 4400 Massachusetts Ave., NW For example, designer Nacho Carbonell For more information, please call (202) 885-1300 invented an air-filled chair with tubes or visit www.american.edu/cas/museum/ extending from the base, each attached or www.spainculture.us. to a “dead” animal shape on the floor. When a person sits down, he or she pushes enough air out of the chair to inflate the animals, which then perk up to a standing position. Humor and irony can be found throughout the show. Designer Ana Mir decided she hated tampons. So she fashioned a tampon that resembles a finger because she’d “rather put this inside her,” curator Capella joked, showing a picture of the finger tampon. Mir also created a set of plates with a single black hair painted on the rim — an appetite spoiler if it was real. “Usually young designers in Spain try to draw attention of the media by showing

]

The Washington Diplomat

PHOTOS: AMERICAN UNIVERSITY MUSEUM AT THE KATZEN ARTS CENTER

From clockwise top, “Key” bicycle parking rings produced by Santa & Cole, Diego Ramos’s “Wrinkle’s Beauty” chair and Curro Claret’s “Chapapote” vase are among the funky furniture creations showcased in “BRAVOS: Groundbreaking Spanish Design” at the Katzen Arts Center.

bold and risky projects,” Capella explained. “But these are not for mass production; just to get attention.” Ernest Perera from Barcelona imagined a cigarette with four lungs on the side of the roll. As the smoker inhales and the bud burns closer to the filter, the lungs grow blacker, a powerful visual reminder of smoking’s health risks. Another designer envisioned a coffee cup with the handle on the inside — utterly useless, but humorous. Others designs though are cleverly functional: stackable bowls, plates whose corners fold up for easy drying, and elaborately designed gold-and-black tape to frame posters on the wall with cheap sophistication. “I wanted a mix between commercial, cultural, arts and crafts, and experimental pieces from various typologies — chairs, lamps other things,” said Capella.“I didn’t want an exhibition only of bizarre “BRAVOS: stuff but also real, usable things.” did GroundThough the pieces are diverse, all their creators share a certain breaking Spanish flair influencing their styles. In fact, one of the main questions Spanish the exhibit aims to answer is whether Spain has its own style in the Design” is part of “Spain Arts world of contemporary design. & Culture 2011,” an embassyObviously Capella hopes viewers will come away with an affirmasponsored program that tive yes. promotes Spanish culture “Spanish design does exist and has a strong presence, but it’s still in the United States. not well known,” Capella told a Spanish newspaper. “The problem is that Spain is lumped together with a general image of Europe, where great styles of other countries already exist and dominate the world view. Few people know that Spain is an economic power in the production of furniture design and has excellent lighting fixtures that are sold all over the world.” So the next time you’re looking for a fun chair or odd lamp — or even a flash-drive data saver shaped like the Virgin Mary that reads “Oh Maria keep my data safe!” — you know which country, or exhibit, to turn to.

you

know ?

Rachael Bade is a contributing writer for The Washington Diplomat.

May 2011

ONE MONTH. SIXTY EMBASSIES. HUNDREDS OF INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES. ONE UNFORGETTABLE GLOBAL JOURNEY THROUGH THE NATION’S CAPITAL.

Around the World Embassy Tour More than 30 embassies open their doors and invite visitors to experience food, fashion, art, music, dance, and so much more. Join Cultural Tourism DC for this once-a-year visit into the stately mansions and exclusive buildings that house the embassies. Discover the vibrant heritage and culture waiting inside. Saturday, May 14

10 am – 4 pm

schedule of events Short Cut to Europe: European Union Embassies’ Open House Come explore Washington, DC’s international culture and heritage. During the month of May Washington’s embassies and cultural centers open their doors for you to experience the music, art, dance, crafts, and cuisine from such faraway places as Korea, Bahrain, Ghana, and Thailand.

.org May 2011

MAY 7; 10 AM – 4 PM

The European Union Delegation and the Embassies of the 27 EU Member States invite visitors to experience the diversity and richness of Europe. Look for authentic music, dance, food, film, and art, along with a rare behind-the-scenes view of the European Union Embassies. Various Locations | Admission: Free

Kids World Cinema MAY 13-14, 20-22; 10 AM – 4 PM

Young cinema fans are sure to enjoy this celebration of children’s films from countries around the world. Presented in partnership with Alliance Française de Washington, this two-weekend festival features the screening of international children’s films as well as educational workshops. Various Locations | Admission: Free

National Asian Heritage Festival: Fiesta MAY 21; 10 AM – 7 PM

The Asia Heritage Foundation presents this street festival honoring the diverse cultures of Asia. Travel the continent with outdoor craft exhibits, special performances, cooking demonstration, and much more. Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, between Third and Sixth Streets | Admission: Free

International Children’s Festival MAY 21; 10 AM – 3 PM

Introduce the next generation of global travelers to cultures around the world. Children will enjoy a day of international performances and educational activities hosted by local embassies and cultural organizations. This festival is presented by Meridian International Center and THIS for Diplomats. Meridian International Center, 1630 Crescent Pl., NW. Admission: $10, free for children under 12

Hundreds of international events and activities will take place all month long! Check the full schedule of events at www.CulturalTourismDC.org or call 202-661-7581 for more information.

The Washington Diplomat Page 55

[ dining ]

Soul Searching Michel Richard Ventures Into Virginia, Carrying Faint Echoes of Citronelle, Central by Rachel G. Hunt

ichel Richard has been wooing Washington diners since he launched Citronelle in 1994, his flagship restaurant that immediately took hold and catapulted Richard — and in the process, Washington, D.C. — from national to international acclaim. Richard’s particular brand of California-nuanced French (or is it French-infused California?) was new to the area and set the watermark for fine dining that emphasized lighter and more creative dishes with a dash of humor. Following the success of Citronelle, Richard eventually separated from his other ventures in California to make the East Coast his base, opening a second D.C. restaurant, Central, in 2007. Joining the ranks of celebrity chefs wishing to offer diners a more accessible venue to taste their wares, Richard designed Central along the bistro line and developed a menu that included classic yet casual foods such as burgers and fries, fried chicken, mussels and ribs. While the palate is very different, the approach to the food is much the same, whimsy in conception and design, with devout seriousness paid to the execution. Central has indeed been noted for offering the quality and consistency of its much pricier cousin. This fall, Richard made his first foray out of the District while still remaining in the area (he also has restaurants in several other parts of the country), setting up shop in the space formerly occupied by Fabio Trabocchi’s renowned Maestro in the Ritz-Carlton at Tysons Corner. Group Goetz Architects (GGA) has transformed Maestro’s classically elegant space using sleek chrome, gray-blond woods, winecolored upholstery, bright flashes of rouge, and a signature stacked-plate sculpture that create a sophisticated, modern, if a tad reserved look. Unfortunately the acoustics are lacking and even on weekdays with a mid-size crowd, it’s a bit hard to hear your table partners. Nevertheless, an open kitchen gives diners the chance to observe executive chef Levi Mezick (formerly of the reopened Jockey Club) and his team at work interpreting Richard’s dining concept. Characterized as modern French on its website, the touches of artistry and playful flair that have so defined Richard’s cuisine both at Citronelle and Central are less in evidence at Michel than one might expect, though Michel does turn to both for inspiration. The restaurant offers some of Michel Richard’s signature dishes such as the in the Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner lobster burger, which are as good 1700 Tysons Blvd., McLean, Va. here as they are at Central. The menu also includes Central’s gougères, tasty (703) 744-3999 little cheese puffs, and the goat cheese www.michelrichardva.com Caesar avocado salad, an interesting interpretation featuring a tightly Breakfast: Mon. - Fri., 6:30 - 10:30 a.m.; packed romaine-and-cheese round Sat., Sun., 7 - 11 a.m. drizzled with a mild dressing and served standing upright. It’s fun, but Lunch: Mon. - Fri., 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. the avocado is barely evident. Brunch: Sun., 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Another notable continuation are the several varieties of tartar and carDinner: Mon. - Thu., 5:30 - 10 p.m.; paccio that Richard pulls off so deftly, Fri. and Sat., 5:30 - 10:30 p.m. with salmon, yellowtail, beef, eel and tuna each interestingly prepared and Appetizers: $8 - 34 presented. But a truly exceptional appetizer is the plump diver scallops, Entrées: $16 - 44 which are sautéed until slightly caramelDesserts: $9 - 15 ized on the outside while still tender and moist on the inside. Accented by cauliflower, couscous and brown butter (on the prefix menu) or with crispy onions and shallot jus, the scallops are near perfection. Michel’s main courses fall somewhere between those at Citronelle and Central, with less of the California-inspired ethos highlighted among Citronelle’s often startlingly creative dishes, and fewer of the updated comfort foods on tap at

want to

[ ] go?

Page 56

The Washington Diplomat

PHOTOS: JESSICA LATOS

After widespread acclaim for his two D.C. restaurants, Citronelle and Central, celebrity chef Michel Richard recently debuted Michel in the Ritz-Carlton at Tysons Corner, Va., offering a taste of Citronelle’s elegant creativity and Central’s casual comfort food.

Central. Chef Mezick braises breast of veal with prosciutto and serves it over a bed of rich sunchoke purée. The veal is tender, the reduced sauces intense, and the artichoke purée mild and salty. Altogether, they make for a very tasty dish. A large roasted lamb shank, served in a bowl of rosemary-infused flageolet beans, is rich and meaty and has a slightly soapy but not unpleasant aftertaste. On the lighter side, the Parmesan ravioli is equally appealing. Served on top of wilted spinach and mushroom sauce, the pasta is nestled under a delicious parmesan crisp. The several side dishes on the menu align more toward the comfort food concept, with smooth-as-silk garlic mashed potatoes leading the way in satisfying sides. An aspiring pastry chef by the time he was 14, Richard made his first serious forays into the culinary arts as an apprentice baker. Not surprisingly, desserts are treated with the utmost respect at Michel, with a fair selection of choices, many exquisitely prepared. Perhaps the most distinctly prepared is the Napoleon, made richer than the traditional version with the use of crème brûlée instead of pastry

May 2011

cream for the filing between layers. For taste alone, the apricot tart rustique is one of the best choices. Combining the brilliant color and the sweet tart taste of apricot with a rich yet mellow almond ice cream, it is a simple but delicious dessert. For statement, the celebration cake is the most dramatic choice. Topped with a burning mini Roman candle, the dessert is a sealed cylinder of chocolate leaf filled with layers of spongy cake, ice cream, pastry cream and fresh fruit. Michel offers a substantial wine list featuring small boutique wineries but very few choices in the lower and mid-price range.And as at Richard’s other spots, the mixed drinks are delightfully fruity concoctions. With his newest venture, Richard offers his diners more choice but also a bit of a conundrum. He has created a restaurant that has neither the exquisite service and elaborate dishes of Citronelle, nor the more laid-back charm and simpler dishes of Central.The food is consistently good, some of it approaching the inspired (those scallops!). The spot is attractive. Service is respectable, but it lacks the maturity and polish that so characterizes Citronelle, following instead the more casual approach of Central, though it’s not quite as proficient or comfortable as of yet. And Michel is quite expensive, at times excessively so, even for being in a Ritz-Carlton. What Michel lacks is a distinctive character, the soul that guides Richard’s two restaurants in Washington. Perhaps that’s in part related to the fact that Michel is located is a hotel, where it must cater to a broader audience and cannot be as singular in its approach. Perhaps it is because Michel is in its early stages and will evolve its own unique personality in time.And perhaps it is simply because Citronelle and Central are so well established and defined that they overshadow their youngest sibling. Richard is still a master at marrying beautiful flavors, though not all mar-

“The Best of DC’s International Destinations” Frommer’s 2009 Washington Guide

Uniting People through Musical Diplomacy

PHOTO: JESSICA LATOS

Group Goetz Architects transformed what was formerly the space occupied by Maestro to create a contemporary, sophisticated look for Michel, accented by sleek chrome and winecolored upholstery.

riages are created equal. As the newest addition to the Richard family, Michel may have to overcome some growing pains to find its identity, but it’s got the pedigree and support to mature into its expectation-laden namesake. Rachel G. Hunt is the restaurant reviewer for The Washington Diplomat.

Intimate & Unique

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DYLAN SAVAGE, PIANO The Whittemore House 1526 New Hampshire Avenue, NW Sunday, June 5, 2011 at 3 pm

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from page 52

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In this image from 1911, A.C. Jewett, a former General Electric engineer, left, stands beside an elephant at a construction site in Kabul, where he spent eight years helping to build Afghanistan’s first hydroelectric plant.

security is merely one of the many threads that weave our shared history,” he said.“I am certain that Americans and Afghans who see this exhibit will better understand the history of our relationship and will forge new ties that build upon foundations laid during the 20th century. I hope that in the future new images will be added, chronicling the continuing friendship between our nations and our people in the 21st century and beyond.” Rachael Bade is a contributing writer for The Washington Diplomat.

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to U.S. culture. One Life magazine photo from 1963 shows 12 Joffrey Ballet members posing with their right feet crossed over their left and hands over their chests, as snowy mountains rise in the background. Robert Joffrey, who was born Abdullah Jaffa Anver Bey Khan, the son of an Afghan who had immigrated to the United States, launched his “Dreams of Glory” tour in Afghanistan to honor the country of his father’s birth. More than 500 Afghans showed up to take his dance class. The last swath of photographs illustrate Americans and Afghans collaborating on dam- and highway-building projects, all of which came to a screeching halt during the Soviet invasion. But the memory of that cooperation now endures. Curtis Sandberg, vice president for arts and cultural programs at the Meridian, oversaw the research team that organized the exhibit in a yearlong process that involved digging through old newspaper and magazine clippings, Library of Congress archives, and university and private collections to unearth the forgotten photos. “It was like going to college again,” Sandberg said. The Meridian hopes to develop a two-year U.S. tour of the exhibit, after which it would travel to Kabul. Meridian President Stuart Holliday said the show is emblematic of the center’s mission to build cultural bridges. “This exhibition demonstrates that

CHATHAM BAROQUE Embassy of Italy Friday, May 20, 2011 7:30 pm

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What does this mean? It means that, as a publication audited by Circulation Verification Council (CVC), we have a clear understanding of our impact, including the number of households we reach, how much we’re read and our influence on purchasing decisions. When it comes to serving readers and advertisers, CVC is the standard.

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The Washington Diplomat Page 57

[ film reviews ]

High -Wire Family Aaron Schock Acts as Ringmaster in Documenting Mexican Circus

by Ky N. Nguyen

[

merican filmmaker Aaron Schock’s “Circo” returns to D.C. for a deserved theatrical release after its East Coast premiere during the 2010 AFI-Discovery Channel SilverDocs Festival. Schock wanted to make a documentary about Mexican culture that didn’t focus on the oft-told tale of immigration to the United States. Yet he ended up with subjects who are themselves everlasting migrants. While he was doing field research in a Mexican village in the state of Nayarit, the traveling circus came to town. Over a span of 21 months, Shock traveled to rural Mexico eight times to follow and shoot the Gran Circo Mexico, owned by the same family since the late 19th century. “Circo” results from what was largely a one-man show by Schock, who produced, directed, operated the camera, and recorded the sound for the entire film. Fittingly, his subjects are busy multitasking themselves, led by ringmaster Tino Ponce. The five adults and five children in the circus are kinetic actors, perpetually in motion. They arrive in a town to unload the truck, set up the circus, perform, break down, load the truck, and move on to the next gig after only one or two days. It’s a life fraught with economic and physical hardships. Tino though is driven by his desire to meet and surpass the stanCirco dards of Gilberto, his overbearing father. Basically (Spanish with subtitles; 75 min.) illiterate, Tino knows no other livelihood, having begun performing in the circus at the age of 6. As Landmark’s E Street Cinema he puts it,“Circus forever…” Opens Fri., May 6 In contrast, his wife Ivonne married into this life, having run away with the circus — and Tino — ★★★★✩ when she was 15. Coming from a background of “settled” people living in a town, she is still considered an outsider by Gilberto and his wife, Lupe. To some degree, they’re right. She’s not satisfied with her existence. Watching the children spend all their time in rehearsals, with no time for school, she laments,“They give us too much.” Though the children seem happy, they are amazed that other kids their age only attend school and play. The mother worries about her children’s future without an education, knowing that the Ponces’ traditional itinerant lifestyle may not last forever in the 21st century. But Schock doesn’t delve too deeply into the dark tensions. Instead, he focuses on celebrating the joy of the circus while it lasts.

]

Rapturous Transmigration

PHOTO: HECHO A. MANO FILMS

American filmmaker Aaron Schock’s “Circo” follows a Mexican family struggling to keep the lights from going out on the circus they’ve owned since the late 19th century.

of Italy, the Greek philosopher Pythagoras invented mathematics and — legend has it — talked to the animals.Today, not much has changed. Emerging from the smoke of a charcoal kiln, an elderly goat herder (Giuseppe Fuda) appears to be staying put to live his final days in the pastoral setting where he was born. Aided by a loyal dog, he continues to tend to his goats even though most of his fellow villagers have abandoned ship for greener pastures. He imbibes what he believes to be medicine, comprised of dust from the floor of the church, but he misses a dose one night and passes away. Le Quattro Volte In the film’s most ambitious and (unintelligible Italian memorable scene, Frammartino without subtitles; 88 min.) stages a 10-minute sequence in Landmark’s E Street Cinema which the dog steals the show. The audience sees the mira★★★★✩ cle of birth of a baby goat who eagerly enters life and chases after his mother. Separated from her, the kid seeks cover under a towering fir tree, shaken by the mountain winds.The tree lives through the snowy winter, emerging into the spring only to be cut down in a pagan-like village ritual in which its bark is stripped. The tree’s cut-up carcass then undergoes metamorphosis into charcoal via a timeless, traditional Calabrian process. As the fire in the charcoal kiln burns, smoke arises from the hut, closing the cycle. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

[

]

“Le Quattro Volte,” a rapturous quasi-documentary from Italian filmmaker Michelangelo PHOTO: LORBER FILMS Frammartino, is unlike anything you’ve watched before, unless you saw it at an international film Giuseppe Fuda is an elderly goat herder living out his last Pouty But Popular ‘Princess’ festival in New York,Telluride,Toronto, Cannes or days in the Italian mountainside in Michelangelo Versatile French writer-director Bertrand Tavernier Tokyo. Nearly wordless, the cinematic poem Frammartino’s poetic “Le Quattro Volte.” (“Beatrice,”“Captain Conan,”“Round Midnight,”) is at the top of deftly captures the rhythms of everyday life in an Italian mountain village, capturing moments of life full of drama, comedy and connec- his game with “The Princess of Montpensier,” a skillful adaptation of Madame de La Fayette’s 1662 novel. Opening in France 100 years earlier, the epic costume drama tivity.You could say it’s like minimalist French auteur Jacques Tati in the country. Each scene is shot like a carefully composed painting, with seemingly minor details unfolds against the chaotic background of the Wars of Religions that pitted Catholics emerging into prominence with continued viewing. Without dialogue, the sounds of versus Huguenots and upended society. Veteran Tavernier’s sweeping direction enables the creation of a vivid mise-en-scène. humans, dogs, goats, plants and rocks take on added heft. Credit goes to the assured pacing derived from Frammartino’s direction and Benni Atria and Maurizio Grillo’s Driven by Philippe Sarde’s throbbing score with elements of modern percussion, direcediting. They enable the film to transcend beyond a mere academic exercise into a tor of photography Bruno de Keyzer’s dazzling widescreen camerawork handily captures the horrors of war. In a startling scene near the film’s opening, Huguenot crurealm approaching spirituality. The title “Le Quattro Volte” references the Pythagorean concept of four-fold transmi- sader Count of Chabannes (Lambert Wilson) questions his faith after a fight in a barn gration of souls, which migrate from human to animal to vegetable to mineral.Two-andSee FILM REVIEWS, page 61 a-half millennia ago, in the mountains of beautiful Calabria at the southernmost point

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The Washington Diplomat

May 2011

[ film festivals ]

10 Out of 10 ‘Film Forward’ Brings Cinematic Diplomacy to National Mall by Ky N. Nguyen

their experiences screening these films through U.S. embassies and local partnern May 12, “Film Forward: Advanships over the last six months. Here in the cing Cultural Dialogue” presU.S. and abroad, this program is creating ents an ambitious showcase powerful dialogue and engagement that of 10 award-winning, indehelps people from other places better pendent international films understand America, and helps us better playing simultaneously at 10 understand the world in which we live.” different venues all on the Sundance Institute Executive Director National Mall, with a kickoff Keri Putnam said her organization has reception at the Smithsonian Castle. In “long believed that stories told on film addition to each film’s director, special have a unique ability to inspire discussions, guests who are scheduled to be on hand to reflect the diversity of our world, and include Robert Redford,Kerry Washington, often to show common themes that unite Ed Norton, Benjamin Bratt, Forrest us all. We are truly honored to collaborate Whittaker, Alfre Woodard and others. with our partners to reach new audiences The D.C. event — which takes place at and generate cross-cultural dialogue around venues such as the National Archives, the work of some of today’s top indepenNational Museum of American History, dent filmmakers.” and U.S. Department of Agriculture — is The range of stories depicted in each an extension of a project that sends both PHOTO: EYESTEELFILM U.S. and international films, along with Zhang Qin, resenting her migrant parents’ constant absence, quits school to work in a factory film is as diverse as the directors behind those stories. For example, Cherien Dabis’s their directors, all over the world over the herself, devastating her family, in Lixin Fan’s “The Last Train Home.” auspicious debut “Amreeka” follows a course of a year. The screenings, often hosted by U.S. embassies, are a kind of public diplomacy tool to connect with local and Palestinian mother who struggles with the daily grind of intimidating West Bank checkyouth populations — including factory workers in China, university students in Tunisia, points and later with adjusting to her new life in rural Illinois. Lixin Fan, meanwhile, docuvillages in Turkey, and even underserved American audiences in New York, Michigan and ments the mass exodus undertaken by more than 130 million migrant workers in China as they travel home for the New Year — the one time they’ll reunite with family all year — in Tennessee. For one night, 10 of these films will be screened in D.C., where the 10 filmmakers will “The Last Train Home.” Though varied, the featured films share universal themes.“Amreeka” and “The Last Train also meet with the U.S. State Department to review their roles as cultural ambassadors and Home” examine the difficulties faced by migrants seeking better economic prospects at the learn about other U.S. arts programs abroad. “Film Forward” is an international initiative organized by the President’s Committee on expense of their quality of life.“Boy,”“La Mission,”“Udaan,”“Winter’s Bone” and “Afghan Star” are all coming-of-age stories, often set in nontraditional the Arts and the Humanities and the nonprofit Sundance family environments.“Son of Babylon” looks at how family Institute, with support from the National Endowment For more information on “Film Forward: love endures despite the horrors of war, while “A Small Act” for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, Advancing Cultural Dialogue,” visit and “Freedom Riders” reveal how individual actions can and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. www.residentassociates.org/ticketing/landing/ have lasting global impact. Rachel Goslins, executive director of the President’s film-forward-advancing-cultural-dialogue.aspx Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, said her or www.sundance.org/filmforward/. group is “excited to bring the filmmakers to D.C. to share Ky N. Nguyen is the film reviewer for The Washington Diplomat.

to learn

Repertory Notes

by Washington Diplomat film reviewer Ky N. Nguyen

Please see International Film Clips on the next page for detailed listings available at press time.

— “The Housemaid,” “A Good Lawyer’s Wife” and “The President’s Last Bang” — at both AFI and the Freer Gallery of Art.

A SEASON OF ROHMER

(202) 357-2700, www.asia.si.edu/events/films.asp (301) 495-6700, www.afi.com/silver

“A Season of Rohmer” (through June 30) showcases witty talkathons by Nouvelle Vague founding member Eric Rohmer (1920-2010), the most literary of French filmmakers frequently mentioned in the same vein as Henry James, Jane Austen and Stendhal. The rare complete retrospective of all his extant films unspools at the National Gallery, the American Film Institute Silver Theatre and La Maison Française. www.la-maison-francaise.org (202) 842-6799, www.nga.gov/programs/film (301) 495-6700, www.afi.com/silver

KOREAN FILM FESTIVAL DC 2011 As the “Korean Film Festival DC 2011” (through June 8) continues, highlights include special appearances by esteemed director Im Sang-soo, presenting a mini-retrospective of his films

May 2011

Past: The Visionary Films of František Vlácil” (through June 29), AFI Life Achievement Award Retrospective: Morgan Freeman” (through June 19), “The Films of Todd Haynes” (through May 24), “Korean Film Festival DC 2011” (through June 8) and “A Season of Rohmer” (through June 30). www.48hourfilm.com (301) 495-6700, www.afi.com/silver

GOETHE-INSTITUT On Mondays in May, “Growing Up: German Youth in Film” (May 2-23, 6:30 p.m.) includes two documentaries and two features. “Kids World Cinema: Spain and Germany” (May 22, 2 p.m.) presents children’s films and workshops. (202) 289-1200, www.goethe.de/ins/us/was/kue/flm/enindex.htm

AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE (AFI) SILVER THEATRE The 11th edition of the ever-popular 48 Hour Film Project’s marathon of do-it-yourself work by local filmmakers returns May 3 to 6. Other blockbuster series include “Alfred Hitchcock Retrospective, Part II: Hitchcock in Hollywood” (through June 30), “Poetry of the

NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART The Washington premiere of “My Perestroika” (May 1, 5 p.m.) is presented by director Robin Hessman in person. The cinematic concert of King Vidor’s 1926 silent La Bohème (May 14, 2:30 p.m.) features an original score by Dennis James on theater organ. Other special screenings include Luchino Visconti’s 1971 “Death in Venice” (May 15, 4 p.m.), Emile de Antonio’s “Painters Painting” (May 20-21, 12:30 p.m.), “International Festival of Films on Art” (May 28, 2:30 p.m.; May 29-30, 2 p.m.) and “A Season of Rohmer” (through May 29). (202) 842-6799, www.nga.gov/programs/film

The Washington Diplomat Page 59

[ film ]

CINEMA LISTING

THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT

May 2011

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

AFI Silver Theatre Sat., May 21, 12:30 p.m., Sun., May 22, 7:45 p.m.

Cave of Forgotten Dreams

(U.S., 2010, 88 min.)

she wants to bear his child.

Directed by Werner Herzog (Canada/U.S./France/Germany/U.K., 2010, 90 min.)

Twosome (Dvojka)

Son of Babylon

Directed by Jaroslav Fuit (Czech Republic, 2009, 88 min.)

Werner Herzog filmed this documentary inside the Chauvet caves of southern France — capturing the oldest known pictorial creations of humankind in their astonishing natural setting. (English and German)

AFI Silver Theatre Sat., May 21, 5:15 p.m., Sun., May 22, 3 p.m., Tue., May 24, 6:30 p.m.

Arabic

As an impoverished boy in Kenya, Chris Mburu’s life was dramatically changed when an anonymous Swedish woman sponsored his education. Now a Harvardeducated human rights lawyer, he hopes to replicate the generosity and find the woman who helped him succeed. (English, Kikuyu and Swedish)

Directed by Mohamed Al-Daradji (Iraq/U.K./France/Netherlands/UAE/Egypt/ Palestine, 2010, 92 min.)

A couple at a crossroads in their fiveyear relationship reflect on their future together when they go on holiday in Scandinavia.

Various area theaters

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden Thu., May 12, 6 p.m.

The Avalon Theatre Wed., May 11, 8 p.m.

Jane Eyre

Strangers on a Train

National Gallery of Art Thu., May 12, 6:30 p.m.

Valley of the Bees (Údolí včel)

Czech

Directed by František Vláčil (Czechoslovakia, 1968, 97 min.)

A mousy governess who softens the heart of her employer soon discovers that he’s hiding a terrible secret in Charlotte Bronte’s classic tale.

A willful young boy journeys across war-torn Iraq with his grandmother in search of the father who never returned from the Gulf War. (Arabic and Kurdish)

Adelheid Directed by František Vláčil (Czechoslovakia, 1970, 99 min.)

After World War II, an ex-Czech soldier takes charge of a manor formerly owned by a German family and falls in love with the daughter, now a servant, against a backdrop of the bloody expulsion of Germans by the Czechoslovak government in the period after the war. AFI Silver Theatre Sat., May 14, 2:40 p.m., Sun., May 15, 7 p.m.

Marketa Lazarová Directed by František Vláčil (Czechoslovakia, 1967, 162 min.)

In 13th-century middle Europe, a young woman becomes embroiled in clan warfare, fought between adherents of the traditional, pagan belief system and those caught up in the fervor of the new faith, Christianity. AFI Silver Theatre Sun., May 1, 5 p.m.

Shadows of a Hot Summer (Stíny horké ho lé ta) Directed by František Vláčil (Czechoslovakia, 1978, 100 min.)

In the days after the end of World War II, a Moravian farmhouse is occupied by a retreating band of Ukrainian guerillas, who until recently were resistance fighters battling the Nazis. AFI Silver Theatre May 28 to 30

Sirius Directed by František Vláčil (Czechoslovakia, 1975, 50 min.)

In this children’s film set during World War II, a 12-year-old Czech boy risks losing his beloved wolfhound Sirius when the German army begins commandeering dogs for attack purposes. AFI Silver Theatre Sun., May 15, 3:15 p.m., Mon., May 16, 7 p.m.

Smoke on the Potato Fields (Dý m bramborové nate) Directed by František Vláčil (Czechoslovakia, 1977, 95 min.)

A man, recently separated from his wife, returns to rural Czechoslovakia after many years living in France and forms a bond with an unmarried young pregnant woman who’s been kicked out by her mother.

Page 60

The Washington Diplomat

Directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga (U.K., 2011, 115 min.)

Falling out with his father over the older man’s plans to marry a beautiful younger woman, a headstrong youngster is sent away to apprentice with a strict order of Teutonic knights on the Baltic coast in the Middle Ages.

AFI Silver Theatre Through May 12

AFI Silver Theatre Sat., May 7, 3:20 p.m., Sun., May 8, 2:45 p.m.

The cultural divide in America is exposed in this comedy drama that begins when a son, living in the big city, comes home to bury his father. (English, Arabic and Hebrew)

Dutch The New Rijksmuseum (Het nieuwe Rijksmuseum) Directed by Oeke Hoogendijk (Netherlands, 2009, 120 min.)

Ambition, dreams and red tape collide in this stirring documentary about renovating the Rijksmuseum museum. (Dutch, English and Spanish) National Gallery of Art Sun., May 29, 2 p.m.

Winter in Wartime (Oorlogswinter) Directed by Martin Koolhoven (Netherlands/Belgium, 2008, 103 min.)

Lebanon, Pa. Directed by Ben Hickernell (U.S., 2010, 100 min.)

Landmark’s E Street Cinema Opens Fri., May 13

Midsummer Dream (El sueño de una noche de San Juan) Directed by Ángel de la Cruz and Manolo Gómez (Spain, 2005, 98 min.)

According to legend, once a year during the summer solstice, humans can pass through to the magic world of goblins and fairies, a peaceful and harmonious place where dreams come true. Goethe-Institut Sun., May 22, 2 p.m.

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock (U.S., 1951, 101 min.)

Tennis champ Farley Granger meets mysterious, overly admiring Robert Walker on a train from New York and receives a startling proposal: Walker will kill Granger’s unfaithful wife in return for Granger killing Walker’s father. AFI Silver Theatre May 27 to June 2

Suspicion Directed by Alfred Hitchcock (U.S., 1941, 99 min.)

A shy young English woman marries a charming gentleman, but when he becomes cold and distant, she begins to suspect him of trying to kill her.

Directed by Todd Haynes (U.K./U.S., 1998, 124 min.)

Set in 1984, a rock journalist investigates the fate of a chameleonic, enigmatic star who faked his death onstage and may have assumed a new identity. AFI Silver Theatre May 7 to 9

French

Landmark’s E Street Cinema

Ingrid Bergman is asked to spy on a group of Nazi friends in South America, to the dismay of American agent Cary Grant.

English

AFI Silver Theatre May 20 to 25

A young law student suspects that his girlfriend is cheating on him, so he wanders Paris spying on her and her lover, attracting the attention of a curious teenager who eventually tags along.

African Cats

Rope

Directed by Alastair Fothergill and Keith Scholey (U.S., 2011, 89 min.)

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock (U.S., 1948, 80 min.)

Directed by Eric Rohmer (France/Italy/Spain, 2007, 109 min.)

Rubber Directed by Quentin Dupieux (France, 2010, 85 min.)

National Gallery of Art Sun., May 29, 5 p.m.

A Small Act Directed by Jennifer Arnold

This documentary finds the usually private and reticent auteur Eric Rohmer talking at great length about his life, his ideas and his work. National Gallery of Art Sat., May 7, 2:30 p.m.

A Good Marriage (Le Beau Mariage) Directed by Eric Rohmer (France, 1982, 97 min.)

Stung by the inevitable disappointment of affairs with married men, an art student resolves to find a husband of her own, selecting a dashing lawyer for the role after just one meeting. AFI Silver Theatre Sun., May 29, 12:45 p.m., Tue., May 31, 7 p.m.

Three close friends are involved in a love triangle in this romance drama.

BOY

National Museum of the American Indian Thu., May 12, 6:15 p.m.

AFI Silver Theatre Sun., May 1, 1 p.m.

Astrée and Celadon (Les Amours d’Astrée et de Céladon) A young shepherd and shepherdess in idyllic outdoor settings face the ugly ramifications of their forbidden affair.

Landmark’s E Street Cinema

Crashing at a friend’s villa in sunny St. Tropez, two 20-something young men are driven to distraction by their sensuous younger neighbor — in Rohmer’s first color film.

Heartbeats (Les amours imaginaires)

AFI Silver Theatre May 28 to June 2

When Robert, an inanimate tire, discovers his destructive telepathic powers, he soon sets his sights on a desert town and a mysterious woman who becomes his obsession.

Directed by Eric Rohmer (France, 1967, 90 min.)

AFI Silver Theatre Sat., May 28, 4:45 p.m., Mon., May 30, 4:45 p.m.

Landmark’s E Street Cinema

In Waihau Bay, New Zealand, an 11-yearold boy who lives on a farm — having imagined a heroic version of his absent father — comes face to face with the real version, an incompetent hoodlum who returned to find a bag of money he buried years before.

La Collectionneuse

Directed by André Labarthe and Jean Douchet (France, 1994, 60 min.)

Directed by Eric Rohmer (France, 1981, 104 min.)

Directed by Taika Waititi (New Zealand, 2010, 87 min.)

AFI Silver Theatre Sat., May 14, 4:45 p.m., Sun., May 15, 1 p.m., Tue., May 17, 7 p.m.

Velvet Goldmine

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock (U.S., 1946, 101 min.)

This Disney-produced nature documentary captures the real-life love, humor and determination of two cat families as they teach their cubs the ways of the wild in the African savanna.

A recently engaged 35-year-old diplomat falls for a teenage girl and harbors an unquenchable desire to touch her knee, confiding his secret to a novelist friend.

Eric Rohmer, Supporting Evidence (Eric Rohmer, Preuves à l’Appui)

Notorious

Two young men strangle their classmate, hide his body in their apartment, and invite his friends and family to a dinner party as a means to challenge the “perfection” of their crime.

Directed by Eric Rohmer (France, 1970, 105 min.)

AFI Silver Theatre Mon., May 2, 7:20 p.m.

The Aviator’s Wife (La Femme de l’Aviateur)

Near the end of World War II, a 13-year-old boy becomes entangled with the Resistance after coming to the aid of a wounded British soldier. (Dutch, English and German)

Claire’s Knee (Le Genou de Claire)

Directed by Xavier Dolan (Canada, 2010, 95 min.)

Landmark’s E Street Cinema

Incendies Directed by Denis Villeneuve (Canada/France, 2011, 130 min.)

Chloe in the Afternoon (L’Amour l’Après-Midi)

A mother’s last wishes send her twins on a journey to their ancestral homeland in the Middle East in search of their tangled family roots, discovering a mother very different from they knew. (French, Arabic and English)

Directed by Eric Rohmer (France, 1972, 97 min.)

Landmark’s E Street Cinema Opens Fri., May 6

Complications arise when a married businessman flirts with a sexy young bohemian woman who more than friendship or even a relationship —

The Lady and the Duke (L’Anglaise et le Duc) Directed by Eric Rohmer

May 2011

(France, 2001, 129 min.)

A Scottish aristocrat and her former lover, the Duke of Orleans, find themselves on opposite sides during the French Revolution.

officer but finds herself inexplicably pregnant and, as a result, cast off by her family. National Gallery of Art Sun., May 8, 4:30 p.m.

National Gallery of Art Sun., May 22, 4 p.m.

Neukölln Unlimited

Mia and the Migoo (Mia et le Migou)

Directed by Agostino Imondi and Dietmar Ratsch (Germany, 2010, 96 min.)

Directed by Jacques-Rémy Girerd (France/Italy, 2008, 91 min.)

In this animated children’s tale, a mother-less girl sets out on a journey across mountains and jungles to search for her father, who is trapped in a landslide at a remote construction site. The Avalon Theatre

My Night at Maud’s (Ma Nuit Chez Maud) Directed by Eric Rohmer (France, 1969, 110 min.)

A devout Catholic moves to a provincial town and vows to marry a pretty blond he notices at mass, but during a sudden snowstorm, he finds himself spending the night with the recently divorced Maud. AFI Silver Theatre Sat., May 7, 1 p.m., Sun., May 8, 7:30 p.m., Tue., May 10, 7 p.m.

Potiche Directed by François Ozon (France, 2010, 103 min.)

When her husband is taken hostage by his striking employees, a trophy wife takes the reins of the family business and proves to be a remarkably effective leader.

The lives of three talented siblings, children of Lebanese immigrants in Germany, are documented — at school, their apartment, and at their music and break-dancing competitions. Goethe-Institut Mon., May 9, 6:30 p.m.

Pool of Princesses (Prinzessinnenbad) Directed by Bettina Blümner (German, 2006/07, 92 min.)

Three 15-year-old girls from different family backgrounds spend their summer together at a large open-air swimming pool in Berlin in this award-winning documentary. Goethe-Institut Mon., May 16, 6:30 p.m.

Run if You Can (Renn, wenn Du kannst) Directed by Dietrich Brüggemann (Germany, 2009, 116 min.)

Wheelchair-bound master’s student Ben meets Christian, who treats him like every other helper he’s had — but everything changes when the two fall in love with the same girl. Goethe-Institut Mon., May 2, 6:30 p.m.

Landmark’s E Street Cinema

Queen to Play (Joueuse) Directed by Caroline Bottaro (France/Germany, 2009, 97 min.)

A repressed French chambermaid living in Corsica becomes obsessed with learning to play chess and secretly hires an expat American tutor to help her play the game — in a move that spices up both their dull lives. (French and English) Landmark’s E Street Cinema Opens Fri., May 13

Rendezvous in Paris (Les Rendez-vous de Paris) Directed by Eric Rohmer (France, 1995, 100 min.)

Three stories of love and coincidence follow six characters on the verge of impulsive romantic entanglements in arcane corners of Paris. National Gallery of Art Sat., May 7, 4 p.m.

Triple Agent Directed by Eric Rohmer (France, 2003, 100 min.)

This spy story set in France in the mid1930s is loosely based on the unsettled case of a White Russian general in exile who duped not only the Soviets, Nazis and the French, but also his adoring Greek wife. National Gallery of Art Sat., May 21, 3:30 p.m.

Sasha (Sascha) Directed by Dennis Todorovic (Germany, 2009, 102 min.)

A closeted 19-year-old immigrant from Montenegro living in Cologne secretly falls in love with his piano teacher. Goethe-Institut Mon., May 23, 6:30 p.m.

Hebrew The Human Resources Manager Directed by Eran Riklis (Israel/Germany/France, 2010, 103 min.)

The HR manager of Israel’s largest industrial bakery sets out to save the reputation of his business and prevent the publication of a defamatory article. (Hebrew, English and Romanian)

The Marquise of O (Die Marquise von O...) Directed by Eric Rohmer (W. Germany/France, 1976, 103 min.)

As an Italian citadel falls during the Napoleonic wars, a virtuous governor’s daughter is saved from rape by a Russian

May 2011

Death in Venice (Morte a Venezia) Directed by Luchino Visconti (Italy/France, 1971, 130 min.)

A composer utterly absorbed in his work comes to Venice on vacation, pursues an infatuation with an adolescent boy, and faces a deadly pestilence. (English, Italian, Polish and French) National Gallery of Art Sun., May 15, 4 p.m.

Korean Carnivore Directed by Kim Ki-young (South Korea, 1984, 105 min.)

An incompetent executive with an inferiority complex engages in an unconventional love triangle with his successful wife and a young secretary. Freer Gallery of Art Sun., May 22, 2 p.m.

A Good Lawyer’s Wife (Baramnan gajok) Directed by Im Sang-soo (South Korea, 2003, 104 min.)

A hit at the Korean box office, this dark, erotic drama features a housewife who, neglected by her philandering husband, embarks on an affair with a teenage neighbor. AFI Silver Theatre Sun., May 8, 4:45 p.m. Freer Gallery of Art Sat., May 7, 1 p.m.

The Housemaid (Hanyo) Directed by Im Sang-soo (South Korea, 2010, 107 min.)

A patriarch’s affair with his family’s housemaid leads to a Hitchcockian escalating war of wills with dark consequences in this reimagining of the 1960 classic (see below). AFI Silver Theatre Sat., May 7, 5:30 p.m. Freer Gallery of Art Fri., May 6, 7 p.m.

The Housemaid (Hanyo) Directed by Kim Ki-young (South Korea, 1960, 111 min.)

Landmark’s E Street Cinema

Set in a rambling, claustrophobic house straight out of an Edgar Allan Poe tale, this gripping psychodrama stars an unhinged maid who seduces a mild-mannered composer and terrorizes his family.

Lost Islands

Freer Gallery of Art Sun., May 15, 2 p.m.

Directed by Reshef Levy (Israel, 2008, 103 min.)

In the 1980s, a large family living in Israel faces a crisis when the twin brothers fall in love with the same girl and one is drafted in the army while the other stays behind to care for his broken family. The Avalon Theatre Wed., May 25, 8 p.m.

Hindi Udaan

German

Italian

Directed by Vikramaditya Motwane (India, 2010, 134 min.)

Rohan, 17, is expelled from boarding school and must return to his small industrial town and his authoritarian widowed father, abandoning his creative writing for work in the family steel factory. Freer Gallery of Art Thu., May 12, 6 p.m.

The President’s Last Bang (Geuddae geusaramdeul) Directed by Im Sang-soo (South Korea, 2005, 102 min.)

This political thriller laced with black humor chronicles the life of President Park Chung-hee and the events leading up to his assassination in 1979 at the hands of the Korean CIA. (Korean and Japanese) Freer Gallery of Art Sun., May 8, 2 p.m.

I Saw the Devil (Akmareul boatda) Directed by Kim Ji-woon (South Korea, 2010, 143 min.)

When his pregnant fiancée becomes the latest victim of a serial killer, a secret agent blurs the line between good and evil in his pursuit of revenge.

AFI Silver Theatre Sat., May 14, 9:30 p.m., Mon., May 16, 8:15 p.m.

Russian

Scandal Makers

Directed by Robin Hessman (U.S./U.K./Russia, 2010, 88 min.)

Directed by Kang Hyung-chul (South Korea, 2008, 108 min.)

A radio DJ’s swinging bachelor lifestyle screeches to a halt when a young woman shows up at his door claiming to be his daughter, along with a little boy she asserts is his grandson. AFI Silver Theatre Mon., May 23, 6:30 p.m., Wed., May 25, 6:30 p.m.

Woman of Fire ’82 (Hwanyeo ‘82) Directed by Kim Ki-young (South Korea, 1982, 115 min.)

Kim Ki-young’s own horrifying remake of “The Housemaid” shifts the location to a chicken farm, where a newly hired maid seduces the owner and clashes with his wife. Freer Gallery of Art Fri., May 20, 7 p.m.

My Perestroika (I diki mou perestroika) A motley group of one-time classmates who grew up in Moscow during the years of the Soviet Union’s collapse — members of the last generation who came of age under communism — offer frank assessments about the era 20 years later. National Gallery of Art Sun., May 1, 5 p.m.

Spanish Nostalgia for the Light (Nostalgia de la luz) Directed by Patricio Guzmán (France/Germany/Chile, 2010, 90 min.)

In this documentary set in Chile’s Atacama Desert, astronomers search for distant galaxies, while Chilean women search for disappeared loved ones buried in the sand that keeps human remains intact. (Spanish and English)

Pashtu

Landmark’s E Street Cinema

Afghan Star

Sara La Espantapájaros Directed by Jorge Vivanco Maldonado

Directed by Havana Marketing (Afghanistan/U.K., 2009, 87 min.)

After 30 years of Taliban and wartime rule, pop culture is creeping back into Afghanistan, though contestants still risk their lives to appear on an “American Idol” show. (Pashtu, Dari and English)

(Ecuador, 2009, 72 min.)

S. Dillon Ripley Center Thu., May 12, 6:30 p.m.

GALA Hispanic Theatre Sat., May 7, 3 p.m.

The legends and traditions of the Ecuadoran town of Otavalo are brought to life in this live action children’s movie about a female scarecrow that longs to be free.

from page 58

Film Reviews results in a sword being driven through a pregnant woman’s belly. But “The Princess of Montpensier” is not just a war movie; it’s also a classic tale of starcrossed lovers. Heiress Marie de Mézieres (Mélanie Thierry), a Bardot-like beauty, is in love with fearless warrior Henri de Guise (Gaspard Ulliel). But under threat of banishment to a convent, she reluctantly submits to the will of her father, the Marquis of Mézières (Philippe Magnan), who has other plans for her. He’s made a political arrangement with the Duke of Montpensier to marry her to his painfully shy son, the Prince of Montpensier (Grégoire LeprinceRinguet). Underscoring Marie’s 16thcentury status as mere property to be transferred between men, the bargain is sealed after the duke adds choice land to sweeten the pot. Shortly after the marriage, Marie’s husband takes her for safekeeping to an isolated castle before departing for war. He leaves her in the care of Chabannes, his wise former tutor now retired from war, who falls in love with her as well. Add the Duke of Anjou (Raphaël Personnaz) — a future king — to the list of men who desire her. Torn among four powerful figures who want her, Marie still clings to her true love for de Guise. The ensemble cast is full of strong players, including Judith Chemla as the Duke of Anjou’s mother, the queen. In the most notable performance, Wilson exudes tremendously quiet

PHOTO: ETIENNE GEORGE / PARADIS FILMS

Mélanie Thierry earns the adoration of four Frenchmen in Bertrand Tavernier’s “The Princess of Montpensier.”

inner strength as Chabannes.Thierry is actually the weakest actor of the bunch, not expressing a whole lot beyond her pouty good looks, though that may be in part due to her character’s unsophisticated, spoiled-child nature. Ky N. Nguyen is the film reviewer for The Washington Diplomat.

[

The Princess of Montpensier (La Princesse de Montpensier) (French with subtitles; 139 min.)

Landmark’s E Street Cinema

★★★★✩

]

The Washington Diplomat Page 61

[ around town ]

EVENTS LISTING **Admission is free unless otherwise noted. All information on event venues can be found on The Diplomat Web site at www.washdiplomat. com. Times and locations are subject to change. Unless listed, please call venue for specific event times and hours of operation.

ART May 5 to June 3

kin* Photographer Adam Golfer, the Jewish grandson of Holocaust survivors, offers a personal documentary that examines the connection between the German and Jewish people more than 60 years after the fall of the Third Reich. Goethe-Institut Sat., May 7, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

TATRA Auto Show The Czech company TATRA ranks among the oldest automobile companies in the world, revolutionizing car design in the 1920s with its signature chassis design, still used today. A display of veteran and modern TATRA vehicles, including heavy-duty off-road trucks, is complemented by seminar sessions throughout the day. For information, visit www.mzv.cz/washington/en/economy_ trade/news/tatra_auto_show.html. Czech Embassy May 8 to Nov. 27

Italian Master Drawings from the Wolfgang Ratjen Collection: 1525–1835 The splendors of Italian draftsmanship from the late Renaissance to the height of the neoclassical movement are showcased in an exhibition of 65 superb drawings assembled by the European private collector Wolfgang Ratjen. National Gallery of Art

the 21 young avant-garde designers featured in this show. American Univeristy Katzen Arts Center Through May 15

David Smith Invents David Smith (1906-65), one of the country’s most celebrated sculptors, was the first American sculptor to make welded steel sculpture, infusing this industrial material with a fluidity and imaginative creativity that is at once beautiful and muscular. The Phillips showcases pivotal moments in Smith’s illustrious career, revealing the evolution of his personal aesthetic. The Phillips Collection Through May 15

From the films of Federico Fellini to the vestiges of ancient Rome and the works of Italian masters, Philip Guston (1913-80) drew inspiration throughout his career from Italian art and culture. This exhibition of 39 paintings is the first to examine work Guston completed as an artist-in-residence at the American Academy in Rome in the early 1970s. (Part of “La Dolce DC,” a citywide series of events celebrating Italy) The Phillips Collection

BRAVOS: Groundbreaking Spanish Design With artists such as Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali, Spain was already renowned for its art in the 20th century. But after the conversion to democracy, Spain also moved to the forefront of contemporary product and furniture design, as seen in

Page 62

The Washington Diplomat

While life in 1930s Moscow was a mystery to the outside world, special diplomatic access was granted to Emlen Knight Davies, daughter of U.S. Ambassador Joseph E. Davies, whose large photographic prints — 30 of which are seen here — offer a rare insider’s view of day-to-day life in the Soviet Union before the Cold War. Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens Through May 30

Venice: Canaletto and His Rivals Venice inspired a school of competitive painters whose achievements are among the most brilliant in 18th-century art. This exhibition celebrates the rich variety of these Venetian views, known as vedute, through some 20 masterworks by Canaletto and more than 30 by his rivals. (Part of “La Dolce DC,” a citywide series of events celebrating Italy)

Gauguin: Maker of Myth

in 1992 the city of Salzburg honored wellknown writer and political observer Stefan Zweig with an exhibition commemorating the 50th anniversary of his death — a retrospective that now comes to Washington with more than 120 photographs and numerous reproductions and other documents on his life. Admission is free but registration is required and can be made at www.acfdc.org/events-registration.

Through May 15

A Photographic Journey of the Ambassador’s Daughter: Moscow, 2937-38

A selection of contemporary Jamaican artists were invited by the World Bank to exhibit their work in the Caribbean segment of “About Change,” the hemispheric art survey organized by the World Bank Art Program in partnership with the InterAmerican Development Bank, the Organization of American States, and the Caribbean Community Secretariat.

In this fascinating look at historic medicine concocted by women in Shakespeare’s England, this exhibition highlights women at all levels of society — from the Countess of Kent to Mrs. Anne Coates — who were known to practice medicine.

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

Through May 29

Through June 5

Stefan Zweig – An Austrian from Europe

Though long celebrated throughout Europe, the influential postwar German-born painter Blinky Palermo has mostly escaped America’s notice even though he continually expanded the definition of painting throughout his career. This exhibition marks the first comprehensive survey of his work in the United States.

Organization of American States Art Museum of the Americas

Contemporary Jamaican Artists

Beyond Home Remedy: Women, Medicine, and Science

Blinky Palermo: Retrospective 1964-1977

Corcoran Gallery of Art

May 16 to July 22

May 17 to Aug. 31

Through May 15

six from Washington, D.C., linked by the I-95 corridor, flipping the conventional artist-curator relationship on its side with intriguing results.

National Gallery of Art

Inter-American Development Bank Cultural Center

Paul Gauguin’s sumptuous, colorful images of Brittany and the islands of the South Seas are among nearly 120 works in the first major look at the artist’s oeuvre in the United States since the blockbuster 1988 National Gallery of Art retrospective “The Art of Paul Gauguin.” National Gallery of Art Through June 5

In Small Things Remembered: The Early Years of U.S.-Afghan Relations More than 100 reproductions of photographs and documents culled from private and public archives around the United States and Afghanistan — created for the State Department and U.S. Embassy in Kabul, the exhibit — offer an in-depth chronicle of the relationship between the two countries beginning with initial contacts in the early 20th century and continuing through the late 1970s. Meridian International Center

Embassy of Austria Through June 18 Through May 22

Eye Wonder: Photography from the Bank of America Collection

Beyond the Labyrinth: Latin American Art and the FEMSA Collection

By selecting offbeat subjects, shooting intense close-ups, or manipulating focus and color, the artists featured in “Eye Wonder” have created dreamy and often haunting photographic images from 1865 to today, sharing a universal understanding that photographs offer an illusion of reality that is as subjective a means of expression as other visual art forms.

This wide-ranging display features 50 works by some of the most renowned Latin American artists of the past century, including Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, David Alfaro Siqueiros, Rufino Tamayo, Roberto Matta and Fernando Botero, from an nternationally renowned collection that spans cubism, surrealism, landscape, abstractionism and contemporary art.

National Museum of Women in the Arts

Mexican Cultural Institute

Through May 22

Through June 24

NEXT at the Corcoran: BFA Class of 2011

Corridor

The Corcoran presents this dynamic, inter-

May 2011

active and innovative exhibition featuring the thesis work of the senior students in the bachelor of fine arts program at the Corcoran College of Art + Design.

Philip Guston, Roma

Through May 14

Folger Shakespeare Library

THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT

This exhibit showcases the work of 12 established artists, six from Baltimore and

52 Confederate soldiers, one for every 5,000. Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building Through Oct. 2

In the Tower: Nam June Paik Through July 17

The Orchid in Chinese Painting Coinciding with the National Museum of Natural History’s annual orchid show, the Sackler presents 20 works related to orchids in Chinese painting, ranging in date from the 15th to the 19th century.

A new exhibition featuring 20 works by groundbreaking contemporary artist Nam June Paik (1923–2006) is the third in a series of shows installed in the Tower Gallery that centers on developments in art since the midcentury. National Gallery of Art

Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Through Dec. 4 Through July 24

Gabriel Metsu 1629–1667 One of the most important Dutch genre painters of the mid-17th century, Gabriel Metsu captured ordinary moments of life with a freshness and spontaneity that was matched by his ability to depict materials with an unerring truth to nature. National Gallery of Art Through July 24

Word, Shout, Song: Lorenzo Dow Turner Connecting Community through Language Lorenzo Dow Turner’s foundational work in the 1930s established that people of African heritage, despite slavery, had retained and passed on their cultural identity through words, music and story wherever they landed. Features of the exhibition include rare audio recordings, photographs and artifacts from Turner’s linguistic explorations into the African Diaspora.

Artists in Dialogue 2: Sandile Zulu and Henrique Oliveira The second in a series of exhibitions in which two artists are invited to create new works — each inspired by, and in response to the other — this installment features Sandile Zulu, who lives in Johannesburg, and Henrique Oliveira, who lives in Sao Paolo, and their sitespecific works composed of unlikely materials such as weathered wood and fire. National Museum of African Art Through December 2011

African Mosaic A towering, striking sculpture of Haitian leader Toussaint Louverture by contemporary Senegalese artist Ousmane Sow is the centerpiece of this exhibition of important acquisitions over the last decade, including more than 100 traditional and contemporary works, some never before on display. National Museum of African Art

Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum Through July 30

DANCE

Tom Wesselmann Draws

May 18 to 22

This marks the most comprehensive exhibition of drawings by Tom Wesselmann, a brilliant colorist and innovator who in the 1960s was one of the key leaders in the pop art movement alongside Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein.

Carmen

The Kreeger Museum

The Washington Ballet’s smoldering adaptation of “Carmen,” set to Georges Bizet’s score, brings to life the story of a feisty gypsy who values her freedom more than her love for any man. Tickets are $29 to $87. Sidney Harman Hall

Through July 31

Echoes of the Past: The Buddhist Cave Temples of Xiangtangshan

May 31 to June 5

Majestic sixth-century Chinese Buddhist sculpture is combined with 3D imaging technology in this exploration of one of the most important groups of Buddhist devotional sites in early medieval China: the Buddhist cave temples of Xiangtangshan carved into the mountains of northern China — home to a magnificent array of sculptures, from monumental Buddhas and divine attendant figures to crouching monsters framed by floral motifs.

The Ballet Nacional de Cuba, founded by Alicia Alonso in 1948, presents “The Magic of Dance,” a compilation of ballet highlights spanning the classical anthology from “Giselle” to “Swan Lake” (May 31-June 1), as well as their acclaimed version of “Don Quixote” (June 2-5). Tickets are $25 to $99.

Arthur M. Sackler Gallery

Thu., May 3, 7:30 p.m.

Through Aug. 13

Sexual Violence against Jewish Women during the Holocaust

The Last Full Measure: Civil War Photos from the Liljenquist Family Collection Portrait photographs of the young men who fought and died in the American Civil War serve as a memorial to those who gave their lives during the devastating conflict, displaying the faces of 360 Union soldiers — one for every 1,000 who died — and

Ballet Nacional de Cuba

Kennedy Center Opera House

DISCUSSIONS

Using testimonies, Nazi documents, memoirs, and literary and film interpretations, author Rochelle Saidel broadens our comprehension of rape and other forms of sexual violence during the Holocaust, revealing the sexual violence committed in ghettos and in hiding. Tickets are $11. Washington DCJCC

May 2011

Wed., May 4, 6:30 p.m.

Laura Restrepo: The Lack of Memory in Latin America That Causes History to Repeat Itself Colombian author Laura Restrepo discusses her latest book, “No Place for Heroes,” which follows a mother-son relationship against the historical backdrop of Argentina’s Dirty War, an epoch marked by military rule, a fertile underground resistance and the disappearance of hundreds of thousands of people. Inter-American Development Bank Enrique V. Iglesias Auditorium Fri., May 6, 6:30 p.m.

Assouline@Assouline French writer Pierre Assouline discusses his famous literary blog, “La République des livres,” published in the website of Le Monde, and explores how the Internet and blogging have changed today’s journalism literature. Tickets are $15. Alliance Française de Washington Sat., May 7, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Archaeology of Ritual Landscapes in Mongolia As archaeologists dig deeper into the land of Genghis Khan, they are uncovering thousands of years of achievements as noteworthy as those of the country’s formidable founder. Tickets are $120; for information, visit www.smithsonianassociates.org.

first drew people from the Western world to embrace the Japanese tradition of secular woodblock prints known as ukiyo-e, or images of the “floating world.” Tickets are $40; for information, visit www.smithsonianassociates.org.

FESTIVALS Fri., May 6, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sat., May 7, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Flower Mart 2011 The Embassy of Austria host this year’s Flower Mart, showcasing the country’s culture with traditional folk music by the duo Liab and Schneid, a Waltz performance by Alpine dancers Carol and Herb Traxler and culinary demonstrations by Austrian master chef Willi Jonach. Washington National Cathedral Through May 21

Passport DC Cultural Tourism DC presents the fourth installment of Passport DC, its popular annual showcase of international culture in Washington that features “Short Cut to Europe: EU Embassies Open House” on May 7; “Around the World Embassy Tour” on May 14; the Fiesta Asia Street Fair on May 21; and the Meridian International Children’s Festival on May 21. For information, visit www.passportdc.org.

S. Dillon Ripley Center Thu., May 12, 12 p.m.

Sat., May 21

Women Against Tyranny

Preakness Stakes

Sat., May 14, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Embassy of Mexico hosts the International Pavilion at the Preakness Stakes, the middle jewel in horse racing’s famed Triple Crown, welcoming dignitaries from the diplomatic and international business communities to explore the cultural and culinary specialties of Mexico while watching the race. For information, visit www.preakness.com.

Power and Politics in African Art

Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore, Md.

Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building

Experts from the National Museum of African Art show how compelling works of African art have served to legitimize power, assert authority, and conduct diplomacy. Tickets are $120; for information, visit www.smithsonianassociates.org. Location on ticket Thu., May 19, 6:45 p.m.

The War of 1812: America’s Forgotten Conflict The War of 1812 represents a seminal moment in American independence yet few know why America and Great Britain fought a second war just 30 years after the Revolutionary War. Whit Ridgway traces the course of the war, examining the American invasion of Canada, the British attack on Washington, D.C., and the decisive American victory at New Orleans. Tickets are $40; for information, visit www.smithsonianassociates.org. Location on ticket Mon., May 23, 12 p.m.

History in the Mystery What do Sir Walter Raleigh, Harry Houdini, Sherlock Holmes, Edgar Allan Poe, Thomas Jefferson and a current-day vintner from Virginia have in common? They are characters who show up in historical mysteries, the topic of this discussion by several noted authors. Library of Congress James Madison Building Tue., May 24, 6:45 p.m.

Japan’s Ukiyo-e Prints: Exploring the Pleasures of Urban Living Curator Robert Mintz discusses the bold designs, rich colors and exotic imagery that

May 2011

GALAS/FUNDRAISERS Thu., May 5, 5:30 p.m.

Refugees International 32nd Anniversary Dinner Refugees International will honor former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and Sen. Patrick Leahy at the organization’s 32nd anniversary dinner that also features a special tribute to the late Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, with actor and longtime supporter Sam Waterston serving as master of ceremonies. Tickets start at $400; for information, visit http://refugeesinternational.org/anniversary-dinner. Andrew Mellon Auditorium Sat., May 7, 7 p.m.

Opera Ball Celebrating the rich cultural heritage of China and honoring Plácido Domingo, the Washington National Opera’s highly anticipated annual Opera Ball begins with intimate dinners hosted by embassies throughout the city, followed by entertainment, dancing and desserts at the Chinese Embassy. Tickets start at $1,000; for information, call (202) 295-2449 or email specialevents@dc-opera.org. Embassy of the People’s Republic of China Sun., May 15, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Arts for the Aging 21st Annual Mixed Doubles Tennis Round Robin Supporting its mission to engage older adults in the arts to enhance their lives and health, Arts for the Aging announces its 21st Anniversary Mixed Doubles Tennis Round Robin, proceeds from which help to sustain more than 500 outreach programs

neys through choral gems from the Nordic and Baltic masters, including a world premiere from Finnish composer Olli Kortekangas. Tickets are $15 to $65.

person, or even ourselves. Tickets start at $37.

Kennedy Center Concert Hall

Through May 21

Swedish Ambassador’s Residence

MUSIC Fri., May 6, 7:30 p.m.

A Venti Ensemble Around the Pianoforte The members of A Venti ensemble share a passion for reviving 18th- and 19th-century wind repertoire and have become known for their artistic vision and compositions based on the latest musical research. Tickets are $25. La Maison Française Sat., May 7, 7:30 p.m.

Saeunn Thorsteinsdottir, Cello Praised by the New York Times as “a charismatic cellist,” Saeunn Thorsteinsdottir — joined here by pianist Sam Armstrong — has appeared as recitalist and chamber musician across the U.S., Germany, Poland, Italy, France and her native Iceland. Tickets are $100, including reception; for information, call (202) 625-2361 or visit www.embassyseries.org.

Ravi Shankar, Sitar Credited with introducing India’s intricate classical music to Western audiences, “the godfather of world music” celebrates his 90th birthday with this special concert. Call (202) 785-9727 for ticket availability. Kennedy Center Concert Hall

May 6 to 28

Iphigénie en Tauride In his final performances as Washington National Opera’s general director, Plácido Domingo sings one last time, alongside the great soprano Patricia Racette, in Christoph Willibald Gluck’s classic tale of ancient Greece. Tickets are $25 to $300. Kennedy Center Opera House May 7 to June 19

Follies

Mon., May 9, 7:30 p.m.

Arabic Jazz

Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater

Beirut-born Ibrahim Maalouf — who was raised in Paris after fleeing the war-torn Lebanese capital with his family — adapts Arabic musical traditions to the unique quarter-tone trumpet invented by his father, Ibrahim Maalouf, reveling in the influences of Middle Eastern and occidental culture. Tickets are $20. La Maison Française Sat., May 14, 3 p.m.

May 13 to 27

Don Pasquale Washington National Opera concludes its 55th season with Donizetti’s “Don Pasquale,” a masterpiece of opera buffa, with side-splitting scenes of mistaken identity, disguise and a sham marriage. Tickets are $25 to $300. Kennedy Center Opera House May 17 to July 3

The Austrian Cultural Forum in Washington and European Union National Institutes for Culture present a live screening of the finale of the Eurovision Song Contest, which brings together 43 countries for a competition that’s been broadcast live around the world since 1956. Tickets are $5. Reservations can be made at (202) 289-1200 ext. 173 or rsvp@washington.goethe.org.

Memory and reality collide in British playwright Harold Pinter’s “Old Times,” as three friends recall their relationship from 20 years prior in a highly charged exploration of whether we can truly ever know another

Sun., May 15, 4 p.m.

Russian Riches Conductor J. Reilly Lewis leads the Cathedral Choral Society in the return of its popular “Russian Riches” program featuring works by Nikolay Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov, Sergey Taneyev and Alexander Gretchaninov, under the patronage of Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. Tickets start at $25; for information, visit www.cathedralchoralsociety.org. Washington National Cathedral Sat., May 21, 6:30 p.m.

Ford’s Theatre May 25 to July 3

David Ives’s crackling exploration of desire and control pits actress against playwright in a seductive game of cat and mouse. Tickets are $44 to $65. The Studio Theatre May 28 and 29

DC Microfiction Alliance Française de Washington presents this cutting-edge project featuring dramatic readings by local actors of 10 short stories in French and English at 10 unique D.C. venues in two neighborhoods — Anacostia and the U Street Corridor — offering a creative theatrical patchwork of humanity. For information, visit www.francedc.org. Various locations Through June 5

Ruined In war-torn Congo, Mama Nadi keeps the peace between customers on both sides of the civil war as she protects and profits from the women under her charge in this widely acclaimed play that tells an uncommonly human story with humor and song. Please call for ticket information. Arena Stage Through June 12

Side by Side by Sondheim

Eurovision Song Contest Party 2011

Goethe-Institut

This whimsical take on American history follows an imaginary founding father, Liberty Smith, on an ambitious quest to free the Colonies in hopes of winning a young girl’s heart. Tickets are $15 to $55.

Venus in Fur

THEATER

All of life’s might-have-beens take center stage as two couple rehash past times and favorite songs amid the crumbling magnificence of their old theater in this winner of seven Tony Awards. Tickets start at $45.

Icelandic Ambassador’s Residence

The Shakespeare Theatre

Liberty Smith Mon., May 23, 8 p.m.

Location on ticket

Various locations

Davi Walders talks about his new book of poetry that details women from a variety of cultural and religious backgrounds who were part of the resistance movement in occupied Europe during World War II.

for seniors, especially those living with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, throughout the Washington area. Buffet reception follows the daylong tournament. For ticket information, call (301) 718-4990.

Old Times

This award-winning musical revue celebrates the early works of America’s leading composer with timeless Sondheim songs from some of Broadway’s most memorable musicals including “West Side Story” and “Pacific Overtures.” Tickets are $55 to $81. Signature Theatre

CULTURE GUIDE English Conversation Classes Learn English in a friendly and supportive environment. Beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels available. Information about American culture is also included during classes. Convenient location for Embassy personnel. Only $40 for a 10 week course. Sponsored by The Global Neighborhood Center. 3855 Massachusetts Avenue, NW (Christ Church) Washington, DC 20016

Music, Madness, and Mozart

AMADEUS May 11 – June 5

202-363-4090

Rigoletto The Opera Camerata of Washington introduces its 21st season with a redacted version of Giuseppe Verdi’s “Rigoletto” commemorating the 150th anniversary of Italy’s unification and preceded by cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and silent auction. Please call (202) 386-6008 for ticket information. Embassy of Italy Sun., May 22, 5 p.m.

Northern Lights: Choral Illuminations from Scandinavia and Beyond

Plan Your Entire Weekend.

www.washdiplomat.com

TO ADVERTISE IN THIS SECTION Contact Dave Garber at: email: dgarber@washdiplomat.com phone: (301) 933-3552, ext. 30 fax: (301) 949-0065

Tickets: 240.644.1100

or ROUNDHOUSETHEATRE.ORG

The Choral Arts Society of Washington jour-

The Washington Diplomat Page 63

DIPLOMATIC SPOTLIGHT Embassy Chefs Compete!

The Washington Diplomat

Ambassador of Kazakhstan Erlan Idrissov, right, joins chef Yerlan Abdrakhmanov of the Embassy of Kazakhstan and his lamb shashlik dish at the 2011 Embassy Chef Challenge, the annual culinary competition for Washington embassy chefs hosted by Cultural Tourism DC and held this year at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center.

Ambassador of Denmark Peter Taksoe-Jensen, left, poses with Lars Beese, chef for the Royal Danish Embassy, who got top honors at the third edition of Cultural Tourism DC’s Embassy Chef Challenge, winning both the “Judge’s Choice” and the “Challenge Belgium” awards with his creamy asparagus soup and roast duck breast with apple and plum chutney.

May 2011

From left, Mrs. and Ambassador of SwedenJonas Hafström join their embassy chef Frida Johansson, who prepared smoked elk with a potato and Västerbotten cheese terrine for the 2011 Embassy Chefs Challenge hosted by Cultural Tourism DC.

PHOTOS: THOMAS COLEMAN

Ambassador of Peru Luis Valdivieso, right, joins his embassy chef Jose Luis Fernandez, who won the “Peoples’ Choice” award for his Peruvian ceviche at the Embassy Chef Challenge co-hosted by Cultural Tourism DC and the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. Ambassador of Bulgaria Elena Poptodorova, left, stands with her embassy chef Yordan Dimitrov at the 2011 Embassy Chefs Challenge, which also helps to kick off Passport DC, a month-long celebration of international culture that opens the doors to dozens of embassies across the city.

Jan-Erik Hauge, chef at the Royal Norwegian Embassy, center, stands with Mrs. and Ambassador of Norway Wegger Christian Strommen at the 2011 Embassy Chefs Challenge held at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center.

Ambassador of the Bahamas Cornelius Alvin Smith, left, and chef Michael Nathan Adderley of the Embassy of Bahamas show off the dish that Adderley prepared for the 2011 Embassy Chefs Challenge, lobster cup tostones featuring fresh Bahamian lobster.

Cultural Tourism DC Executive Director Linda Donavan Harper, left, watches as D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray speaks at the 2011 Embassy Chefs Challenge, an annual fundraising event for Cultural Tourism DC, a nonprofit coalition of more than 230 organizations that showcase the city’s cultural heritage.

WPAS Annual Auction and Gala From left, Washington Performing Arts Society (WPAS) President and Chief Executive Officer Neale Perl, singer Roberta Flack, and Reginald Van Lee, chair of the WPAS Executive Board and senior vice president at Booz Allen Hamilton attend the WPAS Annual Auction PHOTO: WPAS and Gala, which featured performances by the WPAS Gospel Choir and six-time Grammy Award winner Flack — who donated a private singing and performance lesson to the auction. This year’s gala shattered previous fundraising records by raising nearly $200,000 in the live auction alone.

Ambassador of Egypt Sameh Shoukry, left, and his wife Suzy Shoukry, right, join Willee Lewis at the 2011 Washington Performing Arts Society Auction and Gala, which featured Grammy-winning singer Roberta Flack who performed new and old favorites such as “Killing Me Softly.”

PHOTO: GAIL SCOTT

Ambassador of Iceland and Mrs. Hjálmar Hannesson look at more than 100 items up for bid — including a variety of embassy-contributed items — during the Washington Performing Arts Society (WPAS) Auction and Gala held at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel.

From left, Keiko Kaplan, Ambassador of the Arab League Hussein Hassouna and his wife Nevine, and Steven Kaplan, senior partner at Arnold & Porter, attend the 2011 Washington Performing Arts Society Gala held at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel.

Wife of the ambassador of Luxembourg Louise Åkerblom, left, joins wife of the Norwegian ambassador Rev. Cecilie J. Strommen at the 2011 Washington Performing Arts Society (WPAS) Auction and Gala.

PHOTO: GAIL SCOTT

Ambassador of India Meera Shankar and her husband Ajay Shankar, honorary diplomatic chairs of the 2011 Washington Performing Arts Society (WPAS) Auction and Gala, pose with members of the Jayanika Dance Company, including teacher Jayantee Paine Ganguly, center, during the silent auction of this annual gala to benefit the WPAS’s artistic initiatives and educational programs, including the Embassy Adoption Program. The Shankars donated a dinner for 12 at their residence that raised $16,000.

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The Washington Diplomat

Mrs. and Ambassador of Cyprus Pavlos Anastasiades enjoy dinner and a performance by Roberta Flack at the 2011 Washington Performing Arts Society Gala held at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel. PHOTO: GAIL SCOTT

From left, Washington Performing Arts Society (WPAS) President Neale Perl, Ambassador of Morocco Aziz Mekouar, Marriott Wardman Park executive chef Abdellah Aguenaou, and Brahim Abouaraine of the banquet staff attend the WPAS Annual Auction and Gala, for which Ambassador Mekouar and his wife donated a dinner for 50 and a concert featuring Perl, a cellist, and Moroccan-born pianist Marouan Benabdallah at the Moroccan Residence that brought a winning bid of $22,000 during the live auction.

May 2011

Women Media Leaders

Indonesian Batik Competition From left, batik competition sponsors Mrs. and Mr. Russell King join Rosa Rai Djalal and Ambassador of Indonesia Dino Patti Djalal and their 4-year-old son Keanu as well as Alex Feldman, president of the Asean-US Business Council, at a fashion show held at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, in cooperation with the Asia Society, highlighting traditional Indonesian batik designs.

PHOTO: GAIL SCOTT

Designs by Denny Wirawan, famous for his use of batiks in haute couture, were highlighted at a fashion show that also featured a traditional Indonesian “angklung” orchestra. The Indonesian Embassy is launching a national batik competition in the U.S. to discover the most creative American batik designer.

Finnish Fabric Redefined During the opening of the Embassy of Finland exhibit “Fabric: Re-Defined,” from left, Finnish Embassy Cultural Counselor Anneli Halonen, wife of the Finnish ambassador Laurel Colless, and Finnish Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Anne Lammila all wore fashions by the Finnish eco-design brand Globe Hope, whose clothes and accessories made from recycled materials were showcased at the embassy.

PHOTOS: JULIE POUCHER HARBIN

From left, Ambassador of Liechtenstein Claudia Fritsche shares a laugh with Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of Congo Faida Mitifu and Ambassador of Costa Rica Meta Shanon Figueres Boggs at the closing luncheon of the International Conference of Women Media Leaders held at the George Washington University.

Jam for Japan

From left, wife of the Mexican ambassador Veronica Valencia-Sarukhan, wife of the Indonesian ambassador Rosa Rai Djalal, wife of the Japanese ambassador Yoriko Fujisaki, and Gwen Holliday attend the “Jam or Japan” concert held at the Indonesian Residence and featuring the Lena Seikaly Jazz Ensemble as well as cuisine from Indonesia and Mexico.

Financial Times Meet and Greet

PHOTOS: GAIL SCOTT

From left, Ambassador of Mexico Arturo Sarukhan, Ambassador of Indonesia Dino Patti Djalal, and President of the Meridian International Center Ambassador Stuart Holliday attend the “Jam for Japan” fundraiser that raised more than $6,000 for disaster relief toward Japan.

Iranian Economic Minister Director of the Iranian Interests Section Mostafa Rahmani, right, joins Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance of the Islamic Republic of Iran Shamseddin Hosseini, who discussed economic developments in Iran, including domestic subsidies and foreign sanctions, during his D.C. visit for the World Bank-International Monetary Fund annual meetings.

Ambassador of Cape Verde Maria de Fatima Lima da Veiga, seated at left, and Ambassador of Grenada Gillian Bristol, top right, join President and Chief Executive Officer of the Paley Center for Media Pat Mitchell, bottom right, and International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) Executive Director Liza Gross, top left, at the closing luncheon of the International Women Media Leader’s Conference — organized by IWMF and the George Washington University Global Media Institute.

From left, former Congressman Don Bonker, now with APCO Worldwide, Ambassador of Singapore Chan Heng Chee, and Council on Foreign Relations Editor Robert McMahon attend a Financial Times editor reception at Anderson House.

PHOTOS: SAM HURD

From left, Financial Times Editor Lionel Barber, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Jonathan Gillibrand, and Financial Times Washington Bureau Chief Richard McGregor attend a Financial Times “meet the editor” reception for McGregor held at Anderson House.

From left, Financial Times Editor Lionel Barber, NBC News News Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent Andrea Mitchell, former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, and Sally Quinn of the Washington Post attend a reception for Richard McGregor, the new Washington bureau chief for the Financial Times.

Nadia Al-Sakkaf, publisher and editor-inchief of the Yemen Times, left, and Egyptianborn journalist and blogger Mona Eltahawy attend the International Conference of Women Media Leaders — which released a Global Report on the Status Women in the News Media surveying more than 500 companies in nearly 60 countries that shows men occupy the vast majority of the management jobs and news-gathering positions in the nations studied.

‘The Price of Everything’

PHOTO: MORRIS SIMON THE SIMON FIRM/FOR THE EMBASSY SERIES

Chef Samuelsson at Sweden

Renowned Swedish chef Marcus Samuelsson, right, is joined by Georgetown nutritionist and cookbook author Katherine Tallmadge, a Swedish-American, for a talk hosted by the Swedish Embassy in honor of Samuelsson’s new book “The American Table.”

May 2011

Embassy Series at Belgium

PHOTO: GAIL SCOTT

PHOTOS: GAIL SCOTT

From left, Ambassador of Mexico Arturo Sarukhan, Assistant Secretary of State for Economic, Energy and Business Affairs Jose Fernandez, and Eduardo Porter, author of “The Price of Everything – Solving the Mystery of Why We Pay What We Do,” attend a reception for Porter’s new book at the Mexican ambassador’s residence.

From left, British Ambassador Sir and Lady Nigel Sheinwald attend at a book reception for “The Price of Everything – Solving the Mystery of Why We Pay What We Do.”

Founder and Embassy Series Artistic Director Jerome Barry, left, presents Ambassador of Belgium Jan Matthysen with a gift at an Embassy Series concert by violinist Lorenzo Gatto hosted by the ambassador at the Belgium Residence.

The Washington Diplomat Page 65

DIPLOMATIC SPOTLIGHT Russia Honors Kendall

The Washington Diplomat

May 2011

Former Secretaries of State Henry Kissinger, left, and James Baker attend a 90th birthday celebration for former Pepsi CEO Donald Kendall at the Russian Embassy.

Former Chief Executive Officer of Pepsi Donald Kendall, left, was fêted by Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak at a black-tie dinner for Kendall’s 90th birthday at the Russian Embassy. Kendall, who introduced Pepsi to the Soviet Union, was decorated with Russia’s “Order of Honor,” becming the first foreigner to receive the honor. PHOTOS: GAIL SCOTT

Opera Ball Chairwoman Susan Lehrman, who planned last year’s elaborate ball at the Russian Embassy, left, and Sylvia Symington, wife of James Symington, board chair of the American-Russian Cultural Cooperation Foundation, attend Donald Kendall’s 90th birthday black-tie dinner at the Russian Embassy.

UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Esther Coopersmith, left, and Librarian of Congress Dr. James Billington attend Donald Kendall’s 90th birthday black-tie dinner at the Russian Embassy. Billington has made two Russian national libraries available online through the Library of Congress’s website.

President of the International Firebird Arts Foundation Xenia Woyevodsky, left, joins former National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft at a Russian tribute dinner for former Pepsi CEO Donald Kendall.

Hungary Celebrates

From left, former Deputy Chief of Mission of the EU Delegation in the U.S. Antonio de Lecia, recently appointed Hungarian Ambassador György Szapáry, and Deputy Secretary of State for EU Affairs Bálint Ódor attend a reception marking the start of Hungary’s presidency of the European Union.

PHOTO: THOMAS COLEMAN

From left, Ambassador of Latvia Andrejs Pildegovics, Ambassador of Sweden Jonas Hafström, and Ambassador of Belgium Jan Matthysen attend a reception at the Hungarian Embassy celebrating Hungary’s presidency of the European Union.

Ambassador of Macedonia Zoran Jolevski, left, joins Ambassador of Montenegro Srdjan Darmanovic at a reception celebrating Hungary’s presidency of the European Union.

From left, Public Affairs Officer at the Hungarian Embassy András Szorényi, Spokeswoman for the the EU Delegation Silvia Kofler, and Press Attaché at the Polish Embassy Pawel Maciag attend the Hungarian National Day reception held at the embassy, commemorating the 163 anniversary of the 1848-49 Hungarian Revolution and Freedom Fight.

IFE/INFO Policy Roundtable

PHOTOS: JULIE POUCHER HARBIN

Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) talks at an IFE/INFO Public Policy Roundtable hosted by the Institute for Education at the home of UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Esther Coopersmith.

Ambassador of Egypt Sameh Shoukry, left, and Ambassador of Norway Wegger Christian Strommen attend a public policy roundtable in which Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) talked about his work on the Senate Committees on Commerce, Science and Transportation, as well as the Environment and Public Works.

From left, wife of the Luxembourg ambassador Louise Åkerblom, Ambassador of Monaco Gilles Noghes and his wife Ellen attend an IFE/INFO Public Policy Roundtable hosted by the Institute for Education.

From left, Jan Lipsen, Newsweek’s Eleanor Clift and Jill Cooper Udall attend a public policy roundtable hosted by the Institute for Education, which promotes political civility and international understanding.

Mauritius National Day

Africa Forum

PHOTO: JULIE POUCHER HARBIN

From left Ambassador of Ghana Daniel Ohene Agyekum, Ambassador of Tanzania Mwanaidi Sinare Maajar, Ambassador of Senegal Fatou Danielle Diagne, and wife of the ambassador of Ghana Rose Agyekum greet guests at an Africa forum luncheon organized by the Capital Speakers Club at the home of Shaista and Rafat Mahmood.

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The Washington Diplomat

Ambassador of the Holy See Archbishop Pietro Sambi, left, joins recently appointed Ambassador of Mauritius Somduth Soborun at the Mauritius National Day reception at the ambassador’s residence in Maryland.

Ambassador of Mauritius Somduth Soborun, center, greets Ambassador of Nepal and Mrs. Shankar Prasad Sharma to his residence for the Mauritius National Day reception.

Ambassador of Senegal Fatou Danielle Diagne and her husband Ibrahima Diagne attend the Mauritius National Day reception.

May 2011

AROUNDTHEWORLD

THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT

May 2011

HOLIDAYS ALBANIA May 1: Labor Day

AUSTRIA May 1: Labor Day

ALGERIA May 1: Labor Day

AZERBAIJAN May 9: Victory Day May 28: Republic Day

ANDORRA May 1: Labor Day May 21: Ascension May 23: Pentecost ANGOLA May 1: International Workers’ Day May 25: Africa Day ANTIGUA and BARBUDA May 1: Labor Day

BOSNIA and HERZEGOVINA May 1: Labor Day

BARBADOS May 1: Labor Day

BRAZIL May 1: Labor Day

BELARUS May 1: Labor Day May 9: Day of National Emblem and National Flag May 9: Victory Day

BULGARIA May 1: Labor Day May 6: St. George’s Day/Day of the Bulgarian Army May 24: Day of the Slavic Alphabet and Bulgarian Culture

BELGIUM May 1: Labor Day

Send Us Your Holidays and Appointments

BOTSWANA May 1: Labor Day

BURKINA FASO May 1: Labor Day

ARGENTINA May 1: Labor Day May 25: Anniversary of the May Revolution

BELIZE May 1: Labor Day May 24: Commonwealth Day

ARMENIA May 1: Labor Day May 9: Victory and Peace Day May 28: Republic Day

BENIN May 1: Labor Day

BURUNDI May 1: Labor Day May 13: Ascension

BOLIVIA May 1: Labor Day

CAMBODIA May 1: Labor Day

BURMA (MYANMAR) May 1: May Day

Fax to: The Washington Diplomat at: (301) 949-0065 E-mail to: news@washdiplomat.com Mail to: P.O. Box 1345, Silver Spring, MD 20915-1345

May 13: Royal Ploughing Ceremony May 17: Visaka Bochea

CHAD May 1: Labor Day May 25: Africa Day

CAMEROON May 1: Labor Day May 20: National Day

CHILE May 1: Labor Day May 21: Battle of Iquique

CANADA May 23: Victoria Day CAPE VERDE May 1: Labor Day CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC May 1: Labor Day May 25: Africa Day

CONGO, REPUBLIC OF May 1: Labor Day COSTA RICA May 1: Labor Day

CZECH REPUBLIC May 1: Labor Day May 8: Liberation Day

CÔTE D’IVOIRE May 1: Labor Day

DENMARK May 1: Workers’ Day May 7: Store Bededag

CHINA May 1: Labor Day

CROATIA May 1: Labor Day

DJIBOUTI May 1: Labor Day

COLOMBIA May 1: Labor Day

CUBA May 1: International Workers’ Day

DOMINICA May 1: May Day

CYPRUS May 1: Labor Day

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC May 1: Labor Day

CONGO, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC May 1: Labor Day

APPOINTMENTS Commander Errington Shurland assumed the position of defense attaché on April 1, replacing Col. Clyde Parris, who departed the post March 31.

Botswana Tebelelo Seretse Mazile became ambassador of Botswana to the United States on Feb. 16. She previously served as minister at the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communications (200204) and minister at the Ministry of Trade Industry, Wildlife and Tourism (2000-02), as well as acting minister (2000) and assistant minister (1999) for presidential affairs in the Office of the Ambassador President. Ambassador Seretse was also senior research office at the Bank of Botswana (1978Tebelelo Seretse 84) and finance manager with BP Botswana Ltd. Mazile (1984-89). In addition, she has been a member of a variety of boards from 1996 to 2010, including Denel, the Bank of Botswana, Debswana Diamond Co. and Botswana Insurance Holding Ltd., and has served as a chairwoman of the Labour Advisory Board, RPC Data, Funeral Services Group, and Diragake Ltd. She was also director of the board of Excess Petroleum Ltd., and head of the African delegation for the Fourth World Trade Organization, Ministerial Conference in Doha in 2001. Ambassador Seretse received a bachelor’s of law degree from the University of Botswana, a bachelor’s of science in accounting and a bachelor’s of arts in economics from Morgan State University in Maryland, and a master’s in economics at the University of Cincinnati in Ohio. She speaks English, Setswana and I’Kalanga.

Portugal Nuno Filipe Alves Salvador e Brito became ambassador of Portugal to the United States on Feb. 23. Ambassador Brito previously served as director-general for foreign policy (political director) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including co-chair of the U.S.-Portuguese Standing Bilateral Commission (2008-11), and director-general for European Affairs at the ministry, including co-chair of the Luso-Spanish Commission for Trans-Border Cooperation and counselor of the Portuguese Economic and Social Council (2005-08). He was also principal diplomatic advisor to the prime minister (2002-05), deputy permanent representative at the United Nations in New York (1999-2002), chief of cabinet for the secretary of state of defense (1995-97), and a

May 2011

LIECHTENSTEIN May 1: Labor Day

GUYANA May 1: Labor Day May 5: Indian Heritage Day May 26: Independence Day

LITHUANIA May 1: Labor Day

HONDURAS May 1: Labor Day

EAST TIMOR May 1: Labor Day May 20: Independence Day

Barbados

GUATEMALA May 1: Labor Day

ECUADOR May 1: Labor Day May 24: Anniversary of the Battle of Pichincha member of the cabinet of the foreign affairs minister (1993-95). Ambassador Brito, who served at the Portuguese Embassy in Washington from 1987 to 1993, began his Foreign Service career as a desk officer for the Americas in the Political Directorate in 1984. He holds a law degree from the University of Lisbon and is married with two children.

Trinidad and Tobago Dr. Neil Parsan became ambassador of Trinidad and Tobago on Feb. 14, after having largely worked in business management and health care for the last two decades. He previously served as consultant to the Business Development Co. of Trinidad and Tobago (200911), director of Document Wizard (2007-11), and consultant to FirstToKnow (2007-11). He has also served as director of numerous organizations from 2006 to the present, including: Ambassador SaMaya Trading in Antigua, the Caribbean Neil Parsan Chapter of the International Association of Registered Financial Consultants, Centaur Investments, ParCorp LLC, ParMor International, and TrinVision Enterprises, as well as chief executive officer of the CL Financial Subsidiary of HealthNet Ltd. (2004-10). In addition, Ambassador Parsan was owner and surgeon at Ridgevale Clinic (1995-2005), a lecturer of anatomy at the University of the West Indies (1995-2005), and customer service representative for American Airlines (1990-92). He holds a doctor of veterinary medicine degree with distinction from the University of the West Indies, a master’s degree from the Institute of Business at the University of the West Indies, a certificate in acute care management from Harvard University, and a diploma in international trade management from the Swedish Trade Council. Ambassador Parsan, 39, is married and fluent in Spanish.

Uruguay Paola Repetto assumed the position of third secretary on Jan. 18. Nestor Rosa departed the post of counselor last June.

Zimbabwe Rwatirisa Matsika assumed the position of political counselor on April 1.

EL SALVADOR May 1: Labor Day EQUATORIAL GUINEA May 1: May Day May 25: Africa Day ERITREA May 24: Liberation Day ESTONIA May 1: Spring Day ETHIOPIA May 28: National Day EUROPEAN UNION May 9: Europe Day FINLAND May 1: May Day FRANCE May 1: Labor Day May 8: Victory Day of 1945 GABON May 1: Labor Day May 26: Mother’s Day GAMBIA May 1: Labor Day GEORGIA May 26: Independence Day GERMANY May 1: Labor Day GHANA May 1: May Day GREECE May 1: Labor Day

LUXEMBOURG May 1: May Day MACEDONIA May 1-2: Labor Day

HUNGARY May 1: Labor Day

MADAGASCAR May 1: Labor Day May 25: Africa Day

ICELAND May 1: Labor Day

MALAWI May 1: Labor Day

INDIA May 17: Buddha Purnima

MALAYSIA May 1: Labor Day May 17: Wesak Day

INDONESIA May 17: Waisak

MALI May 25: Africa Day

IRELAND May 2: Bank Holiday

MALTA May 1: Labor Day

ISRAEL May 18: Second Passover May 22: Lag B’Omer

MARSHALL ISLANDS May 1: Constitution Day

ITALY May 1: May Day JAMAICA May 24: Labor Day JAPAN May 3: Constitution Memorial Day May 4: National Holiday May 5: Children’s Day

MAURITANIA May 1: Labor Day May 25: Africa Day MAURITIUS May 1: Labor Day MEXICO May 1: Labor Day May 5: Cinco de Mayo MICRONESIA May 10: Constitution Day

JORDAN May 25: Independence Day

MOLDOVA May 1: Labor Day May 9: Victory Day

KAZAKHSTAN May 1: Day of Unity of Peoples of Kazakhstan May 9: Victory Day

MONTENEGRO May 21: Independence Day

KENYA May 1: Labor Day KYRGYZSTAN May 5: Constitution Day May 9: WWII Victory Day LAOS May 1: Labor Day May 17: Visakha Boussa LATVIA May 1: Labor Day May 4: Declaration of Independence LEBANON May 1: Labor Day May 6: Martyrs’ Day May 25: Liberation of the South LESOTHO May 1: Workers’ Day May 25: Africa Day/ Heroes’ Day

MOZAMBIQUE May 1: Workers’ Day NAMIBIA May 1: Workers’ Day May 4: Cassinga Day May 25: Africa Day NEPAL May 17: Birthday of Lord Buddha NETHERLANDS May 5: Liberation Day NICARAGUA May 1: Labor Day NIGER May 1: Labor Day NIGERIA May 1: Worker’s Day May 27: Children’s Day NORWAY May 1: May Day May 17: National Day PALAU May 5: Senior Citizen’s Day

See WORLD HOLIDAYS, page 70 The Washington Diplomat Page 67

from page 22

OECD even stronger austerity measures to rein in the budget deficit and stem capital flight.) Shortly after the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, the OECD issued estimates of the economic impact of the disaster, and it will continue to work with Japanese authorities in the coming months to help formulate policy responses to the tragedy.

MORE THAN A LEANING TOWER The OECD has emerged as a respected authority on economic matters, but its policy range is sweeping.Another example of the OECD’s stature is PISA, its tri-annual comparative assessment of industrialized countries’ education systems and their ability to prepare 15-year-olds for the challenges of a globalized world. The Program for International Student Assessment, as it is known in full, has been receiving more attention as developed countries concentrate on bolstering their secondary school systems to stay competitive, even in a climate of fiscal austerity (also see “Model Teachers” in the education section). After the 2009 PISA results showed that certain provinces in China such as Shanghai — included in the assessment for the first time — had greatly outperformed the United States (which ranked near the OECD average), U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan declared it a “massive wakeup call” and, quoting President Obama, “a Sputnik moment.” Even at the height of the Wisconsin state budget protests in mid-March, the New York Times story “U.S. Urged to Raise Teachers’ Status” — based on the OECD- and Department of Educationsponsored International Summit on the Teaching Profession — was among the most popular articles on its website. The story focused on a report by Andreas Schleicher, the OECD official in charge of PISA, which said that the United States, to improve its public schools,“should raise the status of the teaching profession by recruiting more qualified candidates, training them better and paying them more.” The United States is now considering engaging the OECD to do a state-by-state PISA analysis that would provide a domestic comparison of best practices. It’s a safe bet there will be more discussion of PISA results as the country moves to reform its education system. Though it may not immediately be associated with the OECD in the public’s mind, PISA stands as a testament that the OECD, far from being a “zombie” inter-governmental organization, as Naím said certain institutions have become, is increasing its relevance in a rapidly changing world.

MARSHALL PLAN ORIGINS Though the modern OECD was formally created with the OECD Convention in September 1961, the organization traces its roots to a predecessor body, the Organization for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC), established in 1947 to administer the U.S.-backed Marshall Plan funds in Western European countries. In the early days, though limited in purpose, the organization established some key principles that paved the way for its present-day success. Decisions are taken by unanimity, ensuring that all member countries take them seriously, and a decentralized structure provides technical working groups with sufficient autonomy to pursue innovative projects. After Marshall Plan aid ended in 1952, the OEEC shifted gears to promote free trade and economic growth within Europe. With the European Economic Community’s founding in 1958, the OEEC risked becoming redundant, but was saved by statesmen (Charles de Gaulle, Harold Macmillan, Dwight Eisenhower, Konrad Adenauer) who recognized its value in promoting cooperation in the context of growing economic interdependence. The United States and Canada joined the newly formed OECD in 1961, followed by Japan in 1964. Bonucci, the OECD legal affairs director, point-

Page 68

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PHOTO: OECD

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) — whose Paris-based Château de la Muette and Conference Center is above — is often labeled a rich man’s club, and though it is home to some of the world’s wealthiest industrialized democracies, it has also evolved to admit a range of members from Chile to Israel.

ed out that the most important elements of the current organization could already be discerned in the deliberations of the “wise men” responsible for drafting the 50-year-old convention and managing the transition from OEEC to OECD. They noted “a certain OEEC spirit has been created through constantly working together on terms of intimacy and frankness, [such that] people of different nationalities have come to recognize the economic interdependence of nations, and the need for … multilateral cooperation.” Another striking feature that has endured, Bonucci said, is the “fairly unique” decision-making structure, with recommendations stemming from a long and vigorous discussion among the group’s policymaking bodies. This process of “social learning” encouraged by a thorough, consensus-based decision-making process that emerged in the OEEC still defines the OECD, according to Bonucci, who noted that the debate over the new organization’s name also foretold its future vision. Various names including the word “Europe” were rejected given that the geographic expansion to North America would render it inaccurate. The body’s founders vetoed the proposed label of the Organization for Economic Cooperation, calling it “inadequate and somewhat colorless.” They were attracted to the word “development,” Bonucci explained, as it “affirms the active interest in the well being of less developed countries, both member and non-member,” while at the same time emphasizing the concern for economic growth of all member countries.The descriptor also better fit Spain and Portugal in the 1960s, members that were far from wealthy, thus “killing the argument of the OECD being a club of rich countries,” Bonucci said. The choice proved prescient, given that the OECD has evolved, especially in the past two decades, into a global institution deeply engaged in the development of poorer countries. As both reflective of this change and a driver of it, the OECD has since 2006 been headed by former Mexican finance minister Angel Gurría, a dynamic personality whose aim is to make the body more relevant, open and inclusive.

VISIBILITY PROPELLED BY FORWARD THINKING The topics covered in the OECD 50th anniversary forum, to be held May 24 to 25 in Paris, illustrate the 21st-century outlook that has helped make the organization a powerful player in the multilateral arena. From taking stock of green growth, to narrowing the gender gap, to new paradigms for development aid, the agenda shows how the institution is embracing a forward-looking approach in response to present-day problems — while “always pushing the envelope,” as Bonucci said. To that end, the 2011 forum will present of the latest results of the Global Project on Measuring the Progress of Societies, an initiative begun in 2008 by the OECD along with multiple partners such as the World Bank, International Labor Organization and European Commission. The

project seeks to develop new parameters for measuring a country’s well being that go beyond the traditional GDP benchmarks. Another sign of the OECD’s growing clout is its sheer geographic expansion, both in terms of membership and cooperation with non-members. Interestingly though, during a multiday-visit to Washington in late March, Secretary-General Gurría repeatedly cited OECD member states’ declining share of world economic output (projected to be just 40 percent in 2040) as a rationale for broadening the organization’s engagement, even if this doesn’t necessarily mean enlargement. Even so, the year 2010 saw the OECD expand its membership by four countries (Israel, Estonia, Chile, and Slovenia) — an unprecedented growth spurt in the group’s history. Negotiations with Russia are currently under way and may be completed after the country joins the World Trade Organization. But as Gurría explained, although the OECD does in principle welcome new members, it is already interacting and consulting with countries and regions around the world, from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to Guangdong province, China’s most populous area with 95 million people. In fact, Gurría pointed out that the OECD has just produced a “big, fat book with lots of data, very technical,” for Guangdong, one of 25 such regional studies conducted so far

from page 24

Shultz his word to Kohl and felt it would be wrong to back out. Shultz also recounts the story of Reagan’s confrontation with air traffic controllers over a threatened strike early in his presidency. While some advisors urged him to consider a compromise, Reagan said only one fact was pertinent: The air traffic controllers were striking illegally. Whether one agrees with his stance on the strike, few can disagree that the episode was critical in establishing Reagan’s reputation as a tough and formidable president. Shultz himself remained a major public policy figure long after Reagan’s term. In the book, he briefly describes his current work advocating for a world without nuclear weapons — a project that began with a conference Shultz hosted at the Hoover Institution in 2006 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Reykjavik summit between Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.The Hoover conference delved into the history of the 1986 summit but also considered the current nuclear situation. Shultz continued to study the issue and then joined Kissinger, former Secretary of Defense William Perry and former Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Sam Nunn in writing a landmark essay in the Wall Street Journal in January 2007. “A World Free of Nuclear Weapons” argued that the United States should endorse a long-term vision of eliminating nuclear weapons while supporting a number of specific, short-term steps to advance that goal. It captured the attention of global leaders and may go down as one of the most important op-eds in recent history. “The impact around the world has been dramatic,”Shultz wrote, noting that the Hoover conference and the Wall Street Journal essay led to the convening of important conferences on the challenge of nuclear abolition. Both Barack Obama and John McCain endorsed the vision of world without nuclear weapons during the 2008 U.S. presidential campaign, and the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution in September 2009 supporting the idea. “Progress has been breathtaking, but the most difficult work lies ahead,” Shultz writes. “We are at a nuclear tipping point and we must succeed in turning the vision of world with-

in non-member countries. Since 2007, the OECD has also entered into “enhanced engagement” agreements with Brazil, China, India, Indonesia and South Africa, producing detailed analyses on issues such as investment, agricultural and anti-corruption policies. It is this global engagement that Gurría defines as the key to the OECD’s continued relevance in a competitive international environment.Whether these rising powers eventually become members of the OECD is an open question, but not a prerequisite for their collaboration. “For practical purposes they’re in, even if they’re not members,” Gurría said, noting that they are already members of OECD committees, working groups and task forces examining topics such as health, education, labor and green growth. This is the way it began with Chile, Israel and the other new members.“So you get closer and closer to the family, and then one day, it’s not even big news” when you join, he said. As the OECD jockeys for recognition in a crowded arena of big-name acronyms, it’s clear the organization is much more than a rich man’s club or “talk shop” for economists, but rather a global agent of “effective minilateralism” that pushes forward, as the 50th anniversary slogan aptly puts it,“better policies for better lives.”

Jacob Comenetz is a contributing writer for The Washington Diplomat.

out nuclear weapons into a reality.” Near the end of the book, Shultz questions if a multilayered career such as his is possible in the current polarized political environment, in which both parties use the Senate confirmation process to settle scores. “I can’t help but wonder if even the government part of it could be duplicated these days, let alone the movement back and forth from university to government, then business, then back to government, and now back to a life based on the university but mixed with business and government involvement,” he muses. “Ideas and Action” is an enjoyable and instructive book that presents valuable insights in an easy-to-digest format. However, I would have liked a fuller discussion of Shultz’s work on the nuclear issue. The decision by four of America’s coldest Cold War warriors to support a nuclear-free world was a seminal event and has given the anti-nuclear movement a huge boost. Shultz could have more fully discussed the evolution of his thinking in this arena, just as he could have better examined the linkage between U.S. foreign policy and America’s domestic economic challenges. After all, few statesmen have been more steeped in economic issues than Shultz has, and his insights on the connection between international strength and a vibrant domestic economy would have been important to consider, especially given today’s fiscal constraints. Those who are interested in a more detailed account of Shultz’s career should read his memoir, “Turmoil and Triumph: My Years As Secretary of State,” which was published in 1993. And those interested in his current thoughts on America’s domestic challenges should read “Putting Our House in Order: A Guide to Social Security and Health Care Reform,” written with John Shoven in 2008. “Ideas and Action” gives the reader an appreciation for the fluidity of the U.S. political and governmental system, in which a person with Shultz’s rich, multifaceted background could reach the pinnacle of American diplomacy. We can only hope that more public servants of George Shultz’s caliber are on the horizon, both in the United States and around the world.

John Shaw is a contributing writer for The Washington Diplomat.

May 2011

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