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German Ambassador Peter Wittig and Huberta von Voss-Wittig
MODERN DIPLOMACY Your complete Guide to Embassy Row
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DIRECTORY
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D C WITHOUT EMBASSIES A FANTASY SCENARIO – OR IS IT? Photo Caption
BY ROLAND FLAMINI
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n late 2016, a group of European countries facing serious economic problems following the collapse of the euro amalgamated their respective embassies in Washington with their U.N. Missions into single diplomatic operations based in Manhattan. Left behind were the Photo Caption Photo Caption embassy brass plaques as a symbolic presence, and a number of service apartments and hotel suites available for visiting diplomats. Within six months, other embassies had seen that – after initial American huffing - the relocation had done no lasting harm to the bi-lateral relations of the departed Photo Caption Photo Caption missions, and a real exodus began -- greatly helped by the timely introduction of a new high- speed rail service bringing Washington closer to New York City than Pelham, N.Y. A sea of For Sale signs went up on Photo Caption
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Embassy Row and elsewhere as some 180 foreign missions attempted to unload various residences and chanceries. In a buyer’s market, what had started life as Millionaires’ Row before the Depression and then became Embassy Row was Millionaires’ Row again as the grand ambassadorial mansions were snapped up by leaders of the computer aristocracy. A fleet of more than 6,000 cars with diplomatic plates flooded the used car market. A number of Washingtonians cut off suddenly from their transfusion of embassy receptions and social functions had to go into therapy to treat their withdrawal symptoms… RELAX! Not Happening -- except perhaps in Mayor Muriel Bowser’s worst nightmares. Not yet anyway. Embassies enrich a
country’s capital, culturally as well as financially. Yet in these days of terrorism and advancing technology who can say when nations might decide to substitute holograms for human diplomats? Holograms need neither food nor shelter; they get paid no salary, and no lives are lost if they get blown up. Not that there’s any sign of ambassadors with briefcases being replaced by ambassadors inside briefcases. Washington’s diplomatic community is growing still. In 2001, 169 foreign missions employed a total of 9,681 personnel, according to a study prepared at the time by George Mason University for the National Capital Planning Commission. Their combined payroll and non-payroll expenditure totaled $547.67 million, or three percent of Washington’s $57.2 billion
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Signature Theatre’s Sondheim Gala at the Italian embassy. in 2014. Photo Caption Photo Caption
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(Photo courtesy Embassy of Haiti) The 2015 Opera Ball was held at the German ambassador’s residence.
economy (gross state product), according to the report. No public study along the same lines has been undertaken since – an indication that perhaps the city takes its diplomatic community too much for granted. In 2014, when the U.S. Treasury showed the District’s GSP or gross state product had grown to $113.3 billion, the number of foreign missions had increased to 180, their collective work-force to close to 11,000, and based on available data a variety of financial experts estimated that the payroll-plus-expenditure numbers skyrocketed to $881.5 million. A typical mission consists of a handful of foreign diplomats plus a locally hired support staff of U.S. citizens and non-American permanent residents holding jobs like secretary to the ambassador of Kuwait, commercial officer in the French Embassy, press attaché in the British Embassy, social secretary to the Spanish ambassador, as well as cook, chauffeur, security staff, translator, and receptionist. In 2001, according to the report, local payrolls were $292.5 million. The report also estimated that personal consumer spending by employees in the District was $32.4 million –
Something surprising people don’t know about you? I am very interested in design, architecture andArab home renovation. The embassy of the United Emirates at night.
Something surprising Americans don’t know about country? including $3.411 million on groceries. Nonday celebrations each year – your Bastille Day for That Haiti has an abundance of tourist destinations. payroll spending by foreign missions was the French, St. Patrick’s Day for the Irish, the estimated at $257.7 million, of which nearly Birthday Favorite vacationQueen’s spot in your country?for the British, the Pope’s Jeremie becausebirthday it is homefor andthe is apapal quiet, nuncio peaceful-location. 40 percent was funneled to District-based are a major businesses. prop of Washington’s catering trade, and the Historical figure you most admire? With at least one new embassyToussaint residence number of former chefs who over Louverture because against allembassy odds he had the political acumen or chancery built every year, notosector of the years independence. have quit their jobs and gone into set the stage for Haiti’s Washington business has benefited more business for themselves has been a factor in the Washington social event you look forward to the most every year? than the construction business. Some notable quality leap of Washington restaurants. Also, it’s Passport DC because I enjoy welcoming the general public to the embassy. examples: the Spanish Embassy residence, estimated that the embassies receive hundreds Howmillion, do you like to your free time? completed in 2004, at a cost of $10 of spend official visitors from their respective home Playing and–when I haveof a free moment joining the $80 million Swedish chancery onwith themy 1-year-old countriesdaughter, every year a benefit $361 million a pickup soccer game. Potomac at Georgetown Harbor in 2006, the in hotel revenue alone last year. new Pakistani Embassy at $15 million, the There is, however, one revenue the Languages you speak? French, Creole and English.has I also learned Spanishcollecting while spending time in fortress-like Italian chancery. Then there is District had problems from Central America, but I don’t get to practice it very often. the cluster of 17 new embassies built between diplomats for decades – parking tickets. From 1985 and 2014 at the InternationalDish Chancery time, member of home? the media obtains you miss thetime mostto when youaare away from a Haitian Center off Van Ness Street NW Legume, on parcels thevegetable latest stew. unpaid figures from the State of land leased by the State Department. Department’s Diplomatic Motor Vehicles Favorite Washington restaurant? Range. Austria, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, and Office using the Freedom of Information Egypt were among the foreign missions that andAct Why violations need causes/ to Ambassadors their(FOI). embassies haveparking a long tradition of supporting institutions championed by the Washington community. What will you relocated there, and the resulting potpourri be kept secret is anybody’s guess, but in 2011, and the embassy be involved with in the coming year? Step Afrika!, Roots of of national styles gets mixed reactions. Critics the radio station WTOP made headlines with Development and the Smithsonian African Museum of Art. have described the Center as “Embassy its revelation that foreign diplomats owed the Acres” and “Disneyland for contemporary Top issue on yourcity agenda? $340,000 in unpaid parking fees and Strengthening Haiti’s economic withimmunity the U.S. — to enticing architecture buffs.” invoked their relations diplomatic avoidmore U.S. companies to come and do business in Haiti. Embassy events, including over 100 national paying them. @EmbassyOfHaiti
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