EMBASSY ROW: Get to know Washington's diplomatic community by Washington Life Magazine

British Amb. Sir Peter and Lady Westmacott at home

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)1&%77= 63; GET TO KNOW WASHINGTON’S DIPLOMATIC COMMUNITY

NEW AMBASSADORS EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS “DIGITAL” DIPLOMACY CYBER SECURITY — ARE WE SAFE?

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DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURE ENTHUSIAST

POETRY EXPERT

‘SWEDISH CLASSIC’ SUPER ATHLETE

AKIRA KUROSAWA FAN

COOKING ENTHUSIAST

Paul G Altidor, Haiti

Anne Anderson, Ireland

Björn Lyrvall, Sweden

Eduardo Mora, Mexico

Kåre Aas, Norway

e pose this question every fall, and year after year discover that there is still so much more to learn about the men and women who make up Washington’s diplomatic corps.That’s understandable with incoming envoys, but those who have been stationed in the nation’s capital for years still have many interesting facets to reveal. For example, did you know that Ambassador Mike Moore of New Zealand founded an investment fund managed by disadvantaged school children? Or that Finland’s Ambassador Ritva Koukku-Ronde created a garden at her embassy to rival that of the White House? On the following pages, you’ll discover which envoy is a decorated outdoorsman, who was made a Chevalier de la Commanderie de Bordeaux and what Christmas delicacy one diplomat whips up every year for friends.

In addition to delving into the unofficial aspects of life on Embassy Row, we also sat down with the new chief of protocol, Peter Selfridge, who talks about being the “keeper of the gate” (not to mention his role as golf partner to President Barack Obama). In exploring the digital world, Embassy Row columnist Roland Flamini asks if we are safe from cyber attacks, while writer Mark Drapeau gets a first-hand look at “digital diplomacy” at the Canadian Embassy. Longtime diplomatic correspondent Gail Scott also reports on the 50-year-old Muslim Women’s Association’s new outlook and chats with a number of ambassadors who have just taken up their posts. There is much more to discover. These pages will open the door to understanding different countries, cultures and people just a little bit better.>>

FORMER SOCIAL WORKER/ FOUNDER SCHOOL AID

AVID GOLFER

PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL FAN

Mike Moore, New Zealand

Jalil Abbas Jilani, Pakistan

Peter Wi[ig, Germany

ACCOMPLISHED OENOPHILE

Maguy Maccario Doyle, Monaco

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AVID SKIER

Antoine Chedid. Lebanon

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MAGUY MACCARIO DOYLE - Monaco (Photo by Tony Powell)

omething surprising people don’t know about you? I am a passionate oenophile — and proud of the fact that I’m one of only two women admitted as a “Chevalier de la Commanderie de Bordeaux” in their prestigious New York chapter. Something surprising Americans don’t know about your country? The sovereign family of Monaco (the Grimaldis) date their rule to 1297 making it one of the oldest monarchies in the world. Monaco is blessed in so many ways and giving back is in our nature and at our core. The Monegasque people have a long, proud legacy of environmental conservation and preservation, and philanthropy. Favorite resort/hotel in your country? Monaco’s hotels are renowned for their luxury and hospitality. The Monte-Carlo Beach setting harkens back to the “1930s Golden Age.” Its interior offers the intimacy but with all the modern luxury conveniences as re-imagined by India Mahdavi. Charity or cause closest to your heart? I serve as the vice president

of the U.S. chapter of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. Established in 2006 by His Serene Highness Prince Albert to continue the principality’s legacy of environmental stewardship, it focuses on three main challenges: protecting biodiversity, limiting the effects of climate change and water management (including combating desertification) mainly in the Mediterranean Basin, the Polar regions and in the Least Developed Nations. Historical figure you most admire? There are many people who have overcome personal hardship, physical handicaps, animosity and prejudice to rise above mediocrity — and it is they whom I most admire. How do you like to spend your free time? Enjoying nature, traveling and doing something — anything! — sporty and adventurous with my daughters, Kim and Gabrielle Favorite book/author? “The Power of Myth” by Joseph Campbell — a very wise gentleman

@MONACOinUSA

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DIRECTORY AFGHANISTAN Ambassador: Eklil Hakimi

Eklil Hakimi, Afghanistan

Amina Salum Ali, African Union

Spouse: Sultana Hakimi Embassy: 2341 Wyoming

Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-483-6410 Residence: 3208 Cleveland Ave. NW, 20008

AFRICAN UNION Gilbert Galanxhi, Albania

Abdallah Baali, Algeria

Head of delegation:

Amina Salum Ali Spouse: Ali Mansour Vuai Embassy: 1640 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 20007 Telephone: 202-342-1100

ALBANIA Narcís Casal de Fonsdeviela, Andorra

Deborah-Mae Lovell, Antigua and Barbuda

Ambassador: Gilbert Galanxhi Spouse: Etleva Galanxhi Embassy: 1312 18th St.

NW, 4th Fl., 20036 Telephone: 202-223-4942 Mohammed Raja Abdullah Al-Hussaini Al Sharif, Arab League

ALGERIA Ambassador: Abdallah Baali

Elin Suleymanov, Azerbaijan

Yasmina Baali Embassy: 2118 Kalorama Rd. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-265-2800 Residence: “The Elms,” 4040 52nd St. NW, 20016 Spouse:

ANDORRA Dr. Eugene Newry, Bahamas

Gary Doer, Canada

Ambassador: Narcis Casal

De Fonsdeviela Embassy: 2 United Nations Plaza, 27th Fl., New York, NY, 10017 Telephone: 212-750-8064

ANGOLA John Beale, Barbados

Jadranka Negodic, Boznia and Herzegovina

Ambassador: Alberto do

Carmo Bento Ribeiro Spouse: Maria Odete Ribeiro Embassy and residence:

2108 16th St. NW, 20009 Telephone: 202-785-1156

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA Ambassador: Deborah Mae Lovell

Tebelelo Seretse, Botswana

Mauro Vieira, Brazil

Embassy: 3216 New Mexico Ave. NW, 20016 Telephone: 202-362-5122

THE ARAB LEAGUE Ambassador: Mohammed Raja

Elena Petrova, Bulgaria

Kaambi Roubani, Comoros

Abdullah Al-Hussaini Al Sharif Spouse: Iman Al-Hussaini Al Sharif

Embassy: 1100 17th St. NW, Suite 602, 20036 Telephone: 202-265-3210

Residence: 4646 Hawthorne Ln. NW, 20016

BANGLADESH ARGENTINA

Ambassador: Mohammad Ziauddin

Ambassador: Cecilia Nahon

Spouse: Yasmeen Ziauddin

Spouse: Sergio Garcia Gomez

Embassy: 3510 International Dr. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-244-0183 Residence: 4 Highboro Court, Bethesda, MD 20817

Embassy and Residence: 1600 New

Hampshire Ave. NW, 20009 202-238-6400

Telephone:

ARMENIA Ambassador:

Tigran Sargsyan

Spouse: Gohar Sargsyan Embassy:

2225 R St. NW, 20008

Telephone: 202-319-1976

AUSTRALIA Ambassador: Kim Beazley Spouse: Susanna Annus Embassy: 1601 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20036 Telephone: 202-797-3000 Residence: 3120 Cleveland Ave. NW, 20008

AUSTRIA Ambassador: Hans Peter Manz Embassy: 3524 International Court NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-895-6700 Residence: 2419 Wyoming Ave. NW, 20008

AZERBAIJAN Ambassador: Elin Suleymanov Spouse: Lala Abdurahimova Embassy: 2741 34th St. NW, 20008

BARBADOS Ambassador: John Beale Spouse:

Leila Mol Beale

Embassy: 2144 Wyoming

Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-939-9200 Residence: 12 Farmington Court, Chevy Chase, MD 20815

BELARUS Chargé d’affaires: Oleg Kravchenko

Marina Kravchenko 1619 New Hampshire Ave. NW, 20009 Telephone: 202-986-1604 Residence: 4311 Embassy Park Dr., NW 20016 Spouse:

Embassy:

BELGIUM Ambassador:

Johan Cecilia Verbeke

Spouse: Catherine Antoine Dubois Embassy: 3330 Garfield St. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-333-6900 Residence: 2300 Foxhall Rd. NW, 20007

Telephone: 202-337-3500 Residence: 4039 Highwood St. NW, 20007

BELIZE Ambassador: Nestor Mendez Spouse: Elvira Mendez

BAHAMAS Ambassador: Dr. Eugene Newry Spouse: Francoise Jeanne

Ma Torchon Newry Embassy: 2220 Massachusetts

Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-319-2660 Residence: 5100 Warren Pl. NW, 20016

BAHRAIN Ambassador: Abdulla

Mohamed Al Khalifa Spouse: Latifa Mohamed Al Khalifa Embassy: 3502 International Dr. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-342-0741

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Embassy: 2535 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-332-9636 Residence: 1686 Chain Bridge Rd., McLean, VA 22101

BENIN Dr. Segbe Cyrille Oguin Spouse: Hortense Oguin Embassy: 2124 Kalorama Rd. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-232-6656 Residence: 2201 Sorrel Ave., Potomac, MD 20854 Ambassador:

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KÅRE R AAS Norway (Photo by Yassine El Mansouri)

omething surprising people don’t know about you? I love cooking and my specialty is a wide range of fish dishes. Something surprising Americans don’t know about your country? There are more Norwegian Americans — over 6 million at the moment — in the U.S. than there are Norwegians in Norway, where the population is 5 million. I recently went to Minnesota to celebrate Norway’s bicentennial with some of them and I had such a marvelous time. One of the many highlights included a traditional cod luncheon with over 400 Norwegian Americans. Their Norwegian heritage, combined with a deep understanding of the American culture, makes them a highly valued group. Favorite vacation spot in your country? There are so many great places to go on vacation in Norway but for me, Lofoten, an archipelago and a traditional district in the north of Norway, will always be a favorite. The Lofoten Islands are a nature paradise. Their jagged mountains with the sea at their feet, cozy fishing villages, beautiful sandy beaches — great for surfing — the midnight sun and delicious seafood are priceless. Lofoten is also close to my heart because it is where my father’s family comes from. Favorite resort/hotel in your country? Due to the nature of my job and its high degree of protocol and formality, I like to spend time in nature when I have some time off. Whether it is hiking from cabin to cabin in the mountains, camping in the forest or going downhill skiing, outside is where I want to be. Hafjell in Norway is a great resort to stay at for skiing and winter activities, and I can really recommend Den Norske Turistforening’s 490 summer cabins, scattered around 20,000 kilometers of mountains. Charity or cause closest to your heart? Global Education and Clean Cookstoves Historical figure you most admire? There are so many, but the way Nelson Mandela managed to unite his country after apartheid was extraordinary. Favorite quote? “Let’s make it happen!”

@NorwayUS

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THE VIEW FROM Ramping up ‘digital diplomacy’ at the Embassy of Canada BY MARK DRAPEAU | PHOTOS BY TONY POWELL

he Embassy of Canada’s courtyard on Pennsylvania Avenue NW transforms into an open-air gym once a week, even hosting celebrity fitness guru Tony Horton for a grueling P90X workout once in 2013. This wasn’t made public in an embassy press release or through a photo on the embassy’s official website; The story came out on a Buzzfeed post that the embassy’s “Connect2Canada” digital communications staff created and posted on the super-viral social media platform. As a “brand publisher” on the site, the embassy communications staff carefully crafted “10 Things We Bet You Didn’t Know About The Canadian Embassy in Washington D.C.” with just the proper mixture of factoids, animated GIFs and pop culture references to everything from “House of Cards” to “Bride of Chucky” and Alanis Morissette. In 2009, when Washington Life last spoke with the Canadian Embassy staff about its social media presence for an article titled, “Diplomacy 2.0,” Buzzfeed didn’t even exist in its current form. Social media was primitive at the time of the Bush-Obama transition and was particularly controversial in diplomatic circles. In December 2008, then Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy Colleen Graffy tweeted throughout an official diplomatic trip through Romania, Moldova, Iceland, Croatia and Armenia and was unfairly made the butt of jokes by the Washington Post and the American Foreign Policy Council. But by summer 2010, the New York Times featured youthful, newly minted diplomats Jared Cohen and Alec Ross in a lengthy story titled, “Digital Diplomacy” in which then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was praised by Ross as, “the godmother of 21st-century statecraft,” and the dynamic duo’s efforts to leverage the power of social media

Canadian Amb. Gary Doer (center) with his social media team on the embassy’s national day.

for diplomatic or humanitarian missions in places like Iraq and Haiti and bring the genius of Silicon Valley to Washington were heralded. (Clearly, much happened between 2008 and 2010.) The embassy created its Twitter account on October 28, 2008, and fittingly waited to use it until January 8, 2009 — President Barack Obama’s first inauguration day. Since then, Twitter and social media have changed a lot, and the Connect2Canada team has evolved along with it. In 2011, public affairs officer Alexi Drucker took over Twitter and other social channels for Connect2Canada (and still runs them to this day), bringing a distinctive combination of highbrow and lowbrow content with just the right sprinkle of celebrities and pop culture to keep the channel serious and informative, yet engaging and fun. Some famous Canadians are big fans of Connect2Canada, too. Actress Shannon Tweed is a frequent re-tweeter, and other celebrities they’ve directly engaged include William Shatner and Kim Cattrall. At

present, their online network, which includes a website, email distribution list and other assets, has about 57,000 members, with about 4,000 from the Washington, D.C. area. Their Twitter account has roughly 11,000 followers, and their Facebook page has about 5,000 likes. Not Justin Beiber numbers, but certainly not too shabby for diplomats discussing niche policy issues like country-of-origin labeling. It is noteworthy that an estimated 90 percent of the Connect2Canada audience is located in the U.S., which makes sense given the primary mission of the communications team — to connect the embassy’s messages and activities with U.S. citizens. The overall vision of Connect2Canada is to have “digital diplomacy represented in everything the embassy does,” lifelong Canadian Diplomatic Foreign Service officer and current embassy spokeswoman Christine Constantin said during an interview in her corner office, looking out at the Capitol five blocks down Pennsylvania Avenue. With an inauspicious

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start as a communications backwater, digital and social tools have very quickly been mainstreamed into overall communications plans and large-scale embassy activities. Such activities blend online and offline tactics. In 2013, Drucker invented an umbrella hashtag, #ViewFrom501, for tracking engagement across all embassy events (the name comes from the embassy’s address at 501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW). Launched just in time for President Obama’s second inaugural, #ViewFrom501 became an easy-to-remember digital focus point for following the conversation emerging from the embassy’s gigantic, all-day outdoor inauguration tailgate party. More than simply prompting guests to use the hashtag, though, the Connect2Canada team researched people on the guest list during the week prior to the event, recording things like their Twitter or Instagram accounts and the number of followers they had. Then, during the event, they already knew whose social feeds to track, and thus who to digitally engage in near real time. Back in real life, tweets and photos from both attendees and outsiders using #ViewFrom501 were projected on jumbo-screens. The Connect2Canada team has used similar tactics at other high-profile events, such as the embassy’s recent White House Correspondents Association party, cosponsored by Thompson Reuters, The Hill and Entertainment Tonight. For her part, Drucker live-tweeted from a laptop situated in the middle of the party, using #ViewFrom501, naturally. “Connect2Canada has been a pioneer for what the government of Canada should be doing,” Constantin asserted, and thought leadership and education is an increasingly important component of their communications activities. The less “friction” the embassy has behind the scenes with Ottawa, the more efficiently and effectively Connect2Canada can communicate high-level messaging to U.S. audiences through social channels. Similarly, increasing the efficiency of communications between the embassy and its consulates in cities like NewYork and Los Angeles allows local communicators to populate their feeds with items from the embassy, and allows it to elevate a subset of topics that bubble up from localities. Back in that transformational year of 2009, the idea of incorporating social media tools into

Canadian Ambassador Gary Doer

journalism and becoming more entrepreneurial while doing it was controversial, with students in a George Washington University School of Media and Public Affairs course somewhat bitterly divided about whether writing things on platforms like Twitter constituted “real journalism.” Fast-forward to 2014, when the U.S. State Department is planning a class called The Art of Diplomatic Persuasion at its Foreign Service Institute and Alexi Drucker finds herself leading a guest lecture about engaging the Connect2Canada community in a master’slevel course at Georgetown called Digital Communications Strategy. Drucker discussed

that class at the diplomatically appropriate The Dignitary lounge in the new Marriott Marquis hotel. There, she discussed one of the embassy’s latest social media coups, in which the U.S. National Security Council and the Connect2Canada Twitter accounts engaged in a bit of #BeerDiplomacy over a bet between President Obama and Prime Minister Stephen Harper over each country’s Olympic men’s and women’s hockey games. Obama lost both and had to send two cases of beer to the Canadians. Naturally, Drucker tweeted a photo of the beer.

Dr. Mark Drapeau is currently a senior strategist at New York advertising agency Sub Rosa, and the former Director of Innovative Engagement for Microsoft Public Sector in Washington, DC. WA S H I N G T O N L I F E

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INCOMING ENVOYS

ARMENIA

Bahrain

Belgium

cabo verde

colombia

Tigran Sargsyan

Abdulla Mohamed Al Khalifa

Johan Verbeke

José Luis Fialho Rocha

Luis Carlos Villegas

costa rica

chile

Estonia

el salvador

france

Roman Macaya Hayes

Juan Gabriel Valdés

Eerik Marmei

Francisco Roberto Altschul Fuentes

Gerard Araud

Germany

India

indonesia

malaysia

monaco

Peter Wittig

Subrahmanyam Jaishankar

Budi Bowoleksono

Datuk Dr. Awang Adek Hussin

Maguy Maccario Doyle

Pakistan

Qatar

Jalil Abbas Jilani

Mohammed Jaham Al Kuwari

Republic of China (taiwan)

Lyushun Shen

Thailand

turkey

Vijavat Isarabhakdi

Serdar Kiliç

romania

sri lanka

Iulian Buga

Prasad Kariyawasam

NOT PICTURED: Bangladesh: Mohammad Ziauddin, Burma: Kyaw Myo Htut, East Timor: Domingos Sarmento Alves, Guinea: Mamady Conde, Panama: Emanuel Arturo Gonzalez Revilla Lince, Paraguay: Igor Alberto Pangrazio Vera, Sao Tome and Principe: C. Azevedo Agostinho Das Neves, Tajikistan: Farhod Salim, Tunisia: Mohamed Ezzine Chelaifa

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A R M E N I A WO R L D E C O N O M I C F O U R M , B A H R A I N M I N I ST R Y O F C U LT U R A L A F FA I R S , C H I L E F U N DAC I O N I M AG E N D E C H I L E , C O STA R I C A J VA R G A S , R O M A N I A O E A /OA S , S R I L A N K A U R B A N G A R D E N - A L L F L I C K R . M O N AC O TO N Y P O W E L L L . A L L OT H E R S C O U R T E S Y O F E AC H E M B A S S Y.

New faces on the diplomatic scene

KEEPER OF THE GATE Chief of Protocol Peter Selfridge is the U.S. government’s official greeter-in-chief BY ROLAND FLAMINI | PHOTOS BY TONY POWELL

he “keeper of the gate” title is borrowed from Selwa (“Lucky”) Roosevelt’s book about her time as U.S. chief of protocol in the Reagan administration. Peter A. Selfridge, who stepped into the same post four months ago, thinks the description is somewhat overused by the media but insofar as the chief of protocol is “essentially the first

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hand extended to visiting leaders and diplomats as they come into the United States, we are the keepers of the gate.” Chiefs of protocol have also been called choreographers, stage directors, traffic cops — all with some justification. But Selfridge’s reference to hands extended is not just a metaphor. He is the U.S. government’s official greeter. In August,

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for example, he shook hands with nearly 50 African leaders several times in 36 hours as they arrived for, and departed from, different events during African summit in Washington, including a White House dinner. There’s more to the job than that. Selfridge and his staff embody what is left of diplomatic ceremonial in a more casual

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KEEPER OF THE GATE (CONTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;D)

Chief of Protocol Peter Selfridge at his desk.

age, when formality, courtesy, and what he calls â&#x20AC;&#x153;good mannersâ&#x20AC;? are often forgotten. His responsibilities include managing Blair House (the White House guest house), the accreditation of new foreign ambassadors (and rapping them or their diplomats on the knuckles when they misbehave), the choreography of summits, state dinners (including the often thorny problem of who sits next to whom!) and lunches; and â&#x20AC;&#x201D; importantly, although his office is at State â&#x20AC;&#x201D; accompanying the president on foreign trips. When the president travels overseas, â&#x20AC;&#x153;thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lot of ceremony,â&#x20AC;? Selfridge notes, but Obama â&#x20AC;&#x153;is very attuned to the protocol needs and requirements. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no need for me to tell him where to walk and how to comport himself. He doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t require handling.â&#x20AC;? One of the biggest protocol challenges is not a foreign trip at all, but the presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annual visit to address the opening session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York in late September. Heads of state from all over the world converge on Manhattan, and many of them are clamoring for a one-on-one meeting with the president, and it is Selfridge and his aides who have to fine-tune the presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

schedule of bi-laterals. No child dreams of being U.S. chief of protocol when growing up, but men and women get there somehow. Selfridgeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s route was via what he calls â&#x20AC;&#x153;my relations with the principals, which was invaluable.â&#x20AC;? He is marinated in the business of presidential logistics, having held progressively more important advance and operations posts in the White House of two Democratic presidents â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Bill Clinton and Barack Obama â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and worked on the presidential campaigns of both John Kerry, and before that former Vice-President Al Gore. He even married a fellow campaign worker, Pareta Shah, daughter of Indian immigrants. Golf also helped. He is one the presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s regular golfing partners. His game, he says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t intimidate anyone â&#x20AC;&#x201D;- except that the president is competitive, so you have to be at least competent.â&#x20AC;? Obama nominated him chief of protocol with the title of ambassador to follow Capricia Marshall, a Hillary Clinton insider, who had served in that capacity from 2009 to 2013. Selfridge is a good fit for the secretary of state, having worked on John Kerryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s campaign team when he ran for

president in 2004. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a job picked up a lot through osmosis,â&#x20AC;? he says of his new post. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a stock line that we set the stage, and I really think that the interlocutor role is huge. Being that first extended hand kind of sets the tone for the visiting leader, but I really think that [after] joining the two hands of the leaders, we (protocol chiefs) are the hosts that disappear, like a match maker â&#x20AC;Ś well, maybe not that, but we make it possible for the two groups to interact.â&#x20AC;? Selfridge wants to spend time with each of Washingtonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 200 or so foreign ambassadors and get to know them well. He has made it a point sending written birthday greetings to each one (â&#x20AC;&#x153;Twitter would be too impersonalâ&#x20AC;?). â&#x20AC;&#x153;Right now I can associate just about every ambassador with their country, and I know their names. The next step is just making sure all thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tied together.â&#x20AC;? As this interview came to an end in his ground floor State Department office, his visitor got the Selfridge treatment: a firm and brisk handshake with two up-and-downmovemens, not too squeezed, accompanied by a cordial smile.

KEEPERS OF THE GATE Stanley Woodward January 1944-May 1950 John F. Simmons August 1950-January 1957 Wiley T. Buchanan February 1957-January 1961 Angier Biddle Duke January 1961-January 1965 Lloyd Nelson Hand January 1965-March 1966 James W. Symington March 1966-March 1968 Angier Biddle Duke April 1968-September 1968 Tyler Abell September 1968-January 1969 Emil Mosbacher Jr. January 1969-June 1972 Marion H. Smoak March 1974-March 1974 Henry E. Ca o Jr. April 1974-July 1976 Shirley Temple Black July 1976-January 1977 Evan Dobelle March 1977-May 1978 Edith H. J. Dobelle November 1978-September 1979 Abelardo L. Valdez October 1979-January 1981 Morgan Mason (acting) January 1981-March 1981 Leonore Annenberg March 1981-January 1982 Selwa Roosevelt April 1982-January 1989 Joseph Verner Reed Jr. May 1989-October 1991 John GiďŹ&#x20AC;en Weinmann October 1991-January 1993 Molly M. Raiser September 1993-July 1997 Mary Mel French November 1997-January 2001 Donald Ensenat June 2001-February 2007 Nancy Brinker September 2007-January 2009 Capricia Marshall August 2009-August 2013

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BOLIVIA Freddy Bersatti Spouse: Rosayda Bersatti Embassy: 3014 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-483-4410 Residence: 3012 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Chargé d’affaires:

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA Ambassador: Jadranka Negodic

2109 E St. NW, 20037 Telephone: 202-337-1500 Residence: 1508 22nd St. North, Arlington, VA 22209 Embassy:

BOTSWANA Ambassador: Tebelelo Seretse Spouse: Kgosi Tholego Seretse

1531-1533 New Hampshire Ave. NW, 20036 Telephone: 202-244-4990 Residence: 10001 Bent Cross Dr., Potomac, MD 20854 Embassy:

BURKINA FASO

BRAZIL Ambassador: Mauro Vieira

Ambassador: Seydou Bouda

Embassy: 3006 Massachusetts

Spouse:

Adele Bouda Zougmore

Embassy: 2340 Massachusetts

Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-238-2700 Residence: 3000 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008

Faida Mitifu, DRC

Peter TaksoeJensen, Denmark

Nathalie Ciely, Ecuador

Mohamed Mostafa Mohamed Tawfik, Egypt

Joao Vale de Almeida, EU

Winston Thompson, Fiji

Christos Panagopoulos, Greece

Gyorgy Szapary, Hungary

Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-332-5577 Residence: 6338 16th St. NW, 20011

BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

BURMA Ambassador: Kyaw Myo Htut

Ambassador: Dato Paduka Haji

Spouse: Khin Myint Kyi

Yusoff Haji Abdul Hamid Spouse: Datin Mahani Abu Zar Embassy: 3520 International Court NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-237-1838

Embassy: 2300 S St. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-332-3344 Residence: 2223 R St. NW, 20008

BURUNDI

BULGARIA Elena Poptodorova Petrova Spouse: George Petrova Embassy: 1621 22nd St. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-387-0174 Residence: 3516 Rittenhouse St. NW, 20015 Ambassador:

Chargé d’affaires: Joel Nkurabagaya Spouse: Marie Josee Ntihabose Embassy: 2233 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Suite 408, 20007 Telephone: 202-342-2574 Residence: 2233 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Suite 212, 20007

CAMBODIA Ambassador: Hem Heng

NEW AMBASSADOR SPOTLIGHT FRANCE — GERARD ARAUD

(Photo courtesy Embassy of France)

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s if playing diplomatic musical chairs, France’s Gérard Araud left New York after four years as permanent representative to the United Nations to become France’s new ambassador here in early September, while former French Ambassador to Washington François Marie de Lattre left this summer to take up Araud’s former position at the U.N. Ambassador Araud, a career diplomat, is known to be charming and debonair yet colorful and someone who speaks his mind, often airing his opinions on Twitter. In Foreign Policy, writer Colum Lynch’s recent story “Can Washington Tame France’s Tart-Tongued Ambassador?” portrayed this handsome envoy as an atypical diplomat whose open style and online reputation at times creates

controversies: an unusual posture for a seasoned envoy. Previous top positions have been numerous ones within the ministry, ambassador to Israel and director general for political affairs and security. He is known for his two specialties: the Middle East and strategic and security issues. Ambassador Araud’s numerous speeches and journal articles (often found on the Embassy’s website), include a recent article published in the journal, Commentaire, on the outbreak of World War I, and an article in the journal, Esprit, on the search for a new world order. He is reported to love New York City, has a home there as well as a partner, an artist, and is expected to leave Washington often for those brighter lights — Gail Scott north.

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BUILDING BRIDGES The Muslim Women’s Association proves it’s much more than just a support group BY GAIL SCOTT

ore than 50 years old, “This is not a political the Muslim Women’s organization,” says Gamila Association (MWA) Karjawally, one of the Muslim has made a major shift from Women’s Association’s most being mainly a support group for passionate members. “It is a simply area Muslim women, particularly a social gathering where people get wives of ambassadors, to now together to learn more about each serving as an important bridge other and create friendships.” between Muslim women in the Tehmina Khan, originally Washington area and women of from Kashmir, India and one of other faiths and backgrounds. the most outspoken members, has “We want everyone to learn been treasurer for 16 years. She has the real face of Islam: caring, observed “increased discrimination compassionate, doing good work against Muslims” and wants and how we could do more everyone to know that, “Islam has if all religions got together,” more rights for women than any explains Sultana Hakimi, other religion” and that “it is a From le : Lala Abdurahimova, Vice President Lameis Faily, President Sultana Hakimi and Shaista Jilani. (Photo by Jay Snap) president of the Association and misconception that women from wife of the Afghan ambassador. the Islamic world don’t travel.” and other countries through UNRWA – “MWA’s goals are to bring more Lala Abdurahimova , wife of the awareness, clarify misconceptions and have United Nations Relief and Works Agency. Azerbaijani ambassador, thinks “the Muslim Although you would expect the organization Women’s Association is doing very important more understanding.” to cover much of what the Mosaic Foundation work by highlighting the role of women in Sound familiar? Maybe you’re thinking of the lavish events held by the highly did, according to Shaista Mamood of Pakistan, Muslim societies. This is especially important successful Mosaic Foundation — a not-for - a 30-year member, Mosaic was very different. to us because in May 1918, Azerbaijan became profit charitable and educational organization “Mosaic included only countries from the the first republic with a predominantly Muslim founded in 1997 by spouses of 17 Arab Middle East. We not only include the Middle population to grant voting rights to all citizens: ambassadors and led by H.R.H. Princess East but Africa and South Asian countries like regardless of religion, ethnicity and gender.This Haifi Al-Faisal of Saudi Arabia. Despite its Malaysia and Indonesia” – the country with the means that Azerbaijan was ahead of the United high profile and wide support, especially largest Muslim population in the world. States in granting women the right to vote. From its inception, the group has always from Middle Eastern oil companies, Mosaic “Today, rights of women, inter-religious abruptly closed its doors when Princess Haifi given out scholarships to young Muslim dialogue and promoting tolerance are key and her well-known husband, Ambassador women who want to study in the United priorities of Azerbaijan. Our first lady Prince Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, left States. The great advantage of this particular Mehriban Aliyeva, is recognized internationally scholarship is that it covers four full years of as a prominent leader on these issues. Role Washington afrer 22 years en poste. “We always helped each other, Mosaic and college studies. models of educated [Muslim] women like our During this half century, MWA’s president first lady matter a lot.” several other groups like Mrs. Sadat’s ‘Faith and Hope’,” says Egyptian Fife O’Connor, a has always been an ambassador’s wife and Summing up the Muslim Women’s board advisor and member since 1968. “I was embassies have often hosted events for more Association goals, Karjawally says that the the youngest member and now I’m the oldest.” than 100 members. This year, diplomatic hosts group “promotes everlasting friendships and Over the years, it also offered emergency relief have included India, Afghanistan, Portugal, respect among people of all religions and for disasters in Pakistan, Palestine, Bangladesh Jordan, Singapore and Norway. backgrounds.”

WA S H I N G T O N L I F E

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Spouse: Savine Ek

Embassy: 2704 Ontario Rd. NW, 20009

Embassy: 4530 16th St. NW, 20011

Telephone: 202-483-7800

Telephone: 202-726-7742

Residence: 1840 Redwood

Residence: 4500 16th St. NW, 20011

Terrace NW, 20012

Residence: 1520 20th St. NW, 20036

COMOROS Ambassador:

Kaambi Roubani

Spouse: Bacar Mohamed Mariama

CAMEROON

CHAD

Ambassador: Joseph Foe-Atangana

Ambassador: Maitine Djoumbe

Spouse: Veronique Foe Biloa

Naome Darkarim 2401 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-652-1312 Residence: 16833 Harbor Town Dr., Silver Spring, MD 20905

Embassy: 3400 International Dr.

NW, Suite 5L 5M, 20008 Telephone: 202-265-8790 Residence: 2825 Normanstone Dr. NW, 20008

CANADA

Spouse:

CHILE Ambassador:

Spouse: Ginny Devine

Spouse: Antonia Echenique Celis

Embassy: 501 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, 20001 Telephone: 202-682-1740 Residence: 2825 Rock Creek Dr. NW, 20008

Embassy: 1732 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20036 Telephone: 202-785-1746 Residence: 2305 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008

Juan Gabriel Valdés

CHINA

Ambassador: José Luis Fialho Rocha

Ambassador: Cui Tiankai

Dr. Yamile Luque Tamayo Saco Rocha Embassy: 3415 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20007 Telephone: 202-965-6820 Residence: 6509 Kenhill Rd., Bethesda, MD 20817

Spouse: Ni Peijun

Spouse:

Ron Dermer, Israel

Claudio Bisogniero, Italy

Andris Razāns, Latvia

Ali Suleiman Aujali, Libya

Claudia Fritsche, Lichtenstein

Jean-Louis Wolzfeld, Luxembourg

Asterio Takesy, Micronesia

Shankar Prasad Sharma, Nepal

Maman Sambo Fidikou, Niger

Suite 418, New York, NY 10017 Telephone: 212-750-1637

Embassy:

Ambassador: Gary Albert Doer

CABO VERDE

Lukman Faily, Iraq

Embassy: 866 United Nations Plaza,

CONGO DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF Dr. Faida Mitifu Spouse: Dr. Maurice Shalishali Embassy and residence: 1726 M St. NW, Suite 601, 20036 Telephone: 202-234-7690 Ambassador:

CONGO REPUBLIC OF Ambassador: Serge Mombouli Spouse: Stella Corine

Mombouli Embassy: 1720 16th St. NW, 20009 Telephone: 202-726-5500 Residence: 10809 Riverwood Dr., Potomac, MD 20854

COSTA RICA

Embassy: 3505 International

Ambassador: Román Macaya Hayes

Pl. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-495-2000 Residence: 2301 S St. NW, 20008

Embassy: 2114 S St. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-234-2945 Residence: 2324 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008

COLOMBIA

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

Spouse: Carmela Restrepo

CÔTE D’IVOIRE REPUBLIC OF

Embassy: 2118 Leroy Pl. NW, 20008

Ambassador: Daouda Diabaté

Ambassador: Stanislas Moussa-Kembe

Telephone: 202-387-8338

Spouse: Cecile Diabaté

Ambassador: Luis Carlos Villegas

NEW AMBASSADOR SPOTLIGHT GERMANY — PETER WITTIG

(Photo courtesy German Embassy)

WA S H I N G T O N L I F E

ashington is a dream post,” says the new German ambassador, Peter Wittig. “I’ve always wanted to come here. It’s the ideal place to be with a family.” Unlike most other German ambassadors who’ve lived upstairs in this austere residence, this father of four, ages 6 to 23, and his family love it. “It’s ideal for the seven of us (including an au pair). I love the modern style and the huge park.” “My children are absolutely thrilled. The only thing was the boys had to switch their allegiance from the New York Knicks to the Washington Wizards.” Watch for him. This career diplomat loves taking his boys to the games. This career diplomat has been posted to Madrid, Lebanon, Cyprus and to the United Nations. He is an intellectual who studied at Bonn, Freiburg, Canterbury and Oxford universities with a concentration in history, political science and law. He was an assistant professor at the University of Freiburg and has written numerous articles

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on the history of ideas and foreign policy. His wife, Huberta von Ross Wittig, is a journalist, poet and author who has written books about child poverty in Germany, the Armenian Genocide in 1915 and the German resistance to Hitler. She will continue to write for top German newspapers while in Washington. The ambassador’s goals include building on the solid friendship between Germany and the U.S. “It’s not just government but business and culture — building on a broader set of pillars,” he says. This month’s huge garden party celebrates the 25th Anniversary of “The Fall of The Wall” with several thousand Americans. “Germany is a land of ideas, very innovative, a creative place,” he adds. “We are also a land of diversity. We have millions of citizens with an immigrant background. We have a thriving Jewish community. We welcome immigrants and believe they are an asset. — Gail Scott

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Embassy: 2424 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-797-0300 Residence: 5111 Broad Branch Rd. NW, 20008

Spouse: Amina Farah Ahmed Olhaye Embassy: 1156 15th St. NW,

Suite 515, 20005 Telephone: 202-331-0270 Residence: 10101 Sorrel Ave., Potomac, MD 20854

CROATIA Ambassador: Josip Joško Paro

DOMINICA

Spouse: Jasna Paro

Ambassador: Hubert John Charles

2343 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-588-5899 Residence: 4871 Glenbrook Rd. NW, 20016

Spouse: Sylvia Charles

Embassy:

Embassy: 3216 New Mexico Ave. NW, 20016 Telephone: 202-364-6781 Residence: 17639 Charity Lane, Germantown, MD 20874

CYPRUS Ambassador: George Chacalli

2211 R St. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-462-5772 Residence: 2346 S St. NW, 20008 Embassy:

CZECH REPUBLIC Ambassador: Petr Gandalovic Spouse: Pavlina Gandalovicova Embassy: 3900 Spring of Freedom St. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-274-9100 Residence: 2612 Tilden St. NW, 20008

DENMARK Ambassador: Peter Taksoe-Jensen Spouse: Gitte Wallin Pedersen Embassy and residence: 3200 Whitehaven St. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-234-4300

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Ambassador: Aníbal de

Castro Rodriguez Embassy: 1715 22nd St. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-332-6280 Residence: 2930 Edgevale Terrace NW, 20008

EAST TIMOR Ambassador: Domingos Sarmento Alves Spouse: Odete Genoveva Victor da Costa

4201 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 504, 20008 Telephone: 202-966-3202 Residence: 1220 East West Hwy., Apt. 1522, Silver Spring, MD 20910 Embassy:

ECUADOR Nathalie Cely Suárez Spouse: Alvaro Ivan Hernandez Alvarez Embassy: 2535 15th St NW, 20009 Ambassador:

DJIBOUTI Ambassador: Roble Olhaye

202-234-7200 Residence: 2320 Bancroft St. NW, 20008 Telephone:

Embassy: 1708 New Hampshire Ave. NW, 20009 Telephone: 202-319-1991 Residence: 7127 16th St. NW, 20012

EGYPT Mohamed Mostafa Mohamed Tawfik Spouse: Amani Ahmed Amin Embassy: 3521 International Court NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-895-5400 Residence: 2301 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Ambassador:

EL SALVADOR Francisco Roberto Altschul Fuentes Spouse: Melinda Delashmutt Altschul Embassy: 1400 16th St. NW, Suite 100, 20036 Telephone: 202-595-7500 Residence: 5171 Macomb St. NW, 20016 Ambassador:

EQUATORIAL GUINEA Ruben Maye Nsue Mangue Spouse: Petra Asue Ngua Nchama Embassy: 2020 16th St. NW, 20009 Telephone: 202-518-5700 Residence: 4044 27th St., Arlington, VA 22207 Ambassador:

ESTONIA Ambassador: Eerik Marmei Spouse: Birgit Volmer

2131 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-588-0101 Residence: 3633 Albemarle St. NW, 20008 Embassy:

ETHIOPIA Ambassador: Girma Birru Spouse: Lydia Getaneh Belay

3506 International Dr. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-364-1200 Residence: 2209 Wyoming Ave., NW 20008 Embassy:

EUROPEAN UNION João Vale de Almeida Spouse: Maria Ana Jara de Carvalho Embassy: 2175 K St. NW, 20037 Telephone: 202-862-9500 Residence: 2534 Belmont Rd. NW, 20008 Head of delegation:

FIJI

ERITREA Chargé d’affaires: Berhane Gebrehiwet Solomon Spouse: Hiwet Sebhatu Tesfazzghi

Ambassador: Winston Thompson Spouse:

Queenie Thompson 2000 M St. NW,

Embassy:

NEW AMBASSADOR SPOTLIGHT PAKISTAN — JALIL ABBAS JILANI

(Photo courtesy Embassy of Pakistan)

e is one of the best-dressed ambassadors in town and also one of the best spoken. Pakistan’s career diplomat Jalil Abbas Jilani has been foreign secretary; ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg, the European Union; high commissioner to Australia; and foreign affairs spokesman. From 1995 to 1999, he was deputy chief of mission here. “Life in Pakistan has been transformed in the last 10 to 15 years,” he notes. “We have independent media with 100 TV channels so we have a well-informed, civil society.” He also credits women’s and children’s rights, a strong and independent judicial branch and a new positive attitude of citizens. “Democracy has taken deep strong roots and for the first time last year, we had a transition from a democracy to another democracy,” he adds. The ambassador also says women are playing bigger roles in national life. “Thirty percent of our parliament are women. They are in business, as entrepreneurs and CEOs of major

corporations and are a tremendous help boosting our national growth rate.” Pakistan wants to encourage a “peaceful neighborhood” with a deepening relationship with the United States, he says. Pakistan’s neighboring countries are Iran, Afghanistan, China and India. His “mandate” is “not to seek aid but to seek trade.” As for being ambassador here, he says “I know Washington; I know the ropes. Many of the important people I knew then are still here. Maybe they’re not in the administration but they have retired and are in important think tanks and the media.” — Gail Scott FAMILY Wife Shaista, who is passionate about nonprofit causes, and three sons. FAVORITE PASTIMES Golf, reading and time with his family, including a Georgetown graduate student and an 11th grader.

WA S H I N G T O N L I F E

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Suite 710, 20036 Telephone: 202-466-8320 Residence: 1435 Carrington Ridge Lane, Vienna, VA 22182

Dr. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-686-4520

MIKE MOORE New Zealand

GREECE Christos Panagopoulos 2217 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-939-1300 Residence: 4740 Foxhall Crescent NW, 20007 Ambassador:

FINLAND

Embassy:

Ritva Koukku-Ronde Hidde Ronde Embassy: 3301 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-298-5800 Residence: 3001 Woodland Dr. NW, 20008 Ambassador: Spouse:

GRENADA Ethelstan Angus Friday 1701 New Hampshire Ave. NW, 20009 Telephone: 202-265-2561 Ambassador: Embassy:

FRANCE Ambassador:

Gerard Araud

Embassy: 4101 Reservoir Rd. NW, 20007 Telephone: 202-944-6000

2221 Kalorama Rd. NW, 20008

Residence:

GABON Michael Moussa-Adamo Brigitte Moussa-Adamo Embassy: 2034 20th St. NW, 20009 Telephone: 202-797-1000 Residence: 1630 Connecticut Ave. NW, 20009 Ambassador: Spouse:

GAMBIA Chargé d’affaires: Sheikh Omar Faye Embassy: 2233 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Suite 240, 20007 Telephone: 202-785-1399 Residence: 1941 Westchester Dr., Silver Spring, MD 20902

GEORGIA Archil Gegeshidze Dea Gadua Embassy: 2209 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-387-2390 Residence: 2807 Chesterfield Place NW, 20008

GUATEMALA Julio Alejandro Ligorria M. Quezada Niederheitmann Embassy: 2220 R St. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-745-4952 Residence: 2839 Woodland Dr. NW, 20008 Ambassador: Spouse:

Mamady Conde Odya K. Condé Embassy: 2112 Leroy Pl. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-986-4300 Residence: 2948 Edgevale Terrace NW, 20008 Ambassador: Spouse:

GUYANA Bayney Karran Donna Karran Embassy: 2490 Tracy Pl. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-265-6900

GERMANY

Spouse:

HAITI Paul Altidor Meghan Altidor Embassy: 2311 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-332-4090 Ambassador: Spouse:

THE HOLY SEE

Peter Wittig Spouse: Huberta von Voss-Wittig Embassy: 4645 Reservoir Rd. NW, 20007 Telephone: 202-298-4000 Residence: 1800 Foxhall Rd. NW, 20007 Ambassador:

Something surprising people don’t know about you? When working as a social worker for the criminally insane — a job that prepared me for a life in politics — I took some dangerous patients to see the movie, “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” Charity or cause closest to your heart? The one I set up: School Aid. It’s an investment fund managed by disadvantaged school kids. They learn about markets and investment and all profits go to schools in developing countries.

Ambassador:

Ambassador: Spouse:

(Photo courtesy New Zealand Embassy)

GUINEA

Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano Embassy and Residence: 3339 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-333-7121 Nuncio:

HONDURAS Jorge Ramon Hernandez-Alcerro Spouse: Mariza Veiga Embassy: 3007 Tilden St. NW, Suite 4M, 20008

Historical figure you most admire? F.D.R. He rescued democratic capitalism, established a central role for government to protect the poor, aged and sick. He also fought the war and then began the work for an international architecture from the U.N. to the W.T.O. His team created the Marshall Plan where the victors rebuilt a better world by supporting former enemies. Washington social event you look forward to every year? Anzac Day. A sombre day when we recognize the contribution of our armed services. Favorite quote? George Bernard Shaw said “Reasonable people don’t make change, thus all human progress is based on the unreasonable person.” Historical figure you most identify with? Ernest Bevin, a British foreign minister who established the biggest union in the free world, the largest newspaper in the United Kingdom and saw through the fascists and communists before most others. He was a great supporter of the Marshall plan and he took the U.K. from an empire to a commonwealth. How do you like to spend your free time? Reading, reading and reading

Ambassador:

GHANA Daniel Ohene Agyekum Rose Ohene Agyekum Embassy: 3512 International Ambassador: Spouse:

Languages you speak? I speak English, but badly. Dish you miss the most when you are away from home? I miss fresh fish of all sorts. New Zealand bluff oysters and Paua (a New Zealand abalone). @NZAmbassadorUS

WA S H I N G T O N L I F E

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202-966-2604 5312 Portsmouth Rd., Bethesda, MD 20816 Telephone: Residence:

HUNGARY Gyorgy Szapary 3910 Shoemaker St. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-362-6730 Residence: 2215 30th St. NW, 20008 Ambassador: Embassy:

ICELAND Gudmundur Arni Stefansson Spouse: Jona Dora Karlsdottir Embassy: 2900 K St. NW, Suite 509, 20007 Telephone: 202-265-6653 Residence: 2443 Kalorama Rd. NW, 20008 Ambassador:

INDIA Subrahmanyam Jaishankar Spouse: Kyoko Somekawa Jaishankar Embassy: 2107 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-939-7009 Residence: 2700 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Ambassador:

INDONESIA Budi Bowoleksono Spouse: Reshanty Bowoleksono Embassy: 2020 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20036 Telephone: 202-775-5200 Residence: 2700 Tilden Lane NW, 20008 Ambassador:

IRAQ Lukman Faily Spouse: Ms. Lameis Faily Embassy: 3421 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20007 Telephone: 202-742-1600 Ambassador:

IRELAND Anne Anderson Embassy: 2234 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-462-3939 Residence: 2244 S St. NW, 20008 Ambassador:

ISRAEL Ron Dermer Rhoda Michelle Dermer Embassy: 3514 International Dr. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-364-5500

KUWAIT

JAPAN Kenichiro Sasae Spouse: Nobuko Sasae Embassy: 2520 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-238-6700 Ambassador:

JORDAN Dr. Alia Hatoug-Bouran Spouse: Ishaq Bouran Embassy: 3504 International Dr. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-966-2664 Residence: 2456 Tracy Pl. NW, 20008 Ambassador:

Ambassador: Spouse:

ITALY Claudio Bisogniero Laura Denise Noce Benigni Olivieri Bisogniero Embassy: 3000 Whitehaven St. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-612-4400 Residence: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Villa Firenze,â&#x20AC;? 2800 Albemarle St. NW, 20008 Ambassador: Spouse:

JAMAICA Stephen Vasciannie Lisa Vasciannie Embassy: 1520 New Hampshire Ave. NW, 20036 Telephone: 202-452-0660 Ambassador: Spouse:

KAZAKHSTAN Kairat Umarov Galiya Umarova Embassy: 1401 16th St. NW, 20036 Telephone: 202-232-5488 Ambassador: Spouse:

KENYA Jean Njeri Kamau 2249 R St. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-387-6101 Residence: 10201 Serrel Ave., Potomac, MD 20854

Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Spouse: Rima Al-Sabah Embassy and residence: 2940 Tilden St. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-966-0702 Ambassador:

KYRGYZSTAN Muktar Djumaliev Asel Akeneeva Embassy: 2360 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-449-9823 Residence: 4101 33rd Rd., Arlington, VA 22207 Ambassador: Spouse:

LAOS Seng Soukhathivong Somdy Soukhathivong Embassy: 2222 S St. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-332-6416 Residence: 2222 S St. NW, 20008 Ambassador: Spouse:

ChargĂŠ dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;affaires: Embassy:

KOSOVO Akan Ismaili Spouse: Fitore Ismaili Embassy: 1101 30th St. NW, Suite 330/340, 20007 Telephone: 202-380-3581

LATVIA Andris Razans Gunta Razane Embassy: 2306 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-328-2840 Ambassador: Spouse:

Ambassador:

LEBANON Antoine Chedid Nicole Chedid Embassy: 2560 28th St. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-939-6300 Ambassador: Spouse:

NEW AMBASSADOR SPOTLIGHT MALAYSIA â&#x20AC;&#x201D; DATUK DR AWANG ADEK BIN HUSSIN

(Photo courtesy of the Malaysian Embassy)

irst-time ambassador of Malaysia Datuk Dr. Awang Adek Bin Hussin hails from Kuala Lumpur, which boasts the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tallest twin towers and a butterfly museum. The jovial diplomat seems more like a politician and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no wonder. He has been a member of parliament and deputy finance minister. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Politics is a great background for an ambassador,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You learn to meet people with the idea of making everyone your friend.â&#x20AC;? Yet, the protocol of diplomacy is not his favorite aspect of being a top envoy. With degrees in mathematics and economics from Drew University and masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and doctoral degrees from the University of Pennsylvaniaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wharton School, the ambassador is familiar with his new home base. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sometimes when Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m carrying [grocery] bags from Giant, I feel like a student here again,â&#x20AC;? he says. He met his wife Latifa in Baton Rouge, La., at a Muslim student conference and the first of their five children was

born here. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Malaysia is very modern, progressive and moderate Islamic â&#x20AC;&#x201D; about 60 percent Muslim â&#x20AC;&#x201D; with a multimedia super corridor,â&#x20AC;? he says. Proud of his multicultural, racial and religious society, he adds, â&#x20AC;&#x153;When you walk around Kuala Lumpur, it is so peaceful.â&#x20AC;? Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s perhaps one of the reasons Malaysia is now one of the top 10 countries attracting tourists, roughly 25 million each year. Since presenting his credentials in May, this envoyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main job has been tied to the disappearance of Malaysia Airlineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Flight 307 and the crash of Malaysia Airlineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Flight 17 in Ukraine. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This has been shocking and very sad for my country,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Two incidents of that magnitude within such a short period of time are unbelievable. Our airline has always gotten awards.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Gail Scott FAVORITE PASTIME: Golf

WA S H I N G T O N L I F E

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National MS Chapter President Chris Broullire and Marilyn Harris

Thomas Kuhn and Chandler Kuhn

Capricia Marshall and Toni Gore

WL SPONSORED

AMBASSADORS BALL Ritz-Carlton Washington, D.C. | PHOTOS BY NESHAN NALTCHAYAN WORLDLY EMISSARIES: Distinguished envoys from Washington’s diplomatic corps let their hair down for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society at the 36th annual Ambassadors Ball, donating specialty items for the evening’s silent auction and helping to raise more than $900,000 for the disease that aﬄicts more than 2.3 million people worldwide. Traditionally known as the launching pad of the fall social season, the ball also honored Tom Kuhn of Edison Electric Institute for his work in raising awareness for the debilitating illness.

Leila Mol Beale and Barbados Amb. John Beale St. Kitts & Nevis Amb. Jacinth Henry-Martin and Trinidad & Tobago Amb. Neil Parsan

VIEW ALL THE PHOTOS AT WWW WASHINGTONLIFE COM

Connie Harriman Whitfield and Rep. Ed Whitfield Auctioneer Patrick O’Neill Lala Abdurahimova and Azerbaijan Amb. Elin Suleymanov

Margaret Lawrynowicz and Polish diplomat Artur Orkisz

WA S H I N G T O N L I F E

Francoise Torchon Newry and Bahamas Amb. Eugene Newry

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Peter Barnes and Fox News’ Janice Dean

Sen. Blanche Lincoln and Frank Snellings 57

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2841 McGill Terrace NW, 20008

Residence:

LESOTHO Eliachim Molapi Sebatane Spouse: Lois Anne Sebatane Embassy: 2511 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-797-5533 Residence: 7013 Loch Lomond Dr., Bethesda, MD 20817

2622 16th St. NW, 20009 202-234-5860 Residence: 1112 Ingleside Ave., McLean, VA 22101

Datin Latifah Mohd Yusof 3516 International Court NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-572-9700

Embassy:

Spouse:

Telephone:

Embassy:

Ambassador:

Jeremiah Sulunteh Spouse: Kabeh Sulunteh Embassy: 5201 16th St. NW, 20011 Telephone: 202-723-0437 Ambassador:

Jean-Louis Wolzfeld 2200 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-265-4171 Ambassador: Embassy:

MACEDONIA Zoran Jolevski Spouse: Suzana Jolevski Embassy and residence: 2129 Wyoming Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-667-0501

Chargé d’affaires:

Suleiman

S. H. Abulhul Zeinab Abulhul Embassy: 2600 Virginia Ave. NW, Suite 705, 20037 Telephone: 202-944-9601 Residence: 2201 Wyoming Ave. NW, 20008 Spouse:

LIECHTENSTEIN Ambassador:

LUXEMBOURG

MADAGASCAR

LIBYA

Claudia Fritsche

Embassy and residence: 2900 K

St. NW, Suite 602-B, 20007 Telephone: 202-331-0590

Velotiana

R. Raobelina Spouse: Querry Raobelina Embassy and residence: 2374 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-265-5525

MALAWI Stephen Dick Tennyson Matenje Spouse: Isabel Matenje Embassy: 2408 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-721-0270 Ambassador:

Zygimantas Pavilionis Spouse: Lina Pavilioniene Ambassador:

MALDIVES Ahmed Sareer Fathimath Athifa Embassy: 800 2nd Ave., Suite 200 E, New York, NY, 10017 Telephone: 212-599-6195 Residence: 13 River Rd., Apt. 17C, New York, NY 10044 Ambassador: Spouse:

Mohamed Lemine El Haycen Spouse: Naha Rgueiby Embassy: 2129 Leroy Pl. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-232-5700 Residence: 2339 S St. NW, 20008

Datuk Dr. Awang Adek Hussin Ambassador:

MAURITIUS Somduth Soborun Omila Devi Soborun Embassy: 1709 N St. NW, 20036 Telephone: 202-244-1491 Ambassador: Spouse:

MALI Al-Maamoun Baba Lamine Keita Spouse: Therese Keita Embassy: 2130 R St. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-332-2249 Residence: 2131 R St. NW, 20008 Ambassador:

MALTA Marisa Micallef 2017 Connecticut Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-462-3611 Residence: 4501 29th St. NW, 20008

MEXICO Eduardo Medina Mora Laura Medina Mora Embassy: 1911 Pennsylvania Ave. NW 20006 Telephone: 202 728-1600 Ambassador: Spouse:

Ambassador:

MICRONESIA

Embassy:

Asterio R. Takesy Justina Yangilmau Takesy Embassy: 1725 N St. NW, 20036 Telephone: 202-223-4383 Ambassador: Spouse:

MARSHALL ISLANDS Charles Rudolph Paul Dixie Lomae Embassy: 2433 Massachusetts Ave. NW, First Floor, 20008 Telephone: 202-234-5414

MOLDOVA

Ambassador: Spouse:

MALAYSIA LITHUANIA

MAURITANIA Ambassador:

Ambassador:

LIBERIA

Residence: 3212 Brooklawn Terrace, Chevy Chase, MD 20815

Igor Munteanu Spouse: Angela Munteanu Embassy: 2101 S St. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-667-1130 Ambassador:

NEW AMBASSADOR SPOTLIGHT CABO VERDE — JOSÉ LUIS ROCHA

(Photo courtesy Cabo Verde Embassy)

resenting his credentials to President Obama on July 14, 2014, Ambassador José Luis Rocha of Cabo Verde (Cape Verde in English and Cap Vert in French) is ready to tell everyone how his archipelago is “one of Africa’s greatest political and economic success stories.” His nation, comprised of nine small islands and a larger one in the central Atlantic Ocean, is a three-and-a-halfhour flight to Brazil and six-hour flight to Boston. “More of our citizens live outside our country than in it and of those outside, the majority of them live in the greater Boston area,” he notes. “Half of the people in Brockton, Massachusetts come originally from Cabo Verde. “We are the gateway to Africa, the hub in the midAtlantic Ocean,” he notes. “We are in a strategic location.” He adds that four of the country’s six airports are international. “We have sun and wind and 30 percent of our energy is natural. We have been stable for many years

with a multi-party democracy.” Cabo Verde became independent from Portugal in 1975 and has dreams of being a developed country by 2030. Rocha notes that the island nation cooperates with everyone at the United Nations including China, Europe and South America. This intense ambassador admits that he works day and night and on weekends. “My home office is connected to my embassy office,” he says noting that he starts most mornings with a 6 a.m. run. “Small is beautiful,” he boasts of his homeland. “Only thing is when the country is small, there are constraints and quality investments come slowly.” — Gail Scott FAMILY Wife Yamile, an anesthesiologist, and three children FAVORITE PASTIMES Jogging, reading, watching movies

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| O C T O B E R | washingtonlife.com

2014

Mongolia

Netherlands

Altangerel Bulgaa Spouse: Chuluuntsetseg Erdenee Embassy: 2833 M St. NW, 20007 Telephone: 202-333-7117 Residence: 1021 Iron Gate Rd., Potomac, MD 20854 Ambassador:

Anne Anderson Ireland

Rudolf Simon Bekink Spouse: Gabrielle de Kuyper Sheshunoff Embassy: 4200 Linnean Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-244-5300 Residence: 2347 S St. NW, 20008 Ambassador:

Something surprising people don’t know about you? That poetry is my first love. I turn to it at all the important moments — a refuge and resource. But then I’m Irish...

New Zealand

Monaco

Michael Kenneth Moore Mrs. Yvonne Moore Embassy: 37 Observatory Circle NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-328-4800 Residence: 27 Observatory Circle NW, 20008 Ambassador:

Maguy Maccario Doyle Embassy: 4000 Connecticut Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-234-1530 Residence: 2315 Wyoming Ave. NW, 20008 Ambassador:

Something surprising Americans don’t know about your country? How good our food is. Ireland tends to be associated with “Irish stew” but it has become a foodies’ paradise in recent years.

Spouse:

Montenegro

Nicaragua

Srdan Darmanovic Aneta Spaic Embassy: 1610 New Hampshire Ave. NW, 20009 Telephone: 202-234-6108 Ambassador: Spouse:

Favorite vacation spot in your country? Connemara in the west of Ireland. It has such a rugged beauty, and still feels like a place apart.

Francisco Campbell Hooker Spouse: Miriam Hooker Embassy: 1627 New Hampshire Ave. NW, 20009 Telephone: 202-939-6570 Residence: 6434 Brookes Lane, Bethesda, MD 20816 Ambassador:

Morocco Mohamed Rachad Bouhlal Spouse: Fatiha Bennani Embassy: 1601 21st St. NW, 20009 Telephone: 202-462-7980 Residence: 9109 Clewerwall Dr., Bethesda, MD 20817 Ambassador:

Niger Maman Sambo Sidikou Fatima Djibo-Sidikou Embassy: 2204 R St. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-483-4224 Residence: 3100 Argyle St. NW, 20011 Ambassador: Spouse:

Mozambique Amélia Matos Sumbana Adriano Fernandes Sumbana Embassy: 1525 New Hampshire Ave. NW, 20036 Telephone: 202-293-7146 Ambassador: Spouse:

Nigeria Adebowale Adefuye Spouse: Catherine Adefuye Embassy: 3519 International Court NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-986-8400 Ambassador:

Namibia Martin Andjaba Caroline Andjaba Embassy: 1605 New Hampshire Ave. NW, 20009 Telephone: 202-986-0540 Residence: 10108 Iron Gate Rd., Potomac, MD 20854 Ambassador: Spouse:

Norway Kare Reidar Aas 2720 34th St. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-333-6000 Residence: 3401 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20007 Ambassador: Embassy:

Nauru Marlene Moses 800 2nd Ave., #400-D, New York, NY, 10017 Telephone: 212-937-0074 Ambassador:

Embassy and residence:

Nepal Chargé d’affaires: Rishi Ram Ghimire

Kamala Ghimire 2131 Leroy Pl. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-667-4550 Residence: 2730 34th Pl. NW, 20007 Spouse:

Embassy:

Favorite resort/hotel in your country? The “Hidden Ireland” hotels are a lovely collection of independent hotels of charm and character.

Oman Hunaina Sultan al-Mughairy Spouse: Fuad al-Hinai Embassy: 2535 Belmont Rd. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-387-1980 Residence: 2000 24th St. NW, 20008 Ambassador:

Charity or cause closest to your heart? My father died (Photo courtesy Embassy of Ireland) from motor neuron disease; the urgency of finding a cause and cure is something I feel deeply about. Historical figure you most admire? Eleanor Roosevelt. She was a ground-breaker at a time when it was particularly difficult for women to carve out these roles. Favorite quote? I admire Elie Wiesel tremendously. I try to remind myself every day of something he said: “The opposite of love is not hate; it’s indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness; it’s indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy; it’s indifference. And the opposite of life is not death; it’s indifference.” Historical figure with whom you most identify? As I work on immigration issues, I’m often reminded of Annie Moore, a young Irish woman who was the first immigrant to pass through Ellis Island. She symbolizes the bravery and determination of so many, and the privilege of being welcomed into a new world. Languages you speak? English, French and the Irish (Gaelic) language. Dish you miss the most when you are away from home? I miss the special flavor and succulence of grass-fed Irish beef. Happily, our beef is about to re-enter the U.S. market. Top issue on your agenda? Doing everything possible to advance Ireland’s economic relationship with the U.S.: promoting trade, investment and tourism. @IrelandEmbUSA

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2014

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SPECIAL FEATURE | '=&)6 7)'96-8=

HOW SAFE IS WASHINGTON FROM CYBER ATTACK? A couple of scenarios potential attackers already know

In a cyber war Washington, D.C.’s Metro system would be a tempting target to bring to a standstill.

his article is dedicated to Chen Ping, the FBI’s Chinese poster boy hacker and his pals at Putter Panda, Chen’s elite army unit which presumably can see this even before it gets published. When it comes to cyber security breaches, the U.S. and China trade accusations. The United States recently published mug shots of what the FBI said were leading Chinese hackers, most of them members of a military unit set up for the purpose: Beijing retaliated by accusing the U.S. of hacking Chinese industries. And so it goes. Hacking was on the agenda of the annual China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue on July 9: it always is. But corporate, banking, and even government systems continue to be vulnerable to cyber penetration

by countries that certainly do not wish us well. A whole gallimaufry of cyber experts never tire of warning that “When the Big One Comes” — meaning the mother of all cyber attacks — Washington can be paralyzed in a heartbeat, or the push of a button anyway. Whether generals will be able to communicate with their units remains questionable. The Pentagon routinely issues assurances that it is secure from cyber attack. But then the Pentagon has been successfully hacked …What about you trapped in the dark on a stalled Metro Red Line train or K Street elevator for hours because the grid’s Distributed Energy Resource Management System, or DERMS, has been shut down by malicious software? This scenario was included in an

Energy Department-sponsored study with the cumbersome title “Electric Sector Failure Scenario and Impact Analyses.” Its overall conclusion: the U.S. power grid is vulnerable to catastrophic disruption by nation states like China and North Korea, or by terrorist groups such as al-Qaida. For all the finger pointing at China, “We’re not near nation state warfare,” says cyber security specialist Jody Westby, CEO of the Washington firm Global Cyber Risk. “There’s nation state activity going on, but no threat of warfare. The present threat is from terrorist attack; our ability to respond is pathetic — and do you think the bad guys don’t know that?” A cyber attack launched on the power grid “would bring Washington to a standstill,” Westby says. The utilities have adopted voluntary standards of security, but won’t withstand a determined cyber aggressor. “The real lifeblood of Washington,” she adds, “is to communicate with the rest of the country.We’re a major communications hub, but if that’s hit it also could create havoc.” For example, she says, the Government Emergency Telecommunications Service (GETS) which gives priority phone access to government officials during an emergency is still not linked to WiFi. So, if phone lines are down, the government’s ability to communicate with the outside world would be in jeopardy. The D.C. police department — unlike its New York counterpart — doesn’t have a functioning cyber

WA S H I N G T O N L I F E

| O C T O B E R | washingtonlife.com

A L L P H OTOS W I KI M E D I A

BY ROLAND FLAMINI

Former director of National Intelligence John Negroponte warned of dangers to the Internet.

unit. “So, if the phone lines are down, people will contact the FBI and other law enforcement organizations, and they’ll be overloaded, and it will be every man for himself.” Westby’s view is widely shared, with variations, by other cyber specialists. The U.S. cavalry in the current undeclared cyber war with an assortment of suspected foreign government-sponsored hackers and cyber robbers is CS-CERT, Homeland Security’s Control Systems/Cyber Emergency Response Team. In 2013 CERT intervened in response to 256 cyber attacks on American industrial companies, half of them utilities — twice the number of attacks on utility companies as in the previous year. However, Homeland Security said no major disruption of service was caused because utility grids are protected by industry standards. Still, as former CIA director Michael Hayden says, cyberware is “a domain that favors the attacker.”To be effective defenses have to be continuously upgraded — usually at considerable expense — to keep up with advances in attack technology. And some Obama officials have warned that power grids remain susceptible to sabotage attacks by foreign enemies, as do traffic control systems and infrastructure. Skepticism about those industr y standards, and about the wider issue of the country’ approach to cyber security remains

WA S H I N G T O N L I F E

widespread. For example, a report from a Council on Foreign Relations task force headed by John Negroponte, former director of National Intelligence, is critical of the United States for failing to effectively combat the Internet’s gradual process of corrosion. It lists “a lack of coherent vision, the absence of appropriate authority to implement policy, and legislative gridlock” as causes for America’s lack of a solid cyber protective strategy. “For the past four decades, the United States was the predominant innovator, promoter and shaper of cyberspace, but the window for U.S. leadership is now closing.” At the root of the problem is the fact that in typical Washington fashion, everyone wants effective cyber security but few can agree on how to get there. A pivotal issue is whether cyber security measures for the private sector should be government mandated or voluntary guidelines. This is the subject of a heated debate. The other issue centers on the limits of sharing threat information both within specific industries and with the government. Firms are reluctant to share information with their competitors, and tend to be wary of too much involvement with government without liability protection in case, in the process, they trip other regulatory rules. With Congress deadlocked over cyber security legislation, the Obama administration,

| O C T O B E R | washingtonlife.com

Former CIA Director Michael Hayden: “Cyberware attackers have the advantage.”

in February, opted for the voluntary approach and published a Cybersecurity Framework, a set of guidelines that businesses could adopt built around five broad categories: identify, protect, detect, respond and recover. The framework adds a new Critical Infrastructure Partnership Advisory Council through which the DHS works with critical infrastructure to upgrade its cyber security; the framework also expands the role of the Department of Defense Enhanced Cybersecurity Initiative which shares threat and protection information with defense contractors, and will now do the same with certain key infrastructure companies. No prizes for guessing that reaction was mixed. The business sector, for example, was disappointed that the framework failed to address the cost factor, a major problem in upgrading a company’s cyber defenses, by offering tax incentives or other financial help. The prospect of spending a great deal of money to prevent something from happening is not one that businesses welcome. But as former FBI Director Robert Mueller observed last month, any CEO who fails to make his company’s cyber security a personal priority does so at his or her peril. Mueller cautioned against “a policy of not recognizing the depth of the challenges — and how swiftly a cyber attack can cut your reputation down.”

special feature | Ambassadors Directory

Ritva Koukku-Ronde Finland

(Photo courtesy Embassy of Finland)

Pakistan

Poland

Jalil Abbas Jilani Spouse: Shaista Jilani Embassy: 3517 International Court NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-243-6500 Residence: 2343 S St. NW, 20008 Ambassador:

Dish you miss the most when you are away from home? The fresh Finnish ingredients and seasonal treats like wild berries and mushrooms, as well as fish. Luckily our executive chef at the embassy, Petri Hotti, is specialized in organic and local food. We now have our own vegetable garden at the ambassador’s residence, just like the White House! The fresh herbs from our own garden taste just like back home.

Languages you speak? My mother tongue is Finnish, and I have learned the other official language of Finland, Swedish, as well as English, German and French at school. At home I speak Dutch with my husband who is from the Netherlands. Top issue on your agenda? The U.S. and Finland have an excellent relationship. We partner in various foreign and security policy issues, including advancing global development and fighting climate change, as discussed between President Obama and the Nordic leaders last year. At the moment we have a strong focus on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, which is being negotiated between the E.U. and the U.S. This partnership has great potential to boost economic growth and to create more jobs, and naturally we want to explore ways to bolster trade and investment bilaterally between the U.S. and Finland.

Cui Tiankai, China

Jose L. Cuisia Jr., Philippines

Spouse:

Portugal

Palau Hersey Kyota Spouse: Lydia Shmull Kyota Embassy: 1701 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Suite 300, 20036 Telephone: 202-452-6814 Residence: 6423 13th St. Alexandria, VA 22307 Ambassador:

Panama Emanuel Arturo Gonzalez Revilla Lince Embassy: 2862 McGill Terrace NW, 20007 Telephone: 202-483-1407 Residence: 2601 29th St. NW, 20008 Ambassador:

Papua New Guinea Elias Rahuromo Wohengu Spouse: Relvie Wohengu Embassy: 1779 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Suite 805, 20036 Telephone: 202-745-3680 Chargé d’affaires:

Nuno Brito Rofa Batoreu Brito Embassy and residence: 2012 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20036 Telephone: 202-328-8610 Ambassador: Spouse:

Qatar Mohammed Jaham Al-Kuwari Embassy: 2555 M St. NW, 20037 Telephone: 202-274-1600 Residence: 4839 Indian Lane NW, 20016 Ambassador:

Republic of China (Taiwan) Lyushun Shen Christine Shen Embassy: 4201 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 20016 Telephone: 202-895-1800 Residence: 3225 Woodley Rd. NW, 20008 Ambassador: Spouse:

Romania Iulian Buga Mihaela Buga Embassy: 1607 23rd St. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-332-4846 Residence: 2500 30th St. NW, 20008 Ambassador:

Paraguay Harold Winston Forsyth Mejia, Peru

Ryszard Schnepf Dorota Anna Schnepf Embassy: 2640 16th St. NW, 20009 Telephone: 202-234-3800 Residence: 3041 Whitehaven St. NW, 20008 Ambassador:

Spouse:

ambassador: Igor Pangrazio Embassy: 2400 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-483-6960 Residence: 3238 Broad Branch Terrace NW, 20008

Russia Sergey I. Kislyak Natalia M. Kislyak Embassy: 2650 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 20007 Telephone: 202-298-5700 Residence: 1125 16th St. NW, 20036 Ambassador: Spouse:

Nuno Brito, Portugal

Sergey Kislyak, Russia

La Celia A. Prince, St. Vincent & Grenadines

Peru Harold Forsyth Verónica Forsyth Embassy: 1700 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20036 Telephone: 202-833-9860 Residence: 3001 Garrison St. NW, 20008 Ambassador: Spouse:

Philippines Adel al-Jubeir, Saudi Arabia

Subhas Chandra Mungra, Suriname 62

Ashok Kumar Mirpuri, Singapore

Manuel Sager, Switzerland

Ebrahim Rasool, South Africa

Neil Parsan, Trinidad & Tobago

Jose L. Cuisia Jr. Maria Victoria Cuisia Embassy: 1600 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20036 Telephone: 202-467-9300 Residence: 2253 R St. NW 20008 Ambassador: Spouse:

Rwanda Mathilde Mukantabana 1875 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 418, 20009 Telephone: 202-232-2882 Residence: 1752 Sycamore St. NW, 20012 Ambassador: Embassy:

Saint Kitts and Nevis Jacinth Lorna Henry-Martin Spouse: Michael Martin Ambassador:

EDITOR’S NOTE: A previous edition listed the wrong flag for the Republic of China (Taiwan). We regret the error.

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2014

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Embassy: 3216 New Mexico Ave. NW, 20016 Telephone: 202-686-2636 Residence: 1016 Laurel Leaf Pl., Potomac, MD 20854

SAINT LUCIA Sonia Merlyn Johnny Lloyd Jackson Embassy: 3216 New Mexico Ave. NW, 20016 Telephone: 202-364-6792 Ambassador: Spouse:

SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES La Celia A. Prince 3216 New Mexico Ave. NW, 20016 Telephone: 202-364-6730 Ambassador: Embassy:

SEYCHELLES

PAUL G ALTIDOR Haiti

Ambassador: MarieLouise Cecile Potter Spouse: Clement Potter Embassy: 800 2nd Ave. Suite 400C, New York, NY, 10017 Telephone: 212-972-1785

SIERRA LEONE Bockari Kortu Stevens Musu Stevens Embassy: 1701 19th St. NW, 20009 Telephone: 202-939-9261 Residence: 4821 Colorado Ave. NW, 20008 Ambassador: Spouse:

SINGAPORE Ashok Kumar Mirpuri Gouri Uppal Mirpuri Embassy: 3501 International Pl. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-537-3100 Residence: 2620 Rock Creek Dr. NW, 20008 Ambassador: Spouse:

SAMOA Ali’ioaiga Feturi Elisaia Maria Lei Sam-Elisaia Embassy: 800 2nd Ave., Suite 400-J, New York, NY, 10017 Telephone: 212-599-6196 Ambassador: Spouse:

SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE Ambassador: C. Azevedo Agostinho Das Neves Spouse: Ilva de Oliveira Cassandra Das Neves Embassy: 675 Third Avenue, Suite 1807, New York, NY, 10017 Telephone: 212-651-8116

SAUDI ARABIA Adel Al-Jubeir Farah Meshal D. Alfayez Embassy: 601 New Hampshire Ave. NW, 20037 Telephone: 202-342-3800 Ambassador: Spouse:

SENEGAL Cheikh Niang Aissata Sall Niang Embassy: 2215 M St. NW, 20007 Telephone: 202-234-0540 Spouse:

SERBIA Marina Jovicic 2134 Kalorama Rd. NW 20008 Telephone: 202-332-0333 Residence: 4935 Loughboro Rd. NW, Washington, DC 20016 Spouse:

Embassy:

Peter Kmec Monika Kmecova Embassy: 3523 International Court NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-237-1054 Residence: 7718 Carlton Pl., McLean, VA 22102 Spouse:

Something surprising Americans don’t know about your country? That Haiti has an abundance of tourist destinations. Favorite vacation spot in your country? Jeremie because it is home and is a quiet, peaceful location. Historical figure you most admire? Toussaint Louverture because against all odds he had the political acumen to set the stage for Haiti’s independence.

SLOVENIA Bozo Cerar 2410 California St. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-386-6610 Residence: 2412 California St. NW, 20008 Ambassador: Embassy:

SOLOMON ISLANDS Collin David Beck Spouse: Helen Beck Embassy: 800 2nd Ave., Suite 400L, New York, NY, 10017 Telephone: 212-599-6192

SOUTH AFRICA

Charges d’affaires: Vladimir Jovicic

Something surprising people don’t know about you? I am very interested in design, architecture and home renovation.

SLOVAK REPUBLIC Ambassador:

Ambassador:

(Photo courtesy Embassy of Haiti)

Ebrahim Rasool Roseida Shabodien Embassy: 3051 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-232-4400 Residence: 4847 Rockwood Parkway, 20016 Ambassador: Spouse:

Washington social event you look forward to the most every year? Passport DC because I enjoy welcoming the general public to the embassy. How do you like to spend your free time? Playing with my 1-year-old daughter, and when I have a free moment joining a pickup soccer game. Languages you speak? French, Creole and English. I also learned Spanish while spending time in Central America, but I don’t get to practice it very often. Dish you miss the most when you are away from home? Legume, a Haitian vegetable stew. Favorite Washington restaurant? Range. Ambassadors and their embassies have a long tradition of supporting causes/ institutions championed by the Washington community. What will you and the embassy be involved with in the coming year? Step Afrika!, Roots of Development and the Smithsonian African Museum of Art. Top issue on your agenda? Strengthening Haiti’s economic relations with the U.S. — enticing more U.S. companies to come and do business in Haiti. @EmbassyOfHaiti

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SPECIAL FEATURE | %1&%77%(367 (-6)'836=

VIJAVAT ISARABHAKDI Thailand Something surprising Americans don’t know about your country? His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej is the world’s longestreigning monarch and the only monarch in the world to be born on the mainland of the U.S. in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Thailand is the first country in Asia that the U.S. signed a treaty with back in 1833. Thailand is also the only country in Southeast Asia never to have been colonized. Favorite vacation spot in your country? The seaside resort of Hua Hin about 120 miles from Bangkok. (Photo courtesy Embassy of Thailand) It is within two hours’ driving distance, has lovely beaches, excellent seafood, and is neither too quiet nor too bustling. Charity or cause closest to your heart? I am supportive of all causes involving children and the disabled.

Olexander Motsyk, Ukraine Yousef Al Otaiba, UAE SOUTH KOREA Ahn Ho-young Seon-Hwa Lee Ahn Embassy: 2450 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-939-5600 Residence: 4801 Glenbrough Ave., 20017 Ambassador: Spouse:

SOUTH SUDAN Dr. Akec Khoc Aciew Ajok Simon Ngong Ayom Embassy: 1015 31st. St. NW, Suite 300, 20007 Telephone: 202-293-7940 Ambassador: Spouse:

Washington social event you look forward to the most? The Embassy Open House because it’s an opportunity to visit other embassies and enjoy their cultures and cuisines.

Ramón Gil-Casares 2375 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, 20037 Telephone: 202-452-0100 Residence: 2350 Foxhall Rd. NW, 20007 Ambassador: Embassy:

How do you spend your free time? I love to travel and see new places and people. I also enjoy reading, classical music and watching all kinds of sports.

SRI LANKA Prasad Kariyawasam Kanthi Kariyawasam Embassy: 2148 Wyoming Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-483-4025 Residence: 2503 30th St. NW, 20008 Spouse:

Which American customs do you enjoy the most? Thanksgiving, for the spirit of family and giving.

Chargé d’affaires:

Elhafiz

Eisa Abdalla Adam Durria Adam Embassy: 2210 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-338-8565 Spouse:

SURINAME

SWITZERLAND Manuel Sager Christine Sager Embassy: 2900 Cathedral Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-745-7900 Residence: 2920 Cathedral Ave. NW, 20008 Ambassador:

Mounir Koudmani Abir Fahel Embassy: 2215 Wyoming Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-232-6313 Residence: 2833 McGill Terrace NW, 20008 Spouse:

Farhod Salim Marhabo Bilolova Embassy: 1005 New Hampshire Ave. NW, 20037 Telephone: 202-223-6090 Residence: 4629 2nd St. South, Arlington, VA 22204 Ambassador: Spouse:

TANZANIA

Subhas Chandra Mungra Spouse: Dharmkoemarie Mungra Embassy: 4301 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 460, 20008 Telephone: 202-244-7488 Residence: 7000 31st St. NW, 20015 Ambassador:

What causes, institutions, events, or galas held in the Washington area will you and the embassy be involved with in the coming year? Our embassy has long been involved with the Smithsonian Institution, Cultural Tourism DC and Destination DC, in jointly organizing events to promote the multicultural nature of Washington. In 2012, the Royal Thai Embassy helped organize the 25th Anniversary gala of the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery — the Smithsonian’s national museum of Asian art. Every year, we also organize a Thai film festival together with screenings from other Asian countries at the Smithsonian’s Freer Gallery to offer wider and exotic perspectives to Washingtonian film lovers.

Bjoern Olof Lyrvall K. Andersson Lyrvall Embassy: 2900 K St. NW, 20007 Telephone: 202-467-2600 Residence: 3900 Nebraska Ave. NW, 20016 Spouse:

TAJIKISTAN

SUDAN

What dish do you miss the most when you are away from home? Probably the large variety of Thai noodle dishes, such as noodles with braised beef.

SWEDEN Ambassador:

SYRIA

Favorite book/author?“ To Kill a Mockingbird” and Eugene O’Neill. What languages do you speak? In addition to English and my native Thai, I minored in German at university. I have also studied basic French and Spanish but never went very far with either language.

Embassy:

Chargé d’affaires:

Ambassador:

Your favorite saying or quote? “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

Phindile Ntshangase 1712 New Hampshire Ave. NW, 20009 Telephone: 202-234-5002 Spouse:

Spouse:

SPAIN Historical figure you most admire? I greatly admire King Chulalongkorn of Thailand (1853-1910) for his role in modernizing the country and instituting essential reforms, while leading the country to escape the clutches of colonialism.

Peter Westmacott, UK

Liberata Rutageruka Mulamula Spouse: George Stephen Mulamula Embassy: 1232 22nd St. NW, 20037 Telephone: 202-939-6125 Ambassador:

THAILAND SWAZILAND

Vijavat Isarabhakdi Wannipa Isarabhakdi Embassy: 1024 Wisconsin Ambassador:

Rev. Abednego Mandla Ntshangase Ambassador:

Spouse:

@ThaiEmbDC

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EDUARDO MORA Mexico

Carlos Pita Alvarez, Uruguay

Nguyen Quoc Cuong, Vietnam

Ave. NW, 20007 Telephone: 202-944-3600 Residence: 2145 Decatur Pl. NW, 20008

TOGO

Palan Mulonda, Zambia

2207 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-588-1500 Embassy:

TUVALU

Limbiye Edawe Kadangha Bariki Spouse: Essozimana Kadangha Bariki Embassy: 2208 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-234-4212 Residence: 1615 Crittenden St. NW, 20010 Ambassador:

Aunese Makoi Simati Sunema Pie Simati Embassy: 800 Second Ave., Suite 400D, New York, NY, 10017 Telephone: 212-490-0534 Ambassador: Spouse:

UGANDA Oliver Wonekha 5911 16th St. NW, 20011 Telephone: 202-726-7100 Residence: 4000 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20016 Ambassador: Embassy:

TONGA Mahe ‘Uli’uli Sandhurst Tupouniua Embassy and residence: 250 E. 51st St., New York, NY, 10022 Telephone: 917-369-1025 Ambassador:

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO Dr. Neil Parsan Lucia Mayers Parsan Embassy: 1708 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20036 Telephone: 202-467-6490 Residence: 7530 17th St. NW, 20012 Ambassador: Spouse:

UKRAINE Olexander Motsyk Spouse: Natalia Terletskaya Embassy: 3350 M St. NW, 20007 Telephone: 202-349-2920 Residence: 4744 Foxhall Crescent NW, 20007 Ambassador:

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Yousef Al Otaiba Abeer Al Otaiba Embassy: 3522 International Court NW, Suite 400, 20008 Telephone: 202-243-2400 Ambassador: Spouse:

TUNISIA Mohamed Ezzine Chelaifa Leila Zarrouck Chelaifa Embassy: 1515 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20005 Telephone: 202-862-1850 Residence: 5131 Broad Branch Rd. NW, 20008 Ambassador: Spouse:

TURKEY Serdar Kılıç 2525 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-612-6700 Residence: 1606 23rd St. NW, 20008 Ambassador:

UNITED KINGDOM Sir Peter Westmacott Lady Susan Westmacott Embassy: 3100 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-588-6500 Ambassador:

TURKMENISTAN Meret Bairamovich Orazov Spouse: Irina Borisovna Orazova

Something surprising Americans don’t know about your country? Mexican cuisine is much more sophisticated than (Photo courtesy what many people in the U.S. think. This Embassy of Mexico) might be changing, but it is still surprising to see how oversimplified Mexican food has been in the U.S. Being neighbors gives us both the impression that we know each other well but, in fact, we don’t. And food is not the only area in which there is a massive understatement of Mexico. Even tourism is misunderstood. Last year, Mexican tourists spent more money in the U.S. than American tourists did in Mexico. Favorite vacation spot in your country? Oaxaca because it is such a beautiful, well-rounded experience. It is a wonderful city, with a large indigenous population, amazing food and a deep culture. You can wander in its markets, colorful and surprising, drive to the outskirts to see some of the most impressive pre-Hispanic ruins in the world or, if you wish to venture farther away, take a rest on the beaches of the State of Oaxaca, still very private, white-sanded pieces of paradise. Favorite resort/hotel in your country? Camino Real Hotel in Oaxaca. Charity or cause closest to your heart? Education, without a doubt. I am passionate about education because it is the single most important opportunity you can give a person. It is also a priority for my government, my country and for the relationship between Mexico and the U.S. Historical figure you most admire? Mexican President Benito Juarez. He led our country through its consolidation as a republic and left an important legacy in the whole continent. His most famous phrase describes his relevance pretty well. “Among individuals, as among nations, respect for the rights of others is peace.” How do you like to spend your free time? I don’t have a lot of free time, I’m afraid, but when I do, spending it with my children is definitely a priority. Whether it is playing football with Tomas, having discussions about women’s rights with Camila or sharing ideas on a wide range of topics with Nicolas, they are all smart, stimulating and fun to be with. Favorite book/author? It’s difficult to choose only one. Let me mention some: “The Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint Exupery, “Galio’s War” by Hector Aguilar Camin and many books by Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Carlos Fuentes.

Spouse:

Embassy:

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Something surprising people don’t know about you? My interest in Akira Kurosawa and in particular, my love of the movie “Rashomon”

URUGUAY Carlos Pita Alvariza Mariella Mora Embassy: 1913 I St. NW, 20006 Telephone: 202-331-1313 Residence: 9001 Clewerwall Dr., Bethesda MD, 20817 Ambassador: Spouse:

Dish you miss the most when you are away from home? My mother’s pickled oysters were a delicacy that I missed until I learned to make them myself. I now make a large batch around Christmas time and give portions in jars to my friends. Also Mexican longaniza (chorizo), to eat with scrambled eggs in the morning and chicken or pork Chilorio style. Top issue on your agenda? My mission is to take steps to make our already very intense relationship flourish to its full potential. We need to establish a vision for the North American space for the next generation and I hope I can contribute to setting the stage for it. Simultaneously, I am always interested not only in the protection and consular assistance that our 50 consulates provide for the Mexican community in the U.S. but also in learning as much as I can from the Mexican community here and supporting their contributions to the U.S. in all areas of national life and development. @EmbamexEUA

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ANTOINE CHEDID

BJÖRN LYRVALL

Lebanon

Sweden Favorite vacation spot in your country? A town in the mountain called Faqra, where we ski in the winter and enjoy cool dry weather and hiking during the summer Charity or cause closest to your heart? St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

(Photo courtesy Lebanon Embassy)

Historical figure you most admire? Former French President Charles de Gaulle who fought to liberate his country.

Washington social event you look forward to the most every year? The reception hosted by President and Mrs. Obama at the White House for the chiefs of diplomatic missions.

Favorite book/author? “The Prophet” by Kahlil Gibran. Languages you speak? Arabic, English and French. Dish you miss the most when you are away from home? The famous Lebanese “tabouleh.”

UZBEKISTAN Bakhtiyar Turadjanovich Gulyamov Spouse: Nargiza Irkinovna Gulyamova Embassy and residence: 1746 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20036 Telephone: 202-887-5300 Ambassador:

VENEZUELA Charge d’affaires:

Maximilien

Sánchez Arveláiz 1099 30th St. NW, 20007 Telephone: 202-342-2214 Embassy:

VIETNAM Nguyen Quoc Cuong Spouse: Minh Ha Hoang Embassy: 1233 20th St. NW, Suite 400, 20036 Telephone: 202-861-0737 Ambassador:

YEMEN Chargé d’affaires:

Adel

Ali Ahmed Alsunaini Spouse: Antesar Ali Abodinya Embassy: 2319 Wyoming Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-965-4760 Residence: 4850 Glenbrook Rd. NW, 20016

ZAMBIA Palan Mulonda Mutinta Valerie Mululuma Mulonda Embassy: 2419 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 20008 Telephone: 202-265-9717 Ambassador: Spouse:

ZIMBABWE Richard Chibuwe Spouse: Eugenia Passmore Chibuwe Embassy: 1608 New Hampshire Ave. NW, 20009 Telephone: 202-332-7100 Residence: 7116 Helmsdale Rd., Bethesda, MD 20817 Chargé d’affaires:

(Photo courtesy Embassy of Sweden) Something surprising people don’t know about you? I’m a “Swedish Classic,” which means that I finished the 90k Vasa ski race, the 30k Lidingö cross country run, 300k Vättern bicycle race and 3k Vansbro swim in one year. Something surprising Americans don’t know about your country? Sweden is a world leader in music exports. Some of the world’s most successful producers are Swedes. And we’ve got some very good bands. Favorite vacation spot in your country? Our cottage in my home province of Dalarna — beautifully located on the shore of a lake with a tranquilizing effect. Moreover with an unusually poor cellular connectivity, so you can’t be online all the time during your vacation there. Favorite resort/hotel in your country? The Ice Hotel in Jukkasjärvi, north of the Polar Circle. An amazing creation, built from scratch every winter. What social event do you look forward to the most in Washington? The Nobel Gala Dinner for each year’s U.S. laureates, organized together with my Norwegian colleague at my residence. It is a wonderful mix of some of the best and the brightest of this great country. Favorite book/author? I spent many years in Russia, learning to love the Russian classics, including Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Chekhov and Gogol. Current work and life in Washington, D.C. do not really allow the time to dig into these masterpieces. What languages do you speak? Swedish, English and Russian. More passive French and German. What’s the top issue on your agenda? The issues set by President Obama’s visit to Stockholm last fall — TTIP, green technologies and sustainable solutions, innovation and major foreign policy issues — notably Russia/Ukraine. @SwedeninUSA

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DIRECTORY PHOTOS COURTESY FLICKR CREATIVE COMMONS, EMBASSIES AND FILE.

Favorite quote? “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” — Winston Churchill.