UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE April 1998 StateStateMagazine People:People: TheThe FoundationFoundation ofof ForeignForeign PolicyPolicy Coming in May: Bureau of Inter-American Affairs State Magazine (ISSN 0278–1859) is published monthly, except bimonthly in July and August, by the U.S. Department of State, 2201 C St., N.W., Washington, DC Periodicals postage paid at Washington, DC State POSTMASTER: Send change of addresses to State Magazine, Magazine PER/ER/SMG, SA-6, Room 433, Washington, DC 20522-0602. State Carl Goodman Magazine is published to facilitate communication between manage- ment and employees at home and abroad and to acquaint employees EDITOR-IN-CHIEF with developments that may affect operations or personnel. Donna Miles State Magazine is also available to the public for a fee through the DEPUTY EDITOR Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Kathleen Goldynia Washington, DC 20402 (telephone [202] 512–1800) and online at: www.state.gov/www/publications/statemag/ DESIGNER The magazine welcomes State-related news and features. Informal articles work best, accompanied by photographs. The magazine is unable ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS to acknowledge every submission or make a commitment regarding which Kenneth Hunter issue it will appear in. Every attempt will be made to return photographs upon request. Please include your telephone number or a way to be reached. CHAIRMAN Articles should not exceed five typewritten, double-spaced Sylvia Bazala pages. They should also be free of acronyms (with all office names, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY agencies and organizations spelled out). Photos should include Kaye Boesel typed captions identifying persons from left to right with job titles. Catherine Brown Please submit material on Apple Macintosh or IBM PC-compatible disks, including a hard copy. Articles may also be e-mailed or faxed to Colleen Hope (703) 812–2475. Faxed material must be typed on 14 point or larger fonts. The Larry Mandel mailing address is State Magazine, PER/ER/SMG, SA–6, Room 433, Jeffrey Meer Washington, DC 20522–0602. Contributions may also be left in Room Gary Pergl 3811, Main State. The magazine’s main number is (703) 516–1667. Deadline for copy is the 15th of each month. StateState Magazine April 1998 Contents No. 413 Department of State • United States of America COLUMNS 5 Safeguarding Information Department leaders use a town hall meeting to stress that 2 From the Secretary security is everyone’s responsibility. 4 Direct From the D.G. 10 Bureau of the Month: Personnel 9 Safety Scene The Bureau is in the People Business. I Foreign Service 26 State of the Arts I Civil Service I Locally Employed Staff 28 Ask Dr. Dumont I Retirement 36 Library Report 16 Retired Foreign Service Nationals Recognized Retirees in Addis Ababa share font-line stories. 18 Post of the Month: Singapore DEPARTMENTS I A Port With Bustle and Charm 3 Letters to the Editor I For Whom Does the Bell Toll? I USIS Singapore 5 In the News 25 Distance Learning 6 Appointments Computer-based training takes the distance out of learning. 29 Obituaries 34 Marketing Yourself 30 Personnel Actions The Career Development Resource Center offers tips for creating a one-page profile. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE April 1998 Street scene in Singapore. StateMagazine People: The Foundation of Foreign Policy On the Cover New State employees take their oath of office. FROM THE SECRETARY Building Partnerships n the past two months, I have testified before Congress seven times. No part of our work at the State Department, or my job as Secretary, is more impor- tant than making sure we have the resources we need here at home to pro- mote our interests around the world. It’s a lot of work for everyone involved, but in our democracy, no foreign policy that lacks popular under- Istanding and support will be successful for very long. Going before Congress is certainly not the only way to talk with the American people about what we are doing and why, but it is one very important way. Building strong partnerships with the Hill is also the best way to “In our democracy, make sure that our foreign policy gets done right, and that the mes- sages our two branches of government send the world are comple- no foreign policy that mentary—or at least not contradictory. My appearances this year have focused on the need for fully fund- lacks popular under- ing our request for international programs, known in the budgeting standing and support process as Function 150; our special requests for programming in places such as the former Soviet Union, Bosnia and Haiti; the impor- will be successful for tance of our contribution to the International Monetary Fund in the context of East Asia’s financial crisis; the urgent problem of paying very long.” our U.N. arrears; and the historic process of approving our plans for NATO enlargement. I have gotten a lot of tough questions: on our policy toward Iraq; on the prog- nosis for democracy and peace in rough neighborhoods such as Haiti, the Great Lakes region of Africa, and the Middle East; on our long-term security vision for Europe; and on the character and conduct of our diplomats overseas. On this last point, I will tell you the same thing I told several Congressional committees: that Americans can be proud of the people—whether Foreign Service, Civil Service or Foreign Service Nationals—who work every day, often under very difficult con- ditions, to protect our citizens and our interests around the world. You are great. I also said that if we are to maintain the high standards of diplomatic represen- tation we need, we must have Congressional support. The picture is far from bleak. Our funding is up this year for the first time in several years, and we have been able to begin a long-delayed program of mod- ernizing equipment, refurbishing facilities and hiring more personnel. We can be sure that Americans are still interested in, and supportive of, what we do. But we are not out of the woods: Budget surplus or no, we live in financially strin- gent times. And we face uphill battles on some of our highest priorities. But I am here because I believe those battles are winnable—and those priorities worth fighting for. And I am cheered to know that I am surrounded by colleagues who feel the same. Madeleine Albright Secretary of State 2 State Magazine LETTERS TO THE EDITOR A Penny for Peace On Recognizing Retirees This could be an optional event. I suspect any number of us would Dear Editor: Dear Editor: appreciate some short ceremony with our family and a small number The Washington Post’s lead story The January 1998 letter, headlined of friends. Most retirees might even on the Clinton Administration’s “Thanks but No thanks,” by former be willing to attend and even pay for 1999 budget proposal (“Balanced Ambassador Roger G. Harrison, light refreshments for themselves Budget in 30 Years Offered by sounds like vintage sour grapes. and their guests. After all, it would Clinton,” Feb. 3) was accompanied There’s nothing wrong with my by a visual aid (a sliced dollar bill) retirement plaque—something none be the last chance to go out of pock- illustrating how each tax dollar is of my neighbors or relatives has. et for the Department. spent. Under the 17 percent of the I toiled for years in windowless Paul Tyson budget listed as discretionary communications centers, responded Foreign Service Retiree spending, the Post gave two exam- to hundreds of useless call-ins after Fairfax, Va. ples: education and foreign affairs. hours, lugged heavy pouches True, both are part of the 17 cents we through embassy basements and, all pay in discretionary spending every along, kept smiling. A colleague Dear Editor: time a tax dollar is disbursed. But once remarked, in jest, that if I kept When I retired in late 1993, singling out those two budget items up the good work, I would some day Secretary Christopher attended and may perpetuate the misimpression get exactly what I deserved. spoke. We each got a signed letter that we spend a major part of our I must have done something right from him in addition to a plaque. We budget on foreign aid. We don’t. because I received my retirement each got an individual photo of him How many of those 17 discre- plaque in 1995 with some 100 shaking our hand as our names and tionary pennies go to international friends looking on in the Depart- affairs? Just one. The other 16 go to ment’s seventh-floor Treaty Room. highlights of our career were being domestic programs. And even that A Defense Department representa- read. There was a group of military one penny is not all for foreign aid. tive came to present me with a musicians. There was wine and We also use that penny to pay for all “thank you” plaque as well. cheese. And a good time and a good the U.S. embassies and consulates My retirement plaque is like the feeling were had by all. abroad that help our exporters and military uniform I once wore. I I remember Tony Quainton, later travelers, maintain our links with wouldn’t give a dollar for another to become director general, congrat- foreign governments and peoples, one, but I wouldn’t sell the one I ulating me for my efforts in getting a and promote our goods and values. have for $1 million. first-class ceremony for retirees. I We spend it to make the world safer would imagine Tony continued the and more prosperous.