Diplomatic Pouch Page 1 of 5

Lifestyle By Gail Scott The Washington Diplomat

September 28, 2006 The 28th Annual Ambassadors Ball

ADVERTISEMENTS For the last 28 years, the National Capital Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society has kicked off the fall diplomatic season with the Ambassador’s Ball, a thank you to Washington’s foreign diplomats for helping U.S. charities, including MS. GET A TASTE OF OLD !! This year’s black-tie event, again at the Grand Hyatt Washington, attracted the ambassadors who ANNUAL RUSSIAN were not at the opening ceremonies of the 61st session of the United Nations in New York, as well BAZAAR as the deputy chief of missions and ambassadors’ wives who missed the Manhattan festivities. Sept 30 – Oct 1, 2006 Washington, DC ’s Knut Vollebaek said he www.russianbazaar.org never thought of going to New York “when we have such a wonderful ambassador there, it’s DC Social Club for the not necessary.” But many top International Community: diplomats did go to New York and Chat, Profiles, On-line sent their DCMs to dance the night Fun, and Free for away. “This is a real opportunity,” Women! said Francisco Caraballo, minister- Voted #1 Site by the counselor of the Dominican USCA! Republic Embassy. “Our job is Learn More... usually more behind the scenes, but it’s great to get out and meet so many important people in Washington in just one night.”

Grenada’s Ambassador Denis G. Antoine, diplomatic dean of the Western Hemisphere, officially represented Washington’s diplomatic corps and caught everyone’s eye with his gorgeous guest: opera star Abiodun Koya, originally from Nigeria. Other ambassadors attending included Canada, the European Union, Ireland, , Mexico, New Zealand and Poland, along with diplomatic wives Nada Simonyi of Hungary, Cheryl Catarino of Portugal, Maria- Therese Lowell of Malta, and Jelica Vujacic of Serbia.

This was also the last ball for Jeanne Oates Angulo executive director of the local MS chapter for

http://www.washdiplomat.com/DPouch/2006/September/092806lifestyle.html 10/3/2006 Diplomatic Pouch Page 2 of 5

But it was the ambassador’s waltz” that got more than the usual attention. About-to-depart Icelandic Ambassador Helgi Ágústsson and his wife Heba—great dancers who originally met at a dance—led off the waltz. When other ambassadorial couples joined them, it was immediately obvious who would be the new dance duo to watch: Swiss Ambassador Urs Ziswiler and his wife Ronit, who glide with great style.

The three co-chairs of the 28th annual Ambassador’s Ball pose with their husbands, from left to right: Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-Ala.) and Linda Bachus, Annette Shelby and Sen. Richard C. Shelby (D-Ala.), and Nancy Kanjorski and Rep. Paul E. Kanjorski (D-Penn.).

Front page: Chief Washington Correspondent for MSNBC Norah O’Donnell, left, and Ambassador of Grenada Denis G. Antoine attend the Ambassador’s Ball.

photos: National Multiple Sclerosis Society

Central America Celebrates 185 Years of Independence

In celebration of the 185th anniversary of their independence, five Central American countries hosted an official celebration at the Organization of American States (OAS) on Sept. 15. Ambassadors from Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua entertained guests with traditional food and a Latino band. Booths from each country also displayed national arts and crafts, cuisine and other specialties.

Costa Rican Ambassador to the OAS Javier Sancho Bonilla spoke on behalf of the Central American ambassadors, addressing key issues that face the region. “Central America has an agenda to promote and strengthen democracy… to promote sustainable development, to promote the protection of human rights,” he said. “We live with democracy, liberty … against terrorism. The future started yesterday.”

From left, Honduran Ambassador Roberto Flores Bermudez, Costa Rican Ambassador F. Tomas Dueñas, Salvadoran Ambassador René A De Léon, Nicaraguan Ambassador Salvador

http://www.washdiplomat.com/DPouch/2006/September/092806lifestyle.html 10/3/2006 Diplomatic Pouch Page 3 of 5

honor of the 185th anniversary of Central American independence at the Organization of American States.

The Danes Sail Onto Wolf Trap Stage

Denmark gracefully sailed onto the stage of Wolf Trap’s Filene Center to host the 2006 Wolf Trap Ball in support of educational programs at the only national park for the performing arts in the country. Setting the mood were giant furled sails with the royal Danish emblem, images of Copenhagen with its bikes and colorful cafés, as well as a twinkling Tivoli stage.

Danish Ambassador Friis Arne Petersen and his wife Brigitte proudly enjoyed the attention for their country. To begin the program, the Tivoli Boy’s Guard Parade marched around the mammoth stage in handsome red outfits.

The theme of “Sailing ” provided the Danish Ambassador an opportunity to remind the 1,200 people in attendance about Denmark’s long and proud history as a seafaring nation. The ambassador went on to note how over time, Denmark’s sailing abilities had been complemented by skill at building bridges. “And we have made some really nice ones, but none of our bridges match the one we celebrate tonight—the bridge across the Atlantic,” he said.

“Although not set in concrete, metal or steel, our relationship with the can best be described as a bridge—a bridge built on shared core values. A bridge transcending distance. A bridge bringing people together. A bridge allowing us to address such common challenges as the threats to our security, the promotion of freedom and democracy, or making sure that our children are well prepared for global competition.

“With no more than 5.5 million people and a landmass about a third of Virginia’s, we are no super power,” said Ambassador Petersen. “But our size has never limited our ambitions. In the words of one of our more humorous national poets, Piet Hein: ‘Denmark seen from a foreign land looks but like a grain of sand Denmark as we Danes conceive it is so big you won’t believe it ’”

http://www.washdiplomat.com/DPouch/2006/September/092806lifestyle.html 10/3/2006 Diplomatic Pouch Page 4 of 5

Ambassador of Denmark and Mrs. Friis Arne Petersen pose with a member of the Tivoli Boy’s Guard Parade at the 2006 Wolf Trap Ball.

India’s Ethereal Musician

In a rare and extraordinary private recital, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, India’s foremost santoor artist, gave the guests of Indian Ambassador Ronen Sen and his wife Kalpana an unforgettable experience on Sept. 13 at the Indian residence.

“My concerts usually last three to four hours, sometimes all night, but tonight the ambassador has asked me to give you an idea of what can be done on this 100- string instrument,” this world-class musician explained.

The santoor is a folk instrument from the valley of Kashmir and is the oldest-known string instrument of India. Presumably, the itinerant musicians and gypsies carried this instrument in their wanderings across the continents of Asia and Europe, giving rise to a variety of string instruments that are similar in nature but not all featuring 100 strings. Some call it the hammered dulcimer. In it is the Yang-Oin; the German version Hackbrett has 135 strings; and the Cimbalon of Hungary and looks more like a piano, but instead of a keyboard, large wooden pieces are used on the strings.

At the urging of his father, Shivkumar Sharma first presented the santoor on the classical stage in Bombay in 1955. He was only 17 then. Today, because of this one musician, the santoor is one of the most beloved classical Indian instruments of all time.

From left, santoor artist Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, Indian Ambassador and Mrs. Ronen Sen attend a santoor concert at the Indian residence.

New Chilean Ambassador Celebrates National Day

On Sept. 18, the new Chilean Ambassador Mariano Fernández and his wife María Angélica

http://www.washdiplomat.com/DPouch/2006/September/092806lifestyle.html 10/3/2006 Diplomatic Pouch Page 5 of 5

this was because it was the first big party for the ambassador here, or you could say that everyone was just catching up after a long summer break. Or maybe everyone just felt at home, enjoying the pisco sours.

Ambassador Fernández most recently served as ambassador to the and before that Spain, Italy and the European Community, as well as vice minister of foreign affairs from 1994 to 2000. In addition, he was a researcher and member of the executive committee of the Centre of Studies for Development from 1982 to 1990.

After joining the Chilean Foreign Service in 1967 and serving as third secretary at the Chilean Embassy in , Ambassador Fernández went into exile in Germany from 1974 until 1982, during which time he was chief editor of two German news agencies. He was also later an editorial board member of several Chilean newspapers and magazines. He holds a law degree from the Catholic University of Santiago and he and his wife have three children.

From left, Ambassador of Norway Knut Vollebaek, Ambassador of Malta John Lowell and Ambassador of Portugal Pedro Catarino talk with one another at the Chilean National Day reception.

Front page: Mrs. and newly appointed Ambassador of Chile Mariano Fernández attend the Chilean National Day reception.

SPONSOR

THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT P.O. Box 1345 Wheaton, MD 20915-1345 Tel 301.933.3552 Fax 301.949.0065 www.washingtondiplomat.com

http://www.washdiplomat.com/DPouch/2006/September/092806lifestyle.html 10/3/2006