DIPLOMATIC DANCE

BY GAIL SCOTT

Popular ambassadors say goodbye, fashion without borders and rum and cigars - a Dominican treat

The Gypsy Life of Diplomacy When ambassadors arrive in Washington, everyone knows they must one day leave. For the good ones, their departure is always too soon and by this New Year's Eve many favorites will be gone.
Jordan's Karim and Luma Kawar have been feted all fall and those parties are featured in this issue along with the Ambassador's thoughts on how he and Luma plan to export American volunteerism to Jordan. Iceland's Heba and Helgi Agustsson left even before Halloween trick-or-treaters could knock on their door.
"Rip," as close friends call Cypriot Amb. Euripides Evriviades, and his delightful wife "Nasia" (Anastasia), are so beloved that they had no less than 19 farewell events, including their own to which four cabinet members, dozens of Hill headliners and as many ambassadors poured into their Kalorama Residence on November 1st and stayed until 1:30 a.m.! This sentimental diplomat also traveled home with Rep. Phil English, where Rip was high school student body president in Butler, Pa. Then the Ambassador, an avid motorcyclist, took one last spin through Shenandoah before shipping his favorite "Hog" home.
Portugal's Pedro and Cheryl Catarino leave American soil on December 5 but hope to return this coming June with Portugal's leaders for the Freer Gallery's splashy Portuguese extravaganza, Encompassing the Globe. This cheery ambassador opened Portugal's new chancery at 2012 Mass. Ave. N.W., and at home in his new position will be "following the money on state projects within Portugal."
Before Christmas, Belgium's Baron Frans van Daele and Baroness (Christiane) Van Daele leave their idyllic Foxhall residence "Marly" after 4 1/2 years here. He will be Belgium's permanent representative to NATO.
Lebanon's turbulent autumn kept Lebanese Amb. Farid Abboud and his wife Rim wondering when to pack. Now they know they're off to Tunisia, another country with beautiful Mediterranean beaches. The ambassador leaves at year's end but Rim will remain with their St. Alban's sixth-grader Philip who graduates next spring.

Do You Know Embassy Row?
· While the Cypriot Ambassador collects and rides Harleys (over 35 miniature replicas and two big "Hogs", 1996 Heritage Special in Cyprus and Road King Classic 100th Anniversary Edition here) other ambassadors have unusual hobbies.
· Jordan's Karim Kawar's karaoke equipment is tucked away safely on a container ship headed home.
· Guatemala's Jose Guillermo Castillo prefers being "behind" the camera, capturing the breathtaking beauty of the American West.
· Finland's Pekka Lintu's rhyming translation (from French to Finnish) of Cyrano de Bergerac took over three years but won great acclaim when produced

Small Countries, Big Ideas When Maltese Ambassador John Lowell arrived almost four years ago, he and Liechtenstein's Claudia Fritsche created "Small Countries Poetry Reading" to help promote their countries despite relatively small budgets. This year's third annual event welcomed 300 guests to the Library of Congress at the invitation of Librarian James Billington. Malta, Liechtenstein, Iceland, Cyprus, Slovenia and Luxembourg were joined by Bahrain and Austria - "Not a small country but she insisted," Lowell said of Austrian Ambassador Eva Nowotny's plea to participate. Each of the eight ambassadors had ten minutes to showcase their country with a short film and read poetry from their homelands, first in English and then again in their native languages. Since this was Lowell's last Poetry Reading (he leaves in March), he read two poems written by his grandfather Sir Arturo Mercieca, a Maltese chief justice. One of the most charming diplomatic events I've ever attended," Esther Coopersmith said.

Commercial Diplomacy You Can Enjoy Dominican Ambassador Flavio Espinal and his wife Minerva shared their world famous cigars and rum at a fiesta with ambassadors from Cyprus, Nicaragua, Chile, Afghanistan, Panama, Costa Rica and Argentina. "We have the best cigars and finest rum in the world," Espinal noted. "I want everyone to know it!" Protocol Chief Donald Ensenat, his well-dressed wife Taylor, Citizenship and Immigration Director Emilio Gonzalez, Washington's own Mark Russell and 200 other guests enjoyed Procigars and Brugal Rum.

Fashion Has No Boundaries Long before "commercial diplomacy," ambassadors' wives were wearing their favorite designers from back home and holding fashion shows. Today, everyone has a bigger runway. Marie-Cécile Levitte proudly wears French couture, and hosted an unforgettable Hermés event last spring and a posh Chanel luncheon just recently. Lately, designers are younger, lesser known. Italy's fashionable Lila Castellaneta invited favorite designer Michele Miglionico to Villa Firenze for an October fashion tea just before his Saks Fifth Avenue trunk show. Greek Ambassador Alexandros Mallias and his wife François sat front-and-center during the embassy's impressive runway show by Greek designer Vlassis Holevas. Colombia's beautifully dressed Carolina Barco has brought her designers here. Designer Nancy Gonzalez's collectible handbags are lovingly made by Colombian artisans. Colombia, along with Smithsonian's Latino Center and Fashion Fights Poverty, feted Smithsonian Young Benefactors with hot Colombian fashions and cuisine. María Luisa Ortiz, who has gained recognition in France, Italy, and throughout Latin America, and Washington's own Colombian jewelry designer Paula Mendoza presented their fall collections to their equally hip and enthusiastic audience.

Liechtenstein Amb. Claudia Fritsche and Maltese Amb. John Lowell at the "Small Countries Poetry Reading" at the Library of Congress	Dominican Republic Amb. Flavio Espinal and Chilean Amb. Mariano Fernandez at the Dominican cigar and rum event

Italian designer Michele Miglionico (second from right) with models wearing his designs	Françoise Mallias, wife of the Greek ambassador, with Greek fashion designer Vlassis Holevas

Colombian designer Maria Luisa Ortiz (Center) with models in her fashions and Paula Mendoza's jewelry	Norway's Christmas tree last winter in Union Station

Cypriot Amb. Euripides Evriviades

Diplomatic Dish To get us in the mood for Norway's 10th Annual Union Station month-long Christmas Celebration, we asked Ellen Vollebaek, wife of Norwegian Amb. Knut Vollebaek, to share her favorite Norwegian cookie recipe which she has used each holiday whether they were posted in Zimbabwe, New Delhi, Madrid or Washington. SANDKAKER - ALMOND COOKIES Need two-inch fluted tins (like shallow cupcake tins) 1 cup shortening 1 cup sugar 1 egg 1 tsp almond flavoring or ground almonds 2 1/2 cups flour Cream together shortening, sugar, egg. Add almond flavoring, then flour. Chill dough overnight. Pat into fluted tins in a thin layer, trimming off excess at top. Put tins on baking sheet and bake at 350° for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool and remove from tins. Cookies can be eaten plain or filled with whipped cream, fruit or pudding. The 10th Anniversary Norwegian Christmas at Union Station will run throughout December. For more information visit www.norway.org/xmas.