Envoys From Small Nations Join Forces To Increase Profile in Washington by Anna Gawel One lone voice in a sea of loud voices may not make much of a sound, but combine that voice with five others and you can have quite a piercing chorus. Thatís the premise behind an informal grouping of six ambassadors who recently banded together to join forces and boost the profile of their respective nations. What makes their story more interesting is the size of their nations: They are all smallóvery small. Washingtonís embassy circuit is grueling enough for any one ambassador, but when you represent a nation whose total population is dwarfed by that of most major U.S. cities, you must strive not only to put your country on the map, but teach those who may not even be able to point out your country on a map. This was the immediate challenge that confronted John Lowell when he assumed the U.S. ambassadorship of Malta, a tiny island nation wedged between Sicily and Tunisia known for its picturesque fishing villages and an ancient history that stretches back 7,000 years. Upon arriving in Washington earlier this year, Lowell had lunch with a fellow "small state" comrade, Ambassador Claudia Fritsche of Liechtenstein, whose nation of just 33,000 inhabitants is a thriving financial and banking hub as well as a popular tourist destination. The two discussed strategies for increasing public recognition of their countries, and Lowell came up with the notion to team up with other ambassadors who, as representatives of other small European nations, face many of the same hurdles and frustrations. So they joined the ambassadors of Cyprus, Iceland, Luxembourg and Slovenia to create an informal group that meets every month or so to discuss inventive ways to get their messages across to American audiences. Although the idea is not newódiplomats from similar nationalities often form organizations togetheróthese six envoys hope to add a personal touch to their events that will help their efforts stand apart from the crowd. Whether reciting poetry or participating in a question-and-answer session, each of these six ambassadors promise to be directly involved in whatever event they are hosting, and this close interaction with an ambassadoróas opposed to yet another expert speakeróis what they hope will draw in people and distinguish their events from the scores of other functions sponsored by Washingtonís embassies. Already, the group held a poetry reading this past summer at the Meridian International Center that attracted several hundred visitors. The successful turnout gave them the "courage to go on and work on something similar in the future," said Slovenian Ambassador Davorin Kracun. The ambassadors are now working to hold about four similar programs throughout the year. Unlike larger, more established diplomatic organizations, this group is an informal oneóthere isnít even an official name. The ambassadors simply meet for lunch whenever their hectic schedules allow, taking turns hosting the luncheons at each otherís residences. As Lowell explained, this intimate atmosphere also allows the ambassadors to connect on a more "casual, friendly" level. During one such gathering at the Slovenian ambassadorís residence in Bethesda, Md., the topics of conversation ran the gamut as possibilities for upcoming events were debated. The dynamic among these six ambassadorsóeach bonded by their "small nation" status but each with his or her own perspective and backgroundówas diplomatic but constructive. Among the issues discussed were tentative plans for a future exhibition at a Smithsonian venue and a possible symposium at the George Washington University, where each ambassador would give some brief highlights of his or her nation followed by a question-and-answer forum with the students. Icelandic Ambassador Helgi ¡g?stsson briefed his colleagues on the progress he made in contacting GWU President Stephen Joel Trachtenberg and Smithsonian officials. As ideas were floated around, the diplomats chimed in with their suggestions, raising concerns about how to keep their platform fresh, settling on specific timetables, and finalizing the many other logistical questions that arise when organizing any social event. After a while, the brainstorming session moved to the dining room, where a delicious feast of Slovenian wine and food was served. The casual luncheon also gave the ambassadors a chance to catch up on some friendly chitchat. The diplomats took turns comparing their different dining spaces and their nationsí consular offices, vented about some common diplomatic frustrationsóways to plan successful delegation visits, the hassles associated with post-9/11 security at area airports, and why Washington has no ambassadorial deans for each continentóin addition to sharing some personal anecdotes. Fritsche informed the group that her embassy would soon be hosting its first art exhibition (see December 2003 issue of The Washington Diplomat), while Luxembourg Ambassador Arlette Conzemius recounted the pleasant ceremony she was treated to when she presented her credentials to Mexico. Amid the light banter, the more serious task at hand was not forgotten. Lowell tossed out the possibility of hosting a handful of musicians from each country for a collective concert, an idea that was met with a warm reception. The conversation then steered back to the potential symposium at George Washington University and how to iron out such details as what topics should be covered, the length of everyoneís speech and whether or not to offer a reception afterward. Above all, the focus was on striking a careful balance between providing an informed, overall perspective of oneís nation while keeping with the groupís original theme of being a cultural organization and not a political one. These efforts are a clear reflection of how inventive todayís diplomacy must be to penetrate different audiences. And although each ambassador is working to achieve goals specific to his or her nation, a spirit of cooperation is a necessity in this competitive embassy arena. "I think that we probably could be an example of how a group of countries can cooperate," noted Fritsche. "And I know other regions do it too." All six envoys also agreed that the key to ensuring success with their endeavor will be to maintain a hands-on approach in stressing that, despite the size of their nations, each nevertheless has something to offer U.S. audiences. "Our countries are small but unique," said Achilleas Antoniades, deputy chief of mission of the Cypriot Embassy, who was sitting in for newly appointed Ambassador of Cyprus Euripides L. Evriviades. "By pooling our resources, we can bring out our [uniqueness] to American audiences in an interesting way." This sentiment was echoed by the Slovenian and Icelandic ambassadors. "That is Ö the message that we all together are giving to our friends and partners in the United States: That there is Europe, and there are also different countries within EuropeÖ. With our individuality, we are contributing to the cultural picture of European countries," explained Kracun. ¡g?stsson agreed with his Slovenian counterpart, adding, "Small countries see themselves as not only [having] the right to have their views, but also it comes with a duty to do so. And we think it is not the sizeóthe power is in the strength of our argument. Might is not always right." Anna Gawel is the managing editor of The Washington Diplomat.