Ambassador of the European Commission Delegation to the United States G¸nter Burghardt EU Expansion Ushers In New Europe by Larry Luxner When it comes to upcoming anniversaries, G¸nter Burghardt certainly has a full plate. For starters, this month marks the 50th anniversary of the European Commission office in Washington. On June 6, millions of people on both sides of the Atlantic will observe the 60th anniversary of D-Day during World War II. And on June 25, President Bush will head to Ireland for a two-day U.S.-European Union summit meeting. But all of these pale in comparison to May 1, when 10 nations join the European Union as full-fledged members. These include eight Central and Eastern European countries (Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia) and two Mediterranean island states (Cyprus and Malta). more... John F. Kennedy School of Government Dean Joseph S. Nye Jr. Harvard Dean Advocates Soft Power in Hard World by John Shaw Joseph S. Nye Jr., dean of the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, argues that U.S. leaders should think deeply about the concept of soft power as they decide how America will interact with the rest of the world. more.... Profiles of 15 Power Brokers Who Shape Foreign Policy In House of Representatives by John Shaw In his memoirs about his tenure as Canadaís ambassador in Washington, Allan Gotlieb said he was stunned to learn how important Congress is in establishing Americaís foreign policy. Failure to appreciate this central reality of the U.S. government threatens to weaken the effectiveness of any ambassador in Washington. < a href="a3_05_04.html">more.... Kuwait Ambassadorís Wife Dispels Misconceptions About Arab Women, Country by Gail Scott Rima Al-Sabah, wife of the Kuwaiti ambassador, says she is determined to "strengthen ties between Kuwait and the U.S., and to dispel any misconceptions about Arab women in general and Kuwaiti women in particular." more.... Architecture Expert Offers Views on Embassy Security by Larry Luxner When it comes to embassies and their role in U.S. foreign policy, Jane Loeffler literally wrote the book on the subject. more....

Culture Section Check out the arts section for the latest in museum exhibits, dance, theater and much more. Reader Survey Win a FREE Washington Diplomat polo shirt or t-shirt See May 2004 Diplomatic Living Insert European Expansion Brings Huge Advantages, But Transition Difficult for New Member Nations by Sean OíDriscoll There are changes to the front gardens of 10 Washington embassies this month. Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia have hoisted European Union flags alongside their national flags after a decade-long struggle to join what many believe will become the worldís next superpower. more.... See Also: Calendar of Eureopean Union-Related Events for May Representative of Taiwan Chen Says Nationís Success Continues Despite Election Foibles by Michael Coleman Despite the recent turmoil over Taiwan's presidential election, the country's top diplomat in the United States, Chien-Jen Chen, remains optimistic that his country will emerge stronger from the messy ordeal. "It has posed a challenge to our society and also presented an opportunity for it to learn and to grow." more.... Fatal Beauty: Before Cosmetic Surgery, Patients Should Do Their Homework by Gina Shaw ìRealityî shows such as ìThe Swan" make cosmetic surgery seem like just a really expensive day at the spa. But as more and more of us decide to take the ìmakeoverî concept to the next level, itís important to remember that getting liposuction, a chin lift or even a simple Botox injection doesnít come without risks. more....