Toasting Liechtenstein’s 200 Years With the Prince’s Own Wine Using “creative diplomacy” to celebrate the her country’s 200 years of sovereignty, Liechtenstein Ambassador Claudia Fritsche took the opportunity to introduce her country’s newly available fine wines following a sold-out Embassy Series concert by Liechtenstein pianist Jürg Hanselmann. During the Meridian International Center reception, four different wines from the Liechtenstein dynasty were served: the 2005 Schloss Wilfersdorf Grüner Veltliner DAC; 2005 Clos Domaine Riesling; 2003 Veramo Merlot/Zweigelt; and the 2004 Clos Domaine Zweigelt. These four wines are being introduced to the Washington area through specialty grocery stores. The princely House of Liechtenstein is one of the oldest, still-existing noble families and boasts a centuries-long tradition and knowledge of winemaking. In 1436, Christoph von Liechtenstein inherited the estate of Wilfersdorf with vineyards in Herrnbaumgarten, located in northeastern Austria not far from Vienna. According to Ambassador Fritsche, it is the warm, dry summers that “produce powerful and expressive wines, and the cold winters which reduce the quantity of the grape yield, giving us the highest quality.” Along with this climate and the tradition of fine winemaking, modern vintner technology has made the Court-Winery of the Prince of Liechtenstein renowned for its outstanding, rich and superb wines. At the 10th International Wine Awards in 2001, seven wines from the Wilfersdorf Court Winery were qualified as “very good” or “outstanding.” In the February 2001Wine Spectator, the Clos Domaine Zweigelt 1999 received the best results of all Zweigelt varieties and its blends. Just so you are not confused, the wine is produced in Wilfersdorf, Austria. The “Liechtenstein” name on the front refers to the name of the ruling family of the Principality of Liechtenstein who has been running the vineyard for 570 years. Headed by Prince Hans-Adam II of Liechtenstein, these sophisticated wines of the Court-Winery are now being exported. The princely House of Liechtenstein is one of the oldest, still-existing noble families and boasts a centuries-long tradition and knowledge of winemaking. Arab League Ambassador Elected To U.N. International Law Commission Hussein Hassouna, the ambassador of the League of Arab States to the United States, was elected by the U.N. General Assembly to be a member of the world body’s International Law Commission by an overwhelming majority of 153 votes out of 187 U.N. voting members—the highest number of votes among all Arab and African candidates. The International Law Commission, composed of 34 highly qualified experts in the field of international law, was established by the General Assembly in 1947 for the promotion of the progressive development of international law. The commission meets every summer in Geneva and prepares written drafts that are to the General Assembly for adoption. An Egyptian by birth, Ambassador Hassouna has a distinguished diplomatic career in his country’s Foreign Service, having served in the United Nations, Morocco and Yugoslavia. With a solid legal and academic background, he has also assumed important diplomatic and legal responsibilities, including assistant foreign minister and legal advisor to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry. Hassouna, currently on the board of a number of international law organizations, said, “I strongly believe that respect for international law and its implementation by all nations is the best guarantee for a peaceful, secure and just world.” Arab League Ambassador Hussein Hassouna, a newly elected member of the U.N. International Law Commission, says, “I strongly believe that respect for international law and its implementation by all nations is the best guarantee for a peaceful, secure and just world.” Farewells Continue for Favorite Ambassadors More than 40 ambassadors arrived to give their farewells to Portuguese Ambassador Pedro Catarino and his cheerful wife Cheryl, who left their Kalorama residence on Dec. 5. But expect to see them this June at the Freer Gallery of Art’s long-awaited exhibit, “Encompassing the Globe: Portugal and the World in the 16th and 17th Centuries.” During his last official posting here, Ambassador Catarino opened Portugal’s new chancery at 2012 Massachusetts Ave., NW. When he returns home, he will leave Portugal’s Foreign Service and said he will be “following the money on state projects within Portugal.” Former Cypriot Ambassador Euripides Evriviades, or “Rip” to his close friends, and his delightful wife Anastasia not only had the most diplomatic farewell events (20) but the longest-running as well. At their own farewell, four U.S. Cabinet members, dozens of Capitol Hill headliners and as many ambassadors poured into their Kalorama Residence on Nov. 1 and stayed until 1:30 in the morning. The ambassador, who was an exchange student here in Butler, Pa., said he loved being back on American soil for his posting, during which time he was also well known for riding his Harley motorcycle throughout his Kalorama neighborhood on his way to and from the Shenandoah, Va. “On weekend mornings, he would always come by, make a lot of noise in our driveway, beg me to ride along and, when I said no, then roar down the street,” said Greek Ambassador Alexandros Mallias. Another popular diplomatic couple, Jordan’s Karim and Luma Kawar, had probably the most flashy farewells, all carefully timed for the last week of each month when Luma was back in Washington. Their three children are already in school in Jordan, but this couple will be back in 2007 to coordinate their new foundation fostering American volunteerism in Jordan. Also, Iceland’s Heba and Helgi Agustsson promise to drop by Washington to see old friends when they visit their son and his family in Atlanta. Before Christmas, Belgium’s Baron and Baroness Van Daele leave their idyllic Foxhall Residence “Marly” after four years here. Ambassador Franciskus van Daele will become Belgium’s permanent representative to NATO. But it is Lebanon’s ambassador, Farid Abboud, and his wife Rim who enjoyed one of the coziest and heart-warming farewells at the George Town Club. The guest list, menu and surroundings were impressive. But otherwise, this close-knit group of friends and neighbors made you feel like you were at an intimate potluck. Lynda and Davis Camalier threw the party for their neighbors, the Abbouds, but this deep friendship actually began with the Camaliers’ three little boys, who used to sled in the wintertime by the Abbouds’ residence. Seven years later, everyone is best buddies and this tight McGill Terrace neighborhood group is already planning a cruise to Tunisia, Ambassador Abboud’s next posting. By the way, the ambassador leaves at year’s end but Rim remains with Philip, their St. Alban’s sixth-grader who will stay until he graduates next spring. The three Camalier boys were also on hand to help out at the Abbouds’ more formal farewell at their residence on Dec. 5, which was attended by the ambassadors of Afghanistan, Britain, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and many others. From left back row, outgoing Ambassador of Lebanon Farid Abboud, his neighbor Davis Camalier, Rim Abboud, Philip Abboud and Lynda Camalier stand with the Camaliers’ two sons (front from left), Colby and Davis Jr. On the front page: From left, outgoing Ambassador of Cyprus Euripides L. Evriviades, and Mrs. and Ambassador of Finland Pekka Lintu attend a farewell reception for Ambassador Evriviades at the Cypriot Embassy. Rangila: Hot Ticket at Georgetown University For the 12th year in a row, the Georgetown University South Asian Society hosted Rangila, a completely student-run cultural and benefit show. Rangila, a Hindi word meaning “celebration of colors,” has become one of the most anticipated and highly attended events at Georgetown University each year. Students waited for hours to buy the 1,500 tickets, which were sold out in one hour. The Gaston Hall production also raised nearly $15,000. Although originally conceived only as a South Asian cultural showcase, Rangila has grown to become a highly entertaining, educational show of ethnic awareness on the hilltop campus, this year attracting the attention of Georgetown President John DeGioia, who was in attendance for the first time. In addition to colorful and energetic dances, students read original poetry and skits, providing a forum for all participants (the majority of which are not South Asian) to critically consider their identities and share their dilemmas. Thus, the evening has also become a consciousness-raising event for the 300 students directly involved and their over-flowing audience. Rangila benefits the Asha Kendra Hope Center (AKHC), a vocational training institute in Jaipur, India. All proceeds from the show go to AKHC, which is exclusively funded by the South Asian Society. Nisha Desai, AKHC chair and a Georgetown junior, will travel to New Delhi this spring as an “ambassador” from this prestigious university’s South Asian Society. “While Georgetown students are, of course, attracted to the vibrant colors and the stirring beats of the music, and are inevitably dazzled by their peers’ hidden talents,” said SAS President Maheen Kaleem, a senior in Georgetown’s famed School of Foreign Service, “Rangila is also significant because we are extremely representative of everything Georgetown stands for—giving back to the world at large and in this case, those in South Asia less fortunate than ourselves … while also educating both the audience and participants about South Asia’s low standard of living. Every year it is both a tradition and an innovation.” For more information on the Asha Kendra Hope Center and how to donate, please contact Nisha Desai at nhd2@georgetown.edu. From left, Naoko Miyamoto, Megan Bolin and Christine Wright perform at the popular Rangila benefit show at Georgetown University. On the front page: Choreographer Ranjan Subramanian, left, and performer Josh Wei were featured during the Rangila benefit show at Georgetown University. SPONSOR THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT P.O. Box 1345 Wheaton, MD 20915-1345 Tel: 301.933.3552 • Fax: 301.949.0065 www.washdiplomat.com