At Home with ‘W’ and Enzo President George W. Bush has always been known to be extremely loyal to his friends. And in front of an international diplomatic audience last Wednesday night at Blair House, he and Laura Bush celebrated his friendship with his departing U.S. Chief of Protocol Donald Ensenat and his wife Taylor. “Enzo studied hard and got A’s and you know how I did,” the president said of his old Yale classmate, “but, look who’s president.” The crowd roared. Before beginning his remarks, President Bush casually clicked two wine glasses together to get everyone’s attention, as if he were at a family reunion. He hugged and shook hands with dozens of ambassadors and their wives. The lucky ones got a picture with him and begged this photographer for a copy. For many, it was the closest they will ever be to the president of the United States and many took the opportunity to catch his ear. Often ambassadors only get the chance to talk with the president briefly during their credentialing ceremony and never again. “I was flabbergasted,” said Ensenat when asked what he thought of the president’s hour-long visit. “He walked over and back from the White House and stayed so long. I never expected that.” Just before leaving with the first lady for a quiet dinner at home—“Laura is cooking tonight,” Bush noted—the president concluded, “Enzo and Taylor and Laura and I have been friends before all this, we have been friends during my presidency, and we will be friends long afterward.” The Ensenats, who reside primarily in New Orleans, also have a ranch five miles from the Bush’s ranch in Texas. From left, Taylor and outgoing U.S. Chief of Protocol Donald Ensenat are greeted by first lady Laura Bush and President Bush during Ensenat’s farewell reception. Germany Celebrating EU Presidency German Ambassador Klaus Scharioth and his wife Dr. Ulrike Scharioth celebrated Germany’s rotating six-month presidency of the European Union with a string concert by the famed Artemis Quartet and a luscious dinner by embassy executive chef Benoit Teisseire for their close American contacts and important diplomatic friends. “We mark Germany’s presidency of the EU with Brahms and Beethoven,” the ambassador said. “And our close relationship with the United States.” Although the Berlin-based quartet has been called “the premier quartet of the new generation of Europe” by the Washington Post, Ambassador Scharioth said this musical group’s reputation has grown well beyond Europe. New ambassadors from Belgium, Portugal and Cyprus were among the guests, along with the ambassadors of Great Britain, Cyprus and Bulgaria—all members of the European Union. Portuguese Ambassador João de Vallera will take over the EU presidency this coming July and Slovenian Ambassador Samuel Zbogar takes over in January 2008. From left, Ambassador of Portugal João de Vallera, Ambassador of Germany Klaus Scharioth, and Ambassador of Slovenia Samuel Zbogar attend a concert reception celebrating Germany’s presidency of the European Union. Hauntingly Beautiful Hungarian Performance A musical fusion of the Hungarian Mendelssohn Chamber Orchestra with the gutsy guitar of Ferenc Snétberger absolutely charmed the audience at the Hungarian Embassy on Jan. 31. Some members of the audience stood for most of the show, and the standing ovations brought this guitar virtuoso and this amazing string chamber orchestra back for two encores. Unfortunately, at the last moment Hungarian Ambassador Andras Simonyi, who’s so passionate about playing his own guitar, was not able to be there. “I was hosting Katalin Szili, our new female leader of the Hungarian Parliament in New York, after she met with [House Speaker Nancy] Pelosi,” he said the next day. This musical program was designed to commemorate the Holocaust against the Roma and Sinti peoples, for which Snétberger wrote and played a special hauntingly beautiful tribute, “In Memory of My People.” The concert was co-sponsored by the embassy and the Hungarian American Cultural Association. From left, guitarist Ferenc Snétberger (also on the front page), wife of the Hungarian ambassador Nada Simonyi, and Hungarian Mendelssohn Chamber Orchestra Artistic Director Péter Kovátz attend a concert honoring the Holocaust against the Roma and Sinti peoples at the Hungarian Embassy. Front page photo: www.snetberger.com Russia’s Legendary Excellence in the Arts On Feb. 9, Svetlana Ushakova once again created an evening celebrating Russian art and music at her 16th Street residence. The glittering chandeliers in the mirrored gold-and-white ballroom set the romantic scene reminiscent of St. Petersburg. The Foundation for International Arts and Education (FIAE), the co-sponsor for the evening, brought two incredible Russian talents: pianist Alexei Podkorytov, 28, and violinist Olga Smola, 25, both former students of the Moscow State Conservatory. “I began playing the piano when I was four and came to New York to study at Juilliard,” said Podkorytov, “and Olga started with the piano in Siberia at 6 but switched to the violin later. According to FIAE President Greg Guroff, his organization creates programs worldwide for artists from the former Soviet Union. “Our violinist is flying back right away to Moscow, but Alexei lives and performs in New York. Often, like tonight, we even have Russians who fly in for the concerts.” From left, violinist Olga Smola, wife of the Russian ambassador Svetlana Ushakova, and pianist Alexei Podkorytov attend a concert co-sponsored by the Foundation for International Arts and Education. Meridian’s ‘Out West’ Exhibit Goes to China When the Meridian International Center mounts an art show, it is usually an important event. “Out West: The Great American Landscape” is no exception. With help from the Chinese Embassy and Chinese Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong as well as generous sponsors, this colorful collection of contemporary art depicting the American West will tour the far western part of China during 2007 in collaboration with the National Art Museum of China in Beijing and the Chinese Ministry of Culture. The groundbreaking exhibit includes 68 works by 50 American artists capturing aspects of the American West. The landscapes of the western states includes Arizona, California, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. “Meridian is pleased to have this opportunity to familiarize the Chinese people with the unique beauty and culture of our western United States. The development of China’s western regions, and its challenges, parallels in many ways the growth in the last century of American’s vast western spaces,” said Ambassador Stuart Holliday, president of Meridian International Center—the private, nonprofit institution promoting international understanding through the exchange of people, ideas and the arts. The “Out West” exhibit opens on Fri., Feb. 16 for just three weeks before it is packed and sent halfway around the world. The exhibit in the Cafritz Galleries located in the White-Meyer House (next door to Meridian House and just off 16th Street) is free and open to the public until March 4. For more information, please call (202) 939-5518. From left, President of the U.S.-China Education Trust Julia Chang Bloch, Ambassador of China Wenzhong Zhou, U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao, President of the Meridian International Center Stuart Holliday, and wife of the Chinese ambassador Shumin Xie attend the opening of “Out West: The Great American Landscape” at the Meridian International Center. Photos: Meridian International Center Warm Welcome for New Israeli Wife To welcome to town No’a Meridor, wife of new Israeli Ambassador Sallai Meridor, Esther Coopersmith (former U.S. representative to the United Nations), along with Susan Blumenthal (former assistant surgeon general) and Meryl Chertoff (wife of Homeland Security Chief Michael Chertoff) gathered more than 100 of their best friends at Coppersmith’s home for a musical by the World Children’s Choir, as well as a sumptuous tea. “When I heard we were going to Washington, everyone started telling me to take formal ball gowns,” No’a Meridor said. “But already I know how warm, friendly and welcoming people in Washington are.” To surprise Coopersmith, whose birthday was earlier in the month, the other two hosts brought in a cake in the shape of a globe with all sorts of colorful sugar-iced countries. “Esther is the glorious glue that keeps our community together,” said co-host Blumenthal. “She is always building bridges and reaching out to people and their countries.” No’a Meridor, wife of the new Israeli ambassador, left, and former U.S. Representative to the United Nations Esther Coopersmith attend a concert at Coopersmith’s home. Photos: Gail Scott Brookings’s New Embassy Associates Program For embassies big and small, the Brookings Institution, one of the oldest and most respected think tanks in the world, is offering a new program this June to help diplomats and embassy staff better tackle the Washington maze. “Through the Brookings Embassy Associates Program, the team here at Brookings will have the chance to cross-fertilize ideas and share success stories with so many world-class public leaders in the diplomatic corps here in Washington, D.C.,” said Strobe Talbott, Brookings’s president and former U.S. deputy secretary of state. As a Washington-based, public policy nonprofit, Brookings Institution has been conducting independent research and developing innovative policy solutions since it was founded more than 90 years ago. Already well known for its high-quality research, policy recommendations and analysis on a range of public policy issues, the Embassy Associates Program brings the organization’s many areas of expertise together to help diplomats navigate U.S. politics. “Brookings is committed to producing ideas that matter in today’s world,” said Talbott. Research at Brookings is done by both U.S. and foreign scholars who hold diverse points of view. With Brookings’ “centers of excellence” worldwide from the Middle East (with a new office in Doha, Qatar) to China, as well an office in Beijing, Brookings “advances knowledge and understanding across the world ,but also learns from experts and thought-leaders in other countries and cultures.” For more information, please e-mail registrar@brookings.edu or call Liz Barron at (202) 797-6314. Brookings President Strobe Talbott says the think tank’s new Embassy Associates Program will “cross-fertilize ideas and share success stories with so many world-class public leaders in the diplomatic corps here in Washington, D.C.” SPONSOR THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT P.O. Box 1345 Wheaton, MD 20915-1345 Tel: 301.933.3552 • Fax: 301.949.0065 www.washdiplomat.com