Iceland Pushes for Security Council Membership During a reception for the Women’s Foreign Policy Group on Oct. 19 hosted by Icelandic Ambassador Albert Jónsson at his Kalorama Residence, Icelandic Minister of Foreign Affairs Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, a former mayor of Iceland’s capital city of Reykjavik, explained why her tiny country’s bid for a seat on the U.N. Security Council should be seriously considered. “We are a small but very dynamic, independent country which has grown from one of the poorest nations into one of the most prosperous,” she said. In fact, at a time when everyone is worried about climate change, Iceland is a leading expert in sustainable living. With expertise in geo-thermal (GT) power (they have the largest GT plant in the world), the country is able to heat 90 percent of its homes naturally. Iceland is also well known for its highly successful sustainable harvesting of the sea. “Thirty-nine other countries could have all their energy from GT,” Gísladóttir said. “As a small nation, we could better represent all the other small nations in the world,” she explained. And, with Iceland being “a leader in the emancipation of women,” this energetic foreign minister also suggested that Iceland would be “the perfect choice” for including women’s viewpoints in Security Council decisions. “Nowhere are there more women in the labor market than in Iceland. Seventy percent of Iceland’s mothers are working mothers. In Iceland, women’s empowerment is the key to our success,” Gísladóttir said. “We deserve a seat at the table [of the U.N. Security Council],” she vowed. “And women need to be part of the peacekeeping process.” From left, Ambassador of Monaco Gilles Alexandre Noghes and his wife Ellen talk with Icelandic Minister of Foreign Affairs Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir at a discussion held at the ambassador’s residence on why Iceland should receive a seat at the U.N. Security hosted by the Women’s Foreign Policy Group. Front page: Icelandic Minister of Foreign Affairs Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, left, and Icelandic Ambassador Albert Jónsson attend the discussion hosted by the Women’s Foreign Policy Group. Photos: Gail Scott Meridian Ball Hits New Heights The Meridian International Center’s 39th Annual Ball on Oct. 26 was the most successful in almost four decades, raising just under $900,000. With Chevron as Meridian’s Leadership Sponsor and Meridian Trustee Lisa Barry—also a Chevron vice president—serving as the ball’s corporate chair, the drive for corporate participation in the 2007 Meridian Ball reached a new high of $575,000—a 50 percent increase over 2006 corporate contributions. “Thanks to Chevron and our other corporate sponsors, this year Meridian will continue to advance its mission, as well as focus on bridging international perspectives in the critical area of energy and the environment,” said Ambassador Stuart Holliday, president of Meridian International Center. The Meridian Ball, a highlight of the fall social season, is a tribute to the important relationship between Americans and the foreign diplomats in Washington. Meridian has offered the ball since 1969, bringing the city’s diplomatic corps to one of the most elegant and historic settings in the nation’s capital together with members of the U.S. Congress and Cabinet, Supreme Court justices, as well as representatives from the international business and cultural communities. This year, the first Meridian Public Diplomacy Leadership Award was presented to Dina Powell for her “innovative stewardship of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, her advancement of the nation’s public diplomacy, and her outstanding contribution to international understanding.” Powell is currently global head of corporate engagement at Goldman Sachs, serving as a principle liaison to nongovernmental, philanthropic and other nonprofit organizations. She is also a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations as well as a board member at the American University in Cairo and a young global leader at the World Economic Forum. For most, the evening began with dinner at one of 34 diplomatic residences around Washington before everyone gathered for dessert and dancing at the Meridian House, a cherished John Russell Pope designed mansion. For the last 10 years, a new generation of younger Meridian supporters has dined at the White-Meyer Dinner, which takes place in the Meridian’s adjoining mansion, also designed by Pope and the childhood home of late Washington Post publisher Katherine Graham. In addition, this year set the record as being the longest party. Guests were still dancing to the Cuban band in the garden tent until 2:30 in the morning, and that was after three encores! All this success took place in spite of the serious downpour that called for elaborate tenting over Meridian’s signature Linden Garden, otherwise a favorite gathering spot at the ball. In fact, this was only the second time in 25 years that it has rained on the night of the Meridian Ball. From left, Meridian Ball Chair Isabel Ernst, President of the Meridian International Center Stuart Holliday, Ball Corporate Chair Lisa Barry of Chevron, Chevron Vice Chair Peter J. Robertson, Meridian Leadership Award winner Dina Powell, and Meridian Board Chair Jim Jones attend the 39th Meridian Ball. Photos: Meridian International Center The Swiss Host Arts for the Aging For Lolo Sarnoff’s 19th anniversary benefit gala for her organization, Arts for the Aging (AFTA), she went home to Switzerland—that is, the Swiss Residence. “She’s Swiss and when she asked me to do it, no way would I say no,” said Swiss Ambassador Urs Ziswiler, with a twinkle in his eye, as he stood next to octogenarian Lolo Sarnoff, a sculptor and the tireless and determined founder of AFTA. “This is a fantastic project, the idea of having dance, painting and performing arts for these older people. Lolo is so energetic, so devoted,” he added. “She makes me feel like a little boy.” Authentic Swiss ham, legendary cheeses, creamy veal, real Swiss carrot cake (they invented it!) and velvety chocolate made guests feel like they were really spending the evening in this popular European country. AFTA guests also had the chance to bid in AFTA’s silent auction, which was full of diplomatic opportunities to dine up and down Embassy Row. After the bids were added up and the guests had left the contemporary residence, AFTA was $120,000 richer. At AFTA’s gala, patrons also always have the opportunity to sample wines from more than a dozen countries, all donated by foreign ambassadors. Whatever bottles are left are then auctioned off at AFTA’s International Wine Festival later this fall. Lolo’s fans flew in from Vermont (her second home after Bethesda, Md.) and California to pay homage to this woman who has done so much for the elderly in the Washington area and is now just as determined to help the area’s mistreated pets. The moonlit night drew attendance from ambassadors and/or wives from Belgium, Monaco, Bulgaria, Nicaragua, Guatemala and Liechtenstein. Julia Hopping—the diplomatic daughter of Nicaraguan Ambassador Guillermo Sevilla Sacasa, who was the diplomatic dean for 36 years in Washington—is now AFTA’s president and served as the gala’s co-chair with her husband, well-known plastic surgeon Dr. Steven Hopping. “I’m married to him but I’m also married to Lolo and AFTA,” she noted. Founder of Arts for the Aging (AFTA) Lolo Sarnoff, left, attends the 19th anniversary benefit gala for AFTA with new junior AFTA member Moana Erickson, as well as Ronit Ziswiler, wife of the Swiss ambassador (pictured on the front page). Photos: Gail Scott Dominican Republic Organizes Hurricane Noel Relief Dominican Ambassador Flavio Espinal and his wife Minerva have mounted a relief effort to help their country recover from Hurricane Noel, the deadliest storm to hit the Atlantic this year. Major flooding and mudslides have resulted in at least 118 dead in the Caribbean countries of Cuba, the Bahamas, Jamaica and—on the island of Hispaniola—Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The Dominican death toll from Noel stands at 71 with more than 40 people still missing. The storm reached the Dominican Republic on Oct. 29 and stayed for most of that week. In the southern part of the island, just west of the capital of Santo Domingo, more than 20 inches of rain fell over a three-to-four-day period. “Noel is one of the worst storms in my country’s history since we were founded in 1844,” said Ambassador Espinal. “At first it was just a tropical depression, but then it turned into a tropical storm and hung over my country. There was so much rain that all the rivers overflowed, and the pictures of the damage are apocalyptical. Over 250,000 acres of plantains and half of our rice harvest was ruined, which will definitely lead to a food shortage.” But Espinal, a very popular and effective diplomat, also had a bit of positive news. “None of our major tourist areas were affected. Punta Cana, Bavaro, La Romana, Porto Plata and Samana—the most beautiful place on the earth—were untouched. All our airports are open and ready to receive the hundreds of thousands of guests who come to our island from all over the world each winter.” If you would like to help the Dominican Republic, you may send a check or money order, made out to the “The Embassy of the Dominican Republic,” to the embassy at 1715 22nd St., NW, Washington D.C. 20008. “All the money we receive will go directly to help the thousands of homeless storm refugees,” promised Espinal. The Embassy is also collecting clothes, old shoes, can food, pillows, sheets, blankets, flashlights and anything that will be helpful to the more than 62,400 Dominicans who have been displaced. These collections will continue through Fri., Nov. 9. Please deliver directly to the embassy at the address above. All boxes of goods should be labeled “Help DR.” Hurricane Noel caused major flooding and mudslides that have resulted in at least 118 dead in the Caribbean countries of Cuba, the Bahamas, Jamaica and—on the island of Hispaniola—Haiti and the Dominican Republic, where the death toll stands at 71 with more than 40 people still missing. Photos: Embassy of the Dominican Republic THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT P.O. Box 1345 Wheaton, MD 20915-1345 Tel: 301.933.3552 Fax: 301.949.0065 www.washdiplomat.com