SPECIAL FEATURE | %1&%77%(367(-6)'836=
SPOUSE:
Nargiza Irkinovna Gulyamova
EMBASSY AND RESIDENCE: 1746
Massachusetts Ave NW 20036
TELEPHONE: 202-887-5300
BICYCLEDIPLOMACY
VENEZUELA
CHARGÉ D’AFFAIRES Maximilien
One on One with Ambassador of Finland Kirsti Kauppi
Sánchez Arvelaiz
30th St NW 20007
TELEPHONE: (202) 342-2214
EMBASSY: 1099
BY GAIL SCOTT
T
his diplomat bikes to work a s do most
Koukku was the first female ambassador to
people back home. Newly arrived represent Finland in Washington and Kauppi
Ambassador of Finland Kirsti Kauppi wears is the second. It is surprising that Finland
heels and business clothes – even short skirts – on didn’t send a female envoy sooner. The
her two-wheeler. “When I have any free time,” she Nordic country’s first female president, Tarja
says, “I also like to take a bike ride.”
Halonen, held office from 2003 until 2011 and
Besides having several bicycles at the two different female prime ministers served
embassy available to staff wanting to commute during that same period.
to meetings and conferences around town, the
“We punch above our weight,” Koukku says.
Finns are the only embassy in Washington with “We have cutting-edge technology. Basically,
a sauna. Although Kauppi has been in Finland’s our societies [the U.S. and Finland] are very
ministry of foreign affairs since 1983, she admits similar. We understand each other. The
she doesn’t like saunas.
transatlantic link is very
That doesn’t mean other
important to us.”
Finnish diplomats don’t
She notes that the
take “Sauna Diplomacy”
Nordic countries share
seriously. They are known
deep common values:
to eagerly turn up the
democracy, equality, rule
heat on their guests until
of law and human rights
an agreement is reached.
that go back centuries.
She makes up for this
Finland and Sweden are
by drinking lots of coffee.
not in NATO and Norway
“Finns are the first or second
and Iceland are not in the
heaviest coffee drinkers in
EU”
the world. The Dutch could
“Washington is a
be number one.”
demanding post,” says
Kauppi was born in
Koukku, who served
Oulu in Northern Finland.
as a political officer in
“As a young student I
Washington from 1997
Finish Ambassador Kirsti Kauppi on an
wanted to be a primary
to 2000 during the
embassy bicycle. (Embassy Photo)
school teacher,” she says,
Clinton years. “You have
because “professional teachers are the most to choose what to concentrate on. There are
popular in Finland.”
infinite possibilities; you can use your time in
By the time she went off to college she had 100 different ways. Competition is very tough
changed her career choice. Kauppi studied in for attention and what you have to offer.”
the Helsinki School of Economics and Business
She enjoys being back in the United States
Administration and received her Master’s and Washington again. “The first thing is the
degree in Economics in 1981. “My mother asked friendly atmosphere and easy-going attitude.
me ‘What happened?’ I loved history and she I just love it.”
expected me to be a teacher. I didn’t just want
Finland’s mission on Massachusetts Avenue
to know what was happening in our village or NW, nick-named “The Green House,” was
our country but what was happening in the inaugurated in 1994. It immediately stood out
world.”
on Embassy Row as a perfect example of public
Throughout her distinguished career she diplomacy because it so succinctly represents
has served in Geneva, Bangkok, Brussels, its home country. According to a small but
Washington, Helsinki and Vienna. “My handsome book about this LEED Platinum
predecessor, Ambassador Ritva Koukku-Ronde, embassy, the building is “simultaneously
is now in Berlin and I was already there. We laugh understated and bold, humble and dramatic”
about following each other around the world.”
— and as such unapologetically Finnish.
66
VIETNAM
AMBASSADOR: Vinh
Quang Pham
Lien Bich Hoang
EMBASSY: 1233 20th Street,
NW Suite 400, 20036
TELEPHONE: (202) 861-0737 during
9:30 AM - 12:00 PM and 1:30 PM
- 5:00 PM from Monday - Friday
SPOUSE:
YEMEN
AMBASSADOR: Ahmed
Awad
Ahmed Bin Mubarak
EMBASSY: 2319 Wyoming
Avenue, NW 20008
TELEPHONE: 202-965-4760
RESIDENCE: 4850 Glenbrook
Rd. NW, 20016
ZAMBIA
AMBASSADOR: Palan
Mulonda
Mutinta Valerie
Mululuma Mulonda
EMBASSY: 2200 R Street, NW, 20008
TELEPHONE: 202-265-9717
SPOUSE:
ZIMBABWE
AMBASSADOR: Ammon
Mutembwa
Priscilla Panichai Mutembwa
EMBASSY: 1608 New Hampshire
Avenue, NW,
TELEPHONE: 202-332-7100
RESIDENCE: 7116 Helmsdale
Rd., Bethesda, MD 20817
SPOUSE:
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