www.monacodc.org1

Embassy of Monaco to the

United States and Canada

News and Selection of Activities

January - March, 2019 Photo: Flickr, Damien J.L.

www.monacodc.org2

T a b l e o f C o n t e n t s

“Experience America” Tour; a U.S. Department of State Initiative…………….. 4

Governor General of Canada Hosts Diplomatic Luncheon for

Women Heads of Mission ………………………………………………………….. 5

Washington Winter Show ……………………………………….……………...….. 7

The Washington Ballet: “The Sleeping Beauty” ………………………….……… 7

61st International Red Cross Ball, Florida…………………….........……………...

Philadelphia Flower Show………………………………….………………………

International Women of Courage Awards ……………………………..………... 10

Inauguration of Prince Albert II Foundation Offices in Philadelphia.................

Concert for International Francophonie Day ….…………………………...…….

Photo: Pexels Stock Photo

I.

II.

I.

II.

III.

IV.

V.

VI.

VII. 11

9

11

E v e n t s

D i p l o m a c y

8

www.monacodc.org3

Diplomacy

01

Photo: Dr. Giuseppe Mazza

www.monacodc.org4

“Experience America” Tour; a U.S. Department of State Initiative

From left to right: H.E. Floreta Faber of Albania, H.E. Elisenda Balmana of Andorra, H.E. Maguy Maccario Doyle of Monaco, Governor of Mississippi Phil Bryant, among others

From February 24th through 26th, the U.S.

Department of State organized a trip to theGulf Coast of southern state of Mississippi aspart of its respected cultural and businessprogram, “Experience America.” Theprogram offered invaluable opportunities forHeads of Mission to meet well-establishedregional professionals in various economic,political, and scientific capacities, andentertained roughly 30 ambassadors over athree-day period.

Ambassador Maguy Maccario Doyle touredMississippi’s Port of Gulfport, discussedoceanographic work at the University ofSouthern Mississippi, and examined futurespace exploration efforts at the INFINITYScience Center.

These events were followed by visits tothe Maritime and Seafood IndustryMuseum, and Naval ConstructionBattalion Center (the U.S. Navy’s globalnatural disaster response center).

Informative meetings with economicand political leaders were arranged andincluded representatives of the GulfCoast Business Council; the Council’sPresident and CEO, Ashley Edwards;the Mayor of Biloxi, Andrew Gilich;and the Governor of Mississippi, theHonorable Phil Bryant.

Naval Construction Battalion Center

www.monacodc.org5

Center, first row: H.E. the Rt. Hon. Governor General of Canada, Julie Payette, is surrounded by the female

Heads of Mission in Canada

Governor General of Canada Hosts Diplomatic Luncheon

for Women Heads of Mission

On March 27th, H.E. the Rt. Hon. Julie Payette,

Governor General of Canada, hosted aluncheon at her official Ottawa residence andworkplace, Rideau Hall, to bring together 20female Heads of Mission accredited to Canada,as well as Ottawa’s Mayor, the Hon. JimWatson, and Ms. Karine Asselin, ExecutiveDirector of Canada’s United Nations SecurityCouncil Campaign.

This gathering marked the founding of theAssociation of Women Ambassadors, anassociation that strives to bring accreditedambassadors to Canada and foster collaborativeconversations within the internationaldiplomatic corps. Pressing topics within thediplomatic community include sustainable

Photo: LS Anne-Marie Brisson, Rideau Hall © OSGG, 2019

development, humanitarianism, education,sciences, among others.

In addition to the afternoon at Rideau Hall,Ambassador Maccario Doyle met severalsenior officials in Canada’s Ministry ofGlobal Affairs. Accompanied by theEmbassy of Monaco’s Deputy Chief ofMission Ms. Karine Médecin, theAmbassador met with Canada’s Chief ofProtocol, Mr. Stewart Wheeler; DirectorGeneral of European Affairs, Mr. Robert Fry;and Ms. Shannon-Marie Soni, Director ofEnvironment and Climate Change. Theseinformative exchanges emphasized thecontinuance of longstanding collaborativeefforts between Monaco and Canada.

Mr. Robert Fry and H.E. Madam Maguy Maccario Doyle

www.monacodc.org6

Cultural and Charitable

02

Photo: Tomas Abreu

www.monacodc.org7

Washington Winter Show

“Elegant Entertaining” was the theme of the 2019 Washington Winter

Show’s “Washington Antiques Show,” the annual event which bringstogether US and European dealers in art, antiques and collectibles;washingtonwintershow.org/ .

Ambassador Maguy Maccario Doyle was invited to serve as this year’sHonorary Diplomatic Chair and attend the opening celebrations. Inher welcome letter published in the Show’s official catalog, theAmbassador said that, growing up in Monaco as the daughter of anantiques dealer, “… it was my privilege to discover -- and be inspired by -- aworld of history, craftsmanship, artistry, and the breadth and depth of humancreativity.”

“This weekend it is my privilege to serve as Honorary Diplomatic Chair of the2019 Washington Winter Show, and to welcome you all to celebrate the finephilanthropic traditions for which the Show is renowned throughoutWashington, D.C. Monaco and the United States share deep historicalconnections and I’m so very proud to support in a small way, the WashingtonWinter Show’s meaningful charitable and philanthropic spirit…”

Created in 1955, this annual show, held between January 11th-13th, is one of the finest events of its kind in the UnitedStates. This year’s three-day event attracted more than 40 exhibitors from the United States and Europe. Since itscreation, the event has raised more than $8.5 million, which have been donated to a variety of Washington D.C.-areacharities that support children and low-income families in the region.

On February 28th, the Ambassador of Monaco attended The Washington

Ballet’s debut performance of “The Sleeping Beauty” at the Kennedy Center.One of the show’s star dancers, Gian Carlo Perez, was a recipient of the 2017Princess Grace Dance Fellowship. One of several fellowships awarded bythe Foundation, the Fellowship in Dance is considered among the mostprestigious dance awards in the world. He danced, during alternatingpresentations in this production, two leading roles: Prince Désiré andCarabosse. The classic production received unanimous audience and criticalpraise. Mr. Perez’s performances were sponsored by the Princess GraceFoundation-USA.

Audiences may soon witness special performances by The WashingtonBallet and various Princess Grace Foundation award winners, in partnershipwith the Embassy of Monaco, to commemorate Princess Grace’s 90thanniversary.

The Washington Ballet: “The Sleeping Beauty”

Ballet dancer at The Kennedy Center

Washington Antiques Show

www.monacodc.org8

61st International Red Cross Ball, Florida

Left to right: H.E. Laszlo Szabo of Hungary, Dr. Ivonn Szeverényi, H.E. Dina Kawar of Jordan, H.E. Kirsti Kauppi de Finland, H.E. Maguy MaccarioDoyle of Monaco, Michele Kang, Bonnie McElveenHunter, Richard Myers, Jo Ann Meyers, LjiljanVidovic, H.E. Stanislav Vidovic of Slovenia, Reina Sugiyama, H.E. ShinsukeSugiyami of Japan, Padma Mantena, Raj Mantena

For its 61st edition, the American Red Cross

organized, on February 9th, its annual Ball inPalm Beach, Florida. This year’s theme, “ASalute to the Military,” paid homage to thelong-standing ties between the American RedCross and United States Armed Forces.

The event was held under the auspices of theAmerican Red Cross, led by formerAmbassador Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, in thepresence of the Distinguished Honorary ChairsGeneral Richard Myers, former Chairman ofthe Joint Chiefs of Staff, and his wife, Mary JoMyers.

The reception gathered many ambassadors,diplomats, and patrons from around the worldto honor Gold Star mothers whose sons ordaughters laid down their lives while servingtheir country. The funds raised from the eventhave been donated to the Red Cross to supportits main mission: to prevent and mitigate

human suffering in crisis situations through themobilization of volunteers and the generosityof donors.

Speaking at the Ball, H.E. Ambassador MaguyMaccario Doyle shared that the MonegasqueRed Cross was founded in 1948 by Prince LouisII, and with the assistance of Princess Grace ofMonaco, the “Bal de la Croix-Rouge” becameone of the country’s most prestigious annualevents. She stated that under the presidency ofH.S.H. Prince Albert II, the Red Cross of theMonaco, now in its 71st year, has raised morethan one million dollars. “The Red Cross is madeup of more than 500 Monegasque volunteers whoprovide rapid global disaster support inhumanitarian crises and daily assistance to the sick,disabled and elderly individuals in thePrincipality.” The Ambassador concluded bywelcoming guests to attend the MonegasqueRed Cross Ball on July 26, 2019.

www.monacodc.org9

Philadelphia Flower Show

To mark the start of Spring each year in March, the

Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) hosts thespectacular garden and floral show, “The PhiladelphiaFlower Show.” Now in its 190th edition, the 2019 Showdazzled guests with its theme “Flower Power.”

Since 1829, the PHS has organized the flower exhibition,now regarded as the oldest and largest in the U.S. Over ninedays, the show attracts roughly 250,000 visitors, with allproceeds funding the Society and its 70,000 members. In1990, H.R.H. The Princess of Hanover Princess Carolineparticipated in the Flower Show Awards to celebrate thebonds between Princess Grace’s Garden Club of Monacoand her hometown’s Philadelphia Horticultural Society.

Next year’s widely-anticipated showtheme will be “Riviera Holiday,” and,due in part to the deepening tiesbetween the Society and the Embassyof Monaco, the Principality can lookforward to a featured spot at 2020’sexciting floral extravaganza.

www.monacodc.org10

International Women of Courage Awards

On March 7th, the Ambassador of Monaco joined diplomatic

colleagues invited by the U.S. Department of State to an esteemedaward ceremony entitled the “International Women of CourageAwards.” Led by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the female awardeeswere selected by U.S. embassies and consulates abroad for theirextraordinary courage and leadership in the fight for social justice,human rights, gender equality, and the empowerment of women andgirls.

First Lady of the United Sates, Melania Trump, was also in attendanceto congratulate and present awards to the distinguished femaleawardees.

From left to right: Sister Orla Treacy, Razia Sultana, Naw K’nyaw Paw, Col. Khalida al-Twal, Olivera Lakic, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, First Lady of theU.S. Melania Trump, Flor de Maria Zapata, Magda Gorban Gorgy, Moumina Houssein Darar, Marini de Livera, Anna Henga.

Originally established in 2007, this year’s ceremony honored a dozen women from differentcorners of the world, including the recognition of a posthumous laureate and all Iranianwomen in their struggle to improve women’s rights.

www.monacodc.org11

Concert for International Francophonie Day

To celebrate International Francophonie Day in

Washington, D.C., the Embassy of Canada, in partnershipwith the American Folklife Center Board of Trustees,presented a lively Acadian music concert on March 21st.Featuring the Canadian band, VISHTEN, the concert waswell-received by a large audience, including the Embassyof Monaco’s Deputy Chief of Mission, Mme. KarineMédecin. The performance venue was CoolidgeAuditorium, in the exceptional Thomas Jefferson BuildingLibrary of Congress.

VISHTEN performs in Coolidge Auditorium

The new offices of the U.S. chapter of the Prince

Albert II Foundation in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,occupy the beautiful former residence of the Kellyfamily, the birthplace of Princess Grace. The home waspurchased in 2017 by H.S.H Prince Albert II.

Recent new local council zoning regulations haveenabled the house to accommodate the Foundation’soperations, including administrative offices thatsupport the foundation’s environmental conservationefforts.

President of the U.S. branch of the Foundation, Mr.John B. Kelly, welcomed roughly 100 guests into the

Inauguration of Prince Albert II Foundation Offices

in Philadelphia

At a reception following the concert, Deputy Chief of Mission to the Embassy of Canada, Ms. KirstenHillman addressed guests, emphasizing the importance of the French heritage that Canada shares with itsU.S. neighbors. This linkage allows both countries to participate in the large Francophone community thatspans the globe.

Kelly House on January 31st. Among the esteemed guests were members of the Foundation’s US board includingH.E. Maguy Maccario Doyle, Vice President; Mr. John Coffman, Executive Director of the Foundation;representatives of various public authorities and associations; and educational and environmental groups

Kelly House

www.monacodc.org12

Follow the Embassy

on Social Media

EmbassyofMonacoDC

MonacoEmbassyDC

MonacoEmbWDC

Photo: Flower Wall by Zertrin, Deviant Art, 2007