An Especially Warm Welcome for Newly Arrived Ambassadors at Meridian
H.E. Zoran Popov of North Macedonia, H.E. Tumisang Mosotho of Lesotho, H.E. Jeff Gongoer Dowana, Sr. of Liberia, H.E. Abdul Ghafoor Mohamed of Maldives, H.E. Tanee Sangrat of Thailand, Ambassador Holliday CEO of Meridian, H.E. Robinah Kakonge of Uganda, Ambassador Rufus Gifford, Chief of Protocol, H.E. Viorel Ursu of Moldova, H.E. Noel Nelson Messone of Gabon, H.E. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Hadhrami of Yemen, H.E. Mohammed Haneche of Algeria, H.E. Luis Gilberto Murillo of Colombia, H.E. Miloslav Stašek of Czech Republic. Meridian House, February 15, 2023. Photo by Stephen Bobb.
In unusually sunny February weather, Meridian International Center hosted an evening reception to welcome newly arrived chiefs-of-mission to their posts in Washington, DC. Honored Ambassadors and guests were able to meet and mingle in Meridian’s historic building and Linden Grove.
Meridian hosts two Welcome to Washington receptions every year to recognize new ambassadors and provide them with an unparalleled opportunity to engage with a diverse body of Washington leaders across the public and private sectors to strengthen diplomatic relations and democracy at home and abroad.
On February 15, 2023, Meridian welcomed 12 new ambassadors at this spring reception. Those in attendance included the chiefs of mission from Algeria, Colombia, Czech Republic, Gabon, Lesotho, Liberia, Maldives, Moldova, North Macedonia, Thailand, Uganda, and Yemen.
Other notable guests included Rufus Gifford (U.S. Chief of Protocol), Margaret Brennan (CBS News), Paula Dobriansky (Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs, 2001-2009), Manisha Singh (Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs, 2017-2021), Andy Rabens (National Security Council and National Economic Council), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (U.S. House of Representatives 1989-2019), and Marie Royce (Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, 2018-2021).
Meridian CEO Ambassador Stuart Holliday provided remarks welcoming the newly arrived chiefs of mission, emphasizing Meridian’s belief that “we are stronger at home when globally engaged.” Ambassador Holliday also took a moment to recognize the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and recent earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, and highlighted all the important ways the international community has come together to help.
Silbi Stainton, Senior Director at Meridian, Heather Florance, Meridian Board of Trustees, Stephanie Robinson, Commissioner, U.S. Department of Education, and Laura Ballman, Founder, Capital Art Strategies. Meridian House, February 15, 2023. Photo by Stephen Bobb.
Meridian CEO, Ambassador Holliday, and Ronald Flamini, Washington Life Magazine at Meridian House, February 15, 2023. Photo by Stephen Bobb.
Margaret Brennan, CBS News, T.H. Rufus Gifford, U.S. Chief of Protocol, and H.E. Viorel Ursu, Ambassador of Moldova. Meridian House, February 15, 2023. Photo by Stephen Bobb.
Alexa Chopivsky, Women’s Foreign Policy Group, H.E. Zoran Popov, Ambassador of North Macedonia, H.E. Tumisang Mosotho, Ambassador of Lesotho. Meridian House, February 15, 2023. Photo by Stephen Bobb.
H.E. Zoran Popov, Ambassador of North Macedonia, H.E., Miloslav Stašek, Ambassador of Czech Republic, M.J. Crawford, U.S. Department of State. Meridian House, February 15, 2023. Photo by Stephen Bobb.
H.E. Robinah Kakonge, Ambassador of Uganda, and Frank Justice, VP Center for Diplomatic Engagement at Meridian. Meridian House, February 15, 2023. Photo by Stephen Bobb.
Katheryn Jones, International Friendship Club, H.E. Robinah Kakonge, Ambassador of Uganda, Tina Mather, International Friendship Club, and Rose Carter. Meridian House, February 15, 2023. Photo by Stephen Bobb.
Cidilia Luis Akbar, M Luis Construction, David Barrosse, Capstone DC, Natalia Luis-Monteiro, M Luis Construction. Meridian House, February 15, 2023. Photo by Stephen Bobb.
Bob Hurst, Crestview Partners, Soledad Hurst, Hurst Family Foundation, Maryam Mujica, Booking.com. Meridian House, February 15, 2023. Photo by Stephen Bobb.
¬¬¬¬¬¬¬Vasu Srivarathonbul, Embassy of Thailand, Cholatip Kambhu Sangrat, Embassy of Thailand, H.E. Tanee Sangrat, Ambassador of Thailand, Didi Cutler, Meridian Council. Meridian House, February 15, 2023. Photo by Stephen Bobb.
Christina Warnke, Office of the Mayor of DC, H.E. Jeff Gongoer Dowana, Ambassador of Liberia, Tina Mather, International Friendship Club. Meridian House, February 15, 2023. Photo by Stephen Bobb.
H.E. Tumisang Mosotho, Ambassador of Lesotho, and Ambassador Kathleen Doherty, Sunnylands. Meridian House, February 15, 2023. Photo by Stephen Bobb.
H.E. Tumisang Mosotho, Ambassador of Lesotho and Tracy Bernstein, Meridian Senior Advisor, chat in Meridian House’s Linden Grove. Meridian House, February 15, 2023. Photo by Stephen Bobb.
Miloslav Stašek, Ambassador of Czech Republic, Alexa Chopivsky, Women’s Foreign Policy Group, and H.E. Zoran Popov, Ambassador of North Macedonia. Meridian House, February 15, 2023. Photo by Stephen Bobb.
H.E. Tanee Sangrat, Ambassador of Thailand, and Mark Vlasic, Georgetown University. Meridian House, February 15, 2023. Photo by Stephen Bobb.
H.E. Noel Nelson Messone, Ambassador of Gabon and H.E. Miloslav Stašek, Ambassador of Czech Republic, Meridian House, February 15, 2023. Photo by Stephen Bobb.
Ambassador Stuart Holliday, CEO of Meridian, delivers special remarks to guests. Meridian House, February 15, 2023. Photo by Stephen Bobb.
Project summary
An Especially Warm Welcome for Newly Arrived Ambassadors at Meridian | February 2023
