Diplomacy in the District: Meridian’s Welcome to Washington
On February 28, 2024, Meridian CEO, Ambassador Stuart W. Holliday, welcomed nine newly arrived foreign ambassadors to the District of Columbia, and celebrating their new postings as ambassadors to the United States.
Bringing together new chiefs of mission with leaders across government, business, philanthropic, and policy communities at Meridian International Center’s historic campus, Meridian's biannual Welcome to Washington receptions continue to foster local and global community and collaboration.
This February 2024 reception honored the ambassadors of Algeria, the European Union, Kuwait, Micronesia, Morocco, the Netherlands, Singapore, Slovenia, and St. Kitts and Nevis.
The Honorable Joan Polaschik, Director, Foreign Service Institute, U.S. Department of State provided keynote remarks, highlighting the importance of international collaboration and continued relationship building between countries. Tiffany Atwell, Senior Vice President, Global Government Relations, Ecolab, emphasized the tremendous value of collaboration between the diplomatic community and private sector partners to enhance cooperation and advance solutions to shared global challenges.
Those in attendance also included Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, T.H. Naz Kurakoglu (Assistant Secretary, Legislative Affairs, U.S. Department of State), T.H. James Blanchard (Former Governor of Michigan and U.S. Ambassador to Canada), T.H. Gordon Sondland (Former U.S. Ambassador to the European Union), and T.H. Fred Hochberg (Chair, Meridian Board of Trustees, and Former Chairman and President, Export-Import Bank of the United States, among others.
This reception was made possible through the generous support of Ecolab.
T.H. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and H.E. Iztok Mirošič, Ambassor of Slovenia at Meridian House on February 28, 2024. Photo by Jess Latos.
Public, private, governmental, philanthropic, and business leaders mix and mingle at Meridian House on February 28, 2024. Photo by Jess Latos.
H.E. Jacinth Henry-Martin, Ambassador of St. Kitts and Nevis speaks with H.E. Alzain Sabah Naser Saud AlSabah, Ambassador of Kuwait at Meridian House on February 28, 2024. Photo by Jess Latos.
Tiffany Atwell, Ecolab, greets H.E. Jovita Neliupšienė, Ambassador of the European Union at Meridian House on February 28, 2024. Photo by Jess Latos.
Ambassador Joan Polaschik, Director, Foreign Service Institute, speaks with H.E. Jackson Soram, Ambassador of Micronesia at Meridian House on February 28, 2024. Photo by Jess Latos.
Tiffany Atwell, Ecolab delivers remarks at Meridian House on February 28, 2024. Photo by Jess Latos.
Ambassador Stuart Holliday, CEO, Meridian welcomes Ambassador Joan Polaschik, Director, Foreign Service Institute to Meridian House on February 28, 2024. Photo by Jess Latos.
His Excellency Lui Tuck Yew, Ambassador of Singapore, Her Excellency Jovita Neliupšienė, Ambassador of the European Union, Her Excellency Jacinth Henry-Martin, Ambassador of St. Kitts and Nevis, Her Excellency Birgitta Tazelaar, Ambassador of the Netherlands listen to welcome remarks at Meridian House on February 28, 2024. Photo by Jess Latos.
His Excellency Youssef Amrani, Ambassador of Morocco speaks with His Excellency Lui Tuck Yew, Ambassador of Singapore at Meridian House on February 28, 2024. Photo by Jess Latos.
T.H. Joan Polaschik, Director, Foreign Service Institute, U.S Department of State delivers keynote remakrs at Meridian House on February 28, 2024. Photo by Jess Latos.
Guests speak with H.E. Jackson Soram, Ambassador of Micronesia, at Meridian House on February 28, 2024. Photo by Jess Latos.
Ambassador Stuart Holliday, CEO, Meridian welcomes honored ambassadors and guests to Meridian House on February 28, 2024. Photo by Jess Latos.
His Excellency Sabri Boukadoum, Ambassador of Algeria, His Excellency Lui Tuck Yew, Ambassador of Singapore, Her Excellency Jovita Neliupšienė, Ambassador of the European Union listen at Meridian House on February 28, 2024. Photo by Jess Latos.
Ambassador Stuart Holliday, CEO, Meridian welcomes H.E. Alzain Sabah Naser Saud AlSabah, Ambassador of Kuwait at Meridian House on February 28, 2024. Photo by Jess Latos.
Guests listen to keynote remarks at Welcome to Washington at Meridian House on February 28, 2024. Photo by Jess Latos.
Project summary
Diplomacy in the District: Meridian’s Welcome to Washington | February 2024