July 4-5

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“Perhaps a tendency toward adulation and loathing comes naturally with the weakness for great causes.”

--Ian Buruma, in a review of Christopher Hitchens’ “Hitch 22”

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PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

Pakistan, US to enhance cooperation in media‎ - Associated Press of Pakistan: "Pakistan and United States on Wednesday decided to explore the possibilities of enhancing cooperation in media sector. A meeting to explore the possibilities of enhanced cooperation between the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the United States under Pak-US Sectoral Dialogue was held here. Secretary Information and Broadcasting, Mansoor Suhail headed the Pakistani side whereas the Americans were led by the visiting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Alina Romaniski [sic] who was assisted by Dr. Jonathan Margolis, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of International Information Programme, Larry Schwartz, Minister Counsellor for Public Affairs,

US Embassy and Jonathan Cebra, Public Affairs Officer, US Embassy, Islamabad. ... The Secretary made an elaborate presentation highlighting the working of the Ministry that is working on a range of initiatives to address the growing needs of strategic communication, public and cultural diplomacy of the democratic government on Pakistan. The plan includes strengthening of democracy, fighting terrorism, leading sustainable and equitable economic growth, upholding independent judiciary, cementing cordial relations with the world, ensuring responsible freedom of the media, its facilitation and growth and ensuring access of the citizens of Pakistan to information." Image from

USA commited to reforms in Kenya - George Okore, allvoices: "US envoy to Kenya Michael Ranneberger while speaking on the occasion of his country’s 234th independence anniversary celebrations, said the vibrant, strong and expanding partnership between the two countries was based on mutual understanding and democratic values. Mr. Ranneberger affirmed that Kenya continues to be USA’s most significant strategic partner in East Africa. ... The occasion was also attended by visiting US under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Affairs Judith McHale, who had earlier met with youth leaders, embassy staff, Kenyan entrepreneurs, Nobel Peace Laureate Professor Wangari Mathia and the media. During her visit, she officially launch the Department of State-sponsored 'Apps 4 Africa', a regional competition that seeks to harness the power of African software developers in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda and leverage the power of digital technology to improve the lives of ordinary people in East Africa and worldwide."

Senate Reception for YES Students – News Blaze: "[Remarks by] Judith A. McHale, Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Sponsored by Senator Richard Lugar Russell Senate Office Building Caucus Room Washington, DC: With the support of Senators Kennedy, Lugar and Leahy, this program has grown from 13 to 35 countries; and from 163 students in 2003 to 2004 to nearly 1,000 students for the 2010-2011 academic year - with students placed in every state and the District of Columbia. The Senators' support has also included funding for alumni activities around the world, and the launch of the Kennedy-Lugar YES Abroad program, which gives young Americans the chance to travel to certain YES countries and live with host families just like each of you has done here.”

General McChrystal and Public Diplomacy – John Brown, Huffington Post: "America is increasingly perceived overseas as wearing combat boots rather than projecting new ideas and providing innovative products.

This view about America-as-an-aged-centurion fighting against social and political change, held among foreigners, including the young, is not in our long term economic and political interests." Image from

Declaring Independence through reason‎ - Matt Armstrong, MountainRunner.us: "The Declaration was not received on either side of the Atlantic as the declaration of life and liberty it is celebrated today, but as a declaration of grievances, prerogatives, and justification. It was ultimately a document of public diplomacy, written and disseminated to the world to create support for a cause."

Beaconiite to attend moot in US – The News: "Islamabad Jasmine Hoti, O Level student from Beaconhouse School System, has been selected for the Women to Women America 2010 Conference, sponsored by Empower Peace, scheduled to be held in Boston, Massachusetts, USA in August 2010, says a press release. ... Jasmine Hoti is thrilled at having qualified and met the challenging criteria of acceptance at the conference. Her application process for the conference required for her to exhibit her interest in leadership development, the democratic process and public diplomacy."

Hasbarapocalypse — Leaked Frank Luntz memo: Israeli public diplomacy in US on Flotilla failed dismally - Indybay: "The Israel Project (TIP),

an American Hasbara outfit, commissioned Republican political consultant Frank Luntz to examine the effectiveness of Israel’s public diplomacy in the US on the Flotilla debacle. TIP gave the memo to the Prime Minister’s Office, where someone promptly leaked it to Chico Menashe, Channel Ten TV News diplomatic affairs correspondent. Luntz’s findings are grim. Here’s a summary: 1. 56% of Americans agree with the claim that there is a humanitarian crisis in Gaza; 2. 43% of Americans agree with the claim that people in Gaza are starving; 3. [Only] 34% of Americans support the Israeli operation against the Flotilla; 4. [Only] 20% of Americans 'felt support' for Israel following announcement of easing of Gaza closure. Menashe wraps: The figures are troubling and worrisome. If that is the situation with our great friend the US, it is easy to imagine the situation in other, somewhat less sympathetic countries." Image from

Timing is Everything‎ - Ari Bussel, NewsBlaze: "It was a very inconvenient time for Israel this past month. Israel was condemned by one and all, but time is the ultimate healer. It is a month later and another emissary is on a speaking tour, a policy adviser to the Foreign Minister. 'We need a unified message' he says, but stops short at defining the message. According to him, it was not the Foreign Ministry's fault, the fiasco that ensued. It is always someone else's fault. His mission, too, is so secretive that everyone seems to know about it, but he refuses to highlight some of what he did over the past week in Los Angeles. 'Why do you need to know,' he asks. In retrospect he is correct. If the speaking engagements were opened to the masses, these six hundred some thousand members of the Jewish community at large and three hundred some thousand Israelis who reside in the area, we would have witnessed for ourselves why Israel fails in Public Diplomacy."

219th Presbyterian Assembly Faces Its Moment of Truth - James M. Wall, posted at FPI (Friends of Palestinians and Israelis): "No amount of hasbara propaganda can resist the power of voices in the US, like an aroused church public and enlightened journalists . ... Hasbara as a tactic is losing some of its bite, yet another reminder of the wisdom in the phrase often used by Martin Luther King, Jr., 'truth crushed to earth, will rise again'. For those still unfamiliar with the term hasbara, Jane Adas provides a valuable description of the term in an essay she wrote for the November-December, 2009, issue of Link, a publication of Americans for Middle East Understanding (AMEU): Hasbara literally means 'explanation' and is often translated as 'public diplomacy,' but can perhaps best be thought of as problem solving through marketing techniques, like rebranding (Israel as the victim of Hamas’ aggression), product placement (hide the Goldstone Report in the darkest, least-frequented corner of the shop), and promotional lingo ('The side that seems to want peace more will win…' (from The Israel Project’s 2009 Global Language Dictionary)."

An example in tolerance - Claude Salhani, Khaleej Times: “'There is a need to un-learn the fear of the other and to unlearn xenophobia,' said Jorge Sampaio, the European Union’s representative, adding that people are not naturally hot-wired for intolerance.

'They are taught to hate.' And just as they are taught to hate, they can ‘un-learn’ to hate. Of course, this is a long-term process but it is also the only way the world will solve its problems of racial, religious and ethnic intolerance. The media, of course, plays a big role in this project as it can help promote understanding or it can help promote strife. 'With patience and strong public diplomacy we can gain hearts and minds,' said Simpaio. A well-studied public diplomacy campaign must be launched to education the people and to prove show that myths about the ‘other’ are simply that: myths." Sampaio image from

Chevening Scholarship Programme - The Sun Daily: "The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said the £10 million (RM49 million) cut to the global Chevening scholarship programme by the UK government contributes a fraction of over £18 million (RM88.2 million) savings this year. ... Other programmes affected by budget cuts include the low-carbon high-growth programme, FCO’s programme spending on drugs and crime and public diplomacy programmes amounting to cuts of some £5.6 million (RM27.4 million). However, Hague added, the FOC would explore alternative sources of funding for the first two programmes while seeking to sustain its public diplomacy programmes in the future."

Translation of Interview Published in Ming Pao - Charles Burton, Principled realism: "[I]n February of last year Burton published a report entitled A Reassessment of Canada's Interests in China and Options for Canada's China Policy. It systematically and penetratingly analyzed relations between Canada and China in the areas of trade and investment, immigration and consular matters, development and human rights, Taiwan, Tibet, Uyghur, Mongolian issues and Falun Gong issues as well as public diplomacy, etc. The Report makes recommendations on how to improve Canada-China relations."

Confucius schools bridge cultural divides [China Daily USA] - Wandering China: "The Confucius Institutes are helping spearhead China’s public diplomacy and charm offensive toward the world, at a grassroots level. The idea is really quite simple (simple, not simplistic – not to say that the execution of the project is easy), make them like you and understand why you do things, and managing the expectations of the world becomes that much easier."

Finland - Veera Heinonen looks forward to new challenges at challenges at Ministry for Foreign Affairs - ‎ ISRIA: "Press Counsellor, Ms Veera Heinonen has been announced as the new Director of Communications at the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs. ... Veera Heinonen

is keen to stress the trailblazing role of her predecessor Petri Tuomi-Nikula, who has been instrumental in promoting public diplomacy at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and at Finnish missions around the world. The next step in developing Ministry communications, she insists, is to reform digital communications. 'Innovative online communications and social media are extremely powerful tools of communication for instance in emergency and crisis situations, as we saw during the recent ash disruption. Digital diplomacy is the next step forward, i.e. how we can promote our foreign policy goals by means of digital communications. Finland’s communications campaign with the UN Security Council is the first bigger project where we could try this out,' Veera explains. She is also interested in finding new creative approaches to promoting Finland, and is therefore looking forward to the final report from the Finland Promotion Board in the autumn." Heinonen image from

Professional Course in Diplomacy and International Relations - New Era: Newpaper for a New Namibia: "IUM will present in the capital a 5 day Professional Course in Diplomacy and International Relations as from 26 July – 28 July and 24 – 28 August 2010. Topics to be presented include; Technical Diplomacy, Economic Diplomacy, Commercial Diplomacy, Military Diplomacy, and Cultural Diplomacy targeting current Practicing Local and Foreign Diplomats, newly appointed Diplomats, Directors and Chiefs of Ministries of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and International Relations, and officials coordinating, liaising with or being posted to Regional, International agencies and organizations."

CULTURAL DIPLOMACY

Michelle Obama's artistic thank you to Svetlana Medvedev – The Reliable Source, Washington Post (June 24, 2010): "Michelle Obama displayed her skill for cultural diplomacy -- and social reciprocity -- when she invited Russian first lady Svetlana Medvedev to an afternoon of song and dance Thursday at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts. Students at the Georgetown campus danced to Prokofiev and Cassandra Wilson and sang odes to their school's famous namesake and to New York City -- and jaws dropped when student Victoria Davis performed a dazzling version of George Gershwin's 'Summertime.'"

U.S. Diplomacy: Hitting the Right Notes: The State Department's Rhythm Road Program Sends Musical Ambassadors to the World, Conveying American Values With a Beat – CBS News: "On any given day, somewhere in the world, they're lining up . . . to hate us. But even in places where they denounce the United States, the U.S. government is, in many cases, reaching out . . . with music. ... The program, called the Rhythm Road, is a $10 million-a-year effort, in

partnership with the Jazz at Lincoln Center organization. There's no speech-making . . . no U.S. aid handouts . . . just Americans performing American songs. In this kind of diplomatic mission, the music does all the talking. When asked if there are times a musician can do her job better, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton replied, 'Well, I think that there are certainly times when music conveys American values better than a speech.' ... The State Department now sends music groups to places like Syria, a country on the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism. But where jazz was the coolest sound of the 1950s, the young target audience in Syria calls for a totally different kind of music, such as Chen Lo and the Liberation Family, a hip hop band from Brooklyn, New York. Why would the State Department pay to send a hip-hop band overseas? 'Hip-hop is America,' Clinton said. 'And so is jazz and so is every other form of music with American roots that tell a story.'" Image from

Zaza finds her way to success as a female Kurdish musician - Boran Zaza, The Kurdish Globe: "The YES Academy ... is prepared by a Houston-based NGO called American Voices. According to the academy: 'This year, 250 young musicians, dancers, and actors of the YES Academy have been recruited from Erbil, Duhok, Suleimaniya, Kirkuk, Koya, Rania, Baghdad, Basra, Diyala, and Mosul.' This is its fourth consecutive year in Kurdistan, and lasts from July 2-12, 2010. It is a summer performing arts program providing professional training for aspiring musicians, dancers, and actors aged 6 to 26. There will be a comprehensive program of daily classes in music, dance, and theatre ranging from Broadway musical theatre and hip-hop dance to jazz and classical music."

Pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet plays arts fete for Henry Segerstrom; now it's his turn – Los Angeles Times: "Trial lawyer Wylie Aitken ... [is] the South Coast Repertory board president whom Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger recently appointed to the California Arts Council . ... Some delicate cultural diplomacy may be needed on Aitken's account when the JapanOC festival comes to Costa Mesa: His Santa Ana firm is representing plaintiffs in a huge class-action suit against Toyota in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana, over deaths and injuries allegedly caused by the sudden acceleration of Toyota vehicles."

Towards a more cultural Europe‎ - Marie Anne Zammit, Malta Independent Online: "Intercultural Dialogue is an important tool for cultural diplomacy as it serves as a perfect bridge for endorsing cultural dialogue between states, different cultures and different social groups. Europe with its expansion and migration is enriched with many individual identities, adding to an affluent cultural diversity and creating more dialogue. In 2008, the European Union

designated the year for Inter cultural dialogue, supporting various activities in raising awareness of the idea of Intercultural dialogue." Image from

Lords debate Foreign Policy - DeHavilland (press release) (subscription) – [from Google entry] "Lord Howe: The Foreign Secretary spoke eloquently this morning about the importance of cultural diplomacy, and I too pay tribute to the British Council and the World."

Hardsell soft power‎ - Hindustan Times: "The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is obsessed with building ‘soft power’ — the attractiveness of a country’s civilisation, culture, values and political system — as well as ensuring that China is respected and admired for its achievements since reforms began in 1978. In contrast, India puts little emphasis on promoting the country’s historical, economic, political and cultural credentials to the world. Its appreciation for the value of ‘cultural diplomacy’ is poor. One result is that the mere mention of India as a Great Power usually evokes only chuckles from an Asian audience."

China's cultural diplomacy in Africa‎ - Bram Posthumus, Radio Netherlands: "This year – or the next – China will become Africa’s Number One trading partner. The value of their business will exceed US$100 billion. But Sino-African relations are not just about money. Culture and language are now an integral part of the equation, as Dr Chris Alden explains. He is an expert on China and Africa."

Australia told: Engage with Asia - Claudette Werden, Australia Network News: "An international forum has heard that Australia needs to broaden its cultural engagement with Asia - and not be so ready to judge events in neighbouring countries.

Michael L'Estrange, the former head of Australia's Foreign Affairs department, called for a more honest approach to relations with Asia. 'What I'm saying is that we do need to broaden our cultural engagement, we do need to develop our community linkages,' he told the forum, which attracted regional diplomats, academics and commentators to the south-eastern city of Melbourne. John McCarthy, Australia's former ambassador to Indonesia, Japan and Thailand warned Australia risks being complacent about its reputation in Asia. ... China's ambassador went further, saying Australia should watch very carefully how it handles its cultural diplomacy in the region. Zhang Junsai says Australia should develop its bilateral relations on the basis of equality and mutual respect, stepping carefully when dealing with what he described as taboo or sensitive subjects." See also. Image from

India needs to flex its soft muscles - ‎John Lee, Sydney Morning Herald: "The Chinese Communist Party is obsessed with building 'soft power' - the attractiveness of China's civilisation, culture, values and political system - as well as ensuring China is respected and admired for its achievements since reforms began in 1978.
In contrast, India puts little emphasis on promoting the country's historical, economic, political and cultural credentials to the world. Its appreciation for the value of 'cultural diplomacy' is poor. The mere mention of India as a great power usually evokes chuckles from an Australian audience. Although loathe to admit it, New Delhi would do well to learn lessons from Beijing about the importance of selling its strengths and achievements to the world." See also (1) (2)

Resources of Indonesian soft power diplomacy - Siswo Pramono, Jakarta Post: "The Asian market demands values that are both universal in character (to help Asians integrate with globalization) and original in nature (to help Asians preserve their cultural identity). ...If Indonesia is to embark on the contest of soft power, it should look for a home-grown, credible value which is attractive to the Asian market. We need to trace our perceived cultural resources back during the glorious era of the Kingdom of Majapahit (1293-1527)."

Java ship seeks ancient Japan ties‎ - Christine T. Tjandraningsih, The Japan Times: "A ship representing the spirit of the ancient Majapahit Kingdom on Java Island

set sail Sunday from Jakarta on a 9,000-km voyage to Japan and other countries to celebrate the sailing history of the Majapahit Kingdom and the historical relationship between Majapahit and the Ryukyu Kingdom, which ruled Okinawa. ... The Japan Majapahit Association, a group of businessmen in Japan interested in the history and culture of the Majapahit Kingdom, initiated the project, which cost about 1 billion rupiah (about ¥9.65 million) and was backed by the Indonesian and Japanese governments. ... The crew includes other Japanese and five people from the Bajau ethnic group, well-known in Indonesia for its seafaring traditions. Five university students selected from 800 applicants across Indonesia also joined the voyage. 'We, the students, are carrying the cultural diplomacy mission to Japan to promote closer ties between the two countries,' Agung Setiyo Wibowo, 22, a student of the International Relations School at the Paramadina Islamic University, said." Image from

A tradition to hold dear‎ - Irish Times: "Not only do words like 'traditional arts' and 'economy' seem like an intelligent pairing, but more of us are starting to see the plain good sense of concepts such as 'cultural tourism' – the traditional-music community has vast expertise in cultural tourism, cultural diplomacy, enterprise, adaptability and finding smart ways of fitting into and exploiting new environments. ... The state already invests heavily is sustaining Irish jobs in tourism, food, agriculture, financial services, IT, pharmaceuticals and other sectors that operate in a competitive global environment. We are world leaders and standard-setters in traditional music – in any other sector this would be recognised and celebrated as a definitive strategic and competitive advantage. The Minister for Arts, Mary Hanafin, delivered the keynote speech at An Chúirt Chruitireachta in Termonfeckin last week. In her view, the traditional arts, in particular, make us considerable in the world. She has already made these views clear to the Arts Council."

FG To Set Up Centre For Black Civilisation In USA‎ - LeadershipNigeria: "The Federal Government through the ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation yesterday in Abuja, said it is committed to a centre for African Arts, culture and civilization in Atlanta, U.S.A, with the objective of propagating Nigeria's historical role as the leader of the black race. ... Dr. Tunde Babawale, the coordinator of the project on behalf of the ministry, said the Centre was borne out of the need to project Africa to the diaspora. Babawale maintained that the centre on completion will serve as spring board for Nigeria's cultural diplomacy."

Notable participation of UAE in Morocco's Asilah Arts Festival in July‎ - WAM, Emirates News Agency: "In co-operation with the Ministry of Culture, ADACH [Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage]

will also hold several workshops and art exhibitions, lectures and seminars. These will address the topics of cultural diplomacy, the book industry and publishing (especially the Abu Dhabi Book Fair), Kitab, Qalam and the Sheikh Zayed Book Award." Image from

Istanbul gets cool with Istancool - Hurriyet Daily News: "'Istancool,' the festival of art, design, fashion, literature, film, music and ideas aiming to enhance the reputation of Istanbul as a great cultural city and pay tribute to Turkey’s cultural heritage, begins Friday. World-renowned names, including internationally-recognized Turkish artists, will be on stage through until Sunday throughout the city. Bringing together a mesmerizing brand of art, design, fashion, literature, film, music and ideas, Istanbul is celebrating 'Istancool' from Friday to Sunday. The festival, organized by the British cultural diplomacy brand Liberatum, Turkish partner Istanbul 74er, the Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency in association with the Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry, provides a riveting artistic journey that aims to boost cultural dialogue."

What's on (or not) in BA - Marjan Groothuis, Buenos Aires Herald: ["T]here are ...exhibitions that certainly do deserve a visit. The first one is being held in the Museo Nacional de Arte Decorativo (Libertador 1902) and concerns the German artist Gerhard Richter.

Of course, this is not the ultimate Richter show, but it serves as a good approach to the output of this prolific and well known German artist. There are drawings, prints, paintings, both figurative and abstract and a video about a major project of his with stained glass windows. True, this is one of those travelling shows used for cultural diplomacy, but on the other hand this Richter presentation will be as good as it gets here." Richter image from

Global voices detail a history of gender bias in journalism‎ - Sandra Ordonez, Online Journalism Review: "'Yes, I have been favored for being a woman.' Louise Belfrage, former WIP news editor and Swedish national currently working as a cultural diplomacy advisor in the Middle East."

RELATED ITEM

Turkish Propaganda Campaign, Part II: Exploiting Akhtamar Church Once Again - Harut Sassounian, asbarez.com: Readers may recall that the Turkish government embarked on a worldwide publicity stunt in 2007 when it renovated and reopened as a museum the Armenian Holy Cross Church on Akhtamar Island in Lake Van. At the time, Turkey had gone to great lengths to lure to the opening ceremonies Armenians from around the world. Turkish officials did not conceal that their real purpose was to exploit this event for propaganda purposes.


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