State Department Partners with Cultural Tourism DC to Kick-O

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State Department Partners with Cultural Tourism DC to Kick-Off Annual Passport DC


Media Note
Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC

May 3, 2011




This Thursday, May 5th at 6:00pm, the Office of the Chief of Protocol and Cultural Tourism DC will kick-off Passport DC 2011 with an event at the Blair House with members of the diplomatic corps. A media availability and Q&A will be held beforehand with U.S. Chief of Protocol, Ambassador Capricia Penavic Marshall, Executive Director of Cultural Tourism DC Linda Harper and a participating Ambassador to discuss the partnership and this year’s Passport DC month.
The cultural awareness raised by this event is a shared goal of both the Office of the Chief of Protocol and Cultural Tourism DC that can best be reached by working in tandem to educate and provide a public glimpse into international diplomacy. This initiative builds on Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s vision of “smart power diplomacy” and creating people-to-people relationships.
Passport DC is a month-long celebration of the international community in Washington, DC and for the first time the Office of the Chief of Protocol is joining Cultural Tourism DC in support of their effort to showcase the positive and unique role the diplomatic community plays in the business and culture of Washington.
This partnership was spearheaded by the Diplomatic Partnerships Division of the Office of the Chief of Protocol whose mission is to foster international goodwill and cultivate the relationship between the Diplomatic Corps and the people and institutions of the United States through an exchange of ideas, cultures and traditions. Cultural Tourism DC is an independent non-profit membership organization that develops, delivers, and celebrates experiences that honor the arts, culture, and heritage of Washington DC.
For more information and to RSVP for the media availability, please contact Kamyl Bazbaz at Bazbazk@state.gov or 202-647-2681. Space is limited.


PRN: 2011/686