Ambassador Ahmed Boutache, hosting with his wife, Fatima Boutache, spoke of the growing commercial and diplomatic ties between his North African country and America. Boutache noted that Algeria has a well-educated, young work force, and effectively battled the coronavirus, including the creation of a vaccine factory that helped supply surrounding countries. He also addressed Algeria's daunting challenges, including Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s efforts to push global stability, as “…without peace and security, development is simply not possible."
ICC revives Embassy Nights with gala evening at Algerian ambassador's residence
The International Correspondents Committee's Embassy Nights returned from its COVID-19 hiatus with gala evening last month at the residence of the Algerian ambassador.
Club members and Algerian officials mingle at The Elms, the residence of Algerian Ambassador Ahmed Boutache and his wife, Fatima Boutache.
ICC member Kate Jones, Fatima Boutache, wife of the ambassador, ICC member Jan Du Plain, Ambassador Ahmed Boutache, ICC member Skip Kaltenheuser and Wafa Ameuri, political counselor for the Algerian Embassy at the Embassy Night at The Elms.
Both the current U.S. Ambassador to Algeria Elizabeth Moore Aubin and former US Ambassador to Algeria Cameron Hume attended the event. Both expressed their long-held fondness for Algeria and their hope that more Americans will have the opportunity to visit. Brahim Chennouf, Algeria’s Consul General of New York, also attended the event.
Historian John Kiser gifted copies of his book, "Commander of the Faithful: The Life and Times of Emir Abd el-Kader (1808-1883)", a fascinating 19th century figure who battled French colonialism while advocating human rights.
Master musician Rafael Javadov's electric violin buoyed the atmospherics for club attendees and for embassy staff escaping their two-year lockdown. Club member Jan Du Plain emceed the evening ICC Chair Elizabeth Hagedorn said the evening met the ICC team's goal of helping Club members network with important international contacts and connecting embassy officials with valuable media contacts.
The Elms, the setting for the event, has a long history of high profile residents and intrigue. The Spring Valley mansion housed Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson after he took office. Outside walking in the dark in the wee hours of Nov. 23, 1963, the new president was nearly shot by an exhausted Secret Service agent who hadn’t slept in 60 hours and, hearing only footsteps, feared another assassin. It was also the home of Perle Mesta, former US Ambassador to Luxembourg, an author famed as “the hostess with the mostest” who inspired creative works including an Irving Berlin musical, "Call Me Madam."