22
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Seen by a Diplomat’s Spouse
occasions. All the heads of diplomatic missions met at the
Guests Palace in Riyadh. Then each of them was driven in
a special car, accompanied by a squadron of motorcyclists
to Al-Amer Royal Palace. The actual presentation
of credentials was shown on local television. Each
ambassador got off the car and proceeded in the direction
of the palace gates, escorted by two lines of honor guards
that comprise 35 to 40 military personnel wearing special
apparel. At the end of the line, the chief of the group
of guards was waiting for him in order to offer him the
military salute with a drawn sword that is lifted high up
and accompanied him to the guests waiting room. When
all were gathered, they were invited to move on to the
close-by hall of ceremonies where the King was present
with his entourage. After the announcement of the name
of each ambassador and the name of his country, he would
proceed solemnly towards the Head of State and present
his credentials. After the ceremonies were over, the King
sat with them and welcomed them for forty minutes in
other more magnificent and gorgeous halls.
Thus Elman Arasly obtained official diplomatic status
as extraordinary plenipotentiary ambassador representing
the Azerbaijan Republic at the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Awaiting him were years of hard but very important and
interesting work.
During the many years of our life abroad, I always
used to help my husband in his work. But here, in the
Kingdom, I realized that my tasks must be different and
more important. An ambassador’s wife also represents her
country and a great deal depends on her activity.
23
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Seen by a Diplomat’s Spouse
As I have already said, my English at the time was
very poor indeed. I understood that I had to do something
about it. One day, I received a call from the spouse of
the British ambassador. She was an attractive, intelligent
person. Her name was Mary Horbedit and I contracted
with her an intimate and enduring friendship and asked
her to help me find a woman teacher. Less than a week
later, she told me she had found the teacher I desired and
that I could form a group of ladies whose English was
poor. The spouses of some ambassadors responded with
pleasure to my proposal. Our first teacher was the spouse
of an English major general. Our friendship is still alive
and we still correspond.
I am writing about that in such detail because our
group that was later called “the Azerbaijani Group” has
become, since then, a remarkable phenomenon in the
diplomatic life of the Country and I think it has played a
small, though positive, role in the relations of Azerbaijan
with other states.
Months had passed and the group increased and
multiplied; new members joined in and others had left
the country. We used to enjoy study at our meetings each
Tuesday, which tradition has continued up to the present,
although I am the only one left of the first students. I am also
the coordinator of the group, although I was really tired of
carrying out daily routine work. But this Group is my lovely
baby and I will not abandon it until my final departure.
When this happens, the group will probably cease to exist.
At present, the Group comprises about fifteen members,
both foreigners and local women. Obviously, the activity
24
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Seen by a Diplomat’s Spouse
of the Group has ceased to be confined to the learning of
English, as most members became quite fluent in English.
However, we always exchanged views and talked care-
freely about various matters. Sometimes, we would invite
specialists in various fields, celebrate different sorts of
occasions, stage plays, give parties, organize exhibitions
of national dresses and costumes, make many trips and
stand by one another in cases of difficulties and, of course,
talk about our countries.
Here in particular, after becoming members of the
society of ambassadors’ spouses, I wanted to make
acquaintance with many Saudi ladies in the diplomatic
corps in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I suddenly
discovered that many of them knew nothing or very little
about our countries. I had to take it upon myself to give
lectures and talks, explanations and illustrations.
During our stay in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,
my husband made several appearances on Saudi
television, gave radio talks, wrote many articles in the
local newspapers and was interviewed several times by
newspaper reporters. All such activities were illustrated
by color pictures. I, myself, was involved in a few such
activities. A whole picture appeared in newspapers about
Azerbaijan with exquisite photographs of our children
and grandchildren. I appeared several times on television
and talked of our country, our traditional cuisine, the way
we celebrate the month of Ramadan and Id Al-Fitr . I also
talked about the books I had written, the paintings I made,
my famous collection of women fans and many other
things. But time flies and our fifth year in Saudi Arabia
Dostları ilə paylaş: |