Here’s a little story from Arab News with big meaning for the Saudi government. The country of Georgia has named as its ambassador to the Kingdom, a woman. Female ambassadors, while not exactly plentiful around the world, are exceedingly rare in the KSA; Ms Mayerling-Mikadze, in fact, is the first.
This is good because there are still Saudi ministries that get really shirty when a woman tries to enter their exalted headquarters. Even embassy officers—though not ambassadors—get to sit in waiting rooms while discussions go on in ministers’ offices. This appointment, quite literally, serves to kick the doors down.
The article notes that other countries have assigned women to their embassies in Saudi Arabia. It points to Susan Ziadeh, the Deputy Chief of Mission (effectively, the deputy ambassador) at the US Embassy, though there was a woman, Margaret Scobey, in that position when I was in Riyadh in 2001-03. She later went on to become ambassador to Syria.
As for Saudi Arabia itself, it is now including women among its diplomatic corps. It has yet to name a female ambassador, however.
Riyadh gets first woman envoy
GHAZANFAR ALI KHAN | ARAB NEWSRIYADH: A Georgian has become the first woman ambassador to Saudi Arabia.
Yekaterina Mayering-Mikadze, who presented a copy of her credentials to Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal, is the current Georgian ambassador to Kuwait. She also represents her country in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and the UAE.
Ambassador Yekaterina said that cooperation with the Gulf states was a “paramount task” for Georgia, especially in agriculture, real estate, tourism and finance.
Georgia, a former Soviet republic nation that became independent in 1991 and admitted to the UN as its 179th member after a year, now has the distinction of sending the first female ambassador to Riyadh.
…
in Saudi Arabia”
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March:12:2010 - 10:53
John,
I agree with you. It’s quite commendable.
March:12:2010 - 11:44
I hope other countries follow suit ASAP
March:12:2010 - 13:20
Reminds me of the story of one black congressman in D.C. in the 1940s. Usually Jim Crow laws prevented such an election, but this guy (Arthur Mitchell?) slipped through. D.C. did not have local rule of any sort back then; Congress ruled the town. He used his position to violate D.C.’s segregation ordinances whenever he could. No policeman would arrest him.
March:12:2010 - 14:11
A nice step forward, with kudos to Saudi for approving her appointment, and building the female complement of its diplomatic corps.
March:12:2010 - 17:38
Good thing her name didn’t sound like ‘Biggest …’!
March:12:2010 - 19:20
Oh yes indeed! LOL