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international international

from 1985 to 1990, despite my junior rank, my
position as ‘private secretary’ to the ambassador
Interview with and chief of protocol of the embassy and my
nature to be helpful and constructive, allowed
David Chikvaidze me to get to know many people from different
layers of American society, officials, business
and academic personalities, cultural figures, etc.
Despite being tethered to the ambassador’s front
office for an average of twelve to fourteen hours a
day, I still managed to do a lot of public speaking
before live audiences and on network TV and
to attend social events. In the process, I visited
forty-five of the fifty states. In all, I was blessed
with friendships, both professional and personal,
many of which have lasted to this day. More
in those five years, than in the ten years at the the presidency and announced that the USSR
United Nations in New York, actually, due to the would “cease its existence” on New Year’s Eve.
difference in demand: most UN staff members at Shortly thereafter, in January 1992, I was invited
UNHQ, unless they professionally interact with to join the same protocol office but now of the
host country and host city authorities, can go for president of the Russian Federation Boris Yeltsin.
years without meeting an American – doormen It too was interesting work. The highlight was
and cab drivers excluded – unless the person in my assignment to advance President Yeltsin’s
question already has contacts and friendships participation in the first ever summit meeting of
and a desire to maintain and grow them. I acted the United Nations Security Council in January
on the same instinct when I arrived in Geneva 1992. Eleven months later, on December 25, I
in 2003, immediately immersing myself in the resigned my position in the Kremlin and headed
cultural and academic life of Geneva. What else to New York City in January 1993, to start a new
Vice President of the Swiss Forum on International Affairs can I tell you; I am a Hollywood classic movie life with my wife and eleven-year-old son as a
Associate Fellow at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy buff and love country music and classic jazz. Oh, staff member of the United Nations Secretariat
with a six-month contract at the P3 level in
and I have been and continue to be a faithful
former Chef de Cabinet of the Director-General of UNOG follower of Star Trek, or a ‘trekkie’ as we are hand. Joining the United Nations Secretariat
known, since I was ten years old. was something that I had decided and worked
on to achieve. I was the first Georgian to join
Mr. Chikvaidze is a well-known and respected You are a well-known figure in International You spent over four decades in diplomacy and the Secretariat against the newly established
figure in diplomatic circles — and far beyond. Geneva. Could you please tell us a little about international relations, including more than Georgian geographic quota.
Over the years, he has held key positions at yourself, perhaps something that doesn’t appear thirty years at the United Nations—in both New
the United Nations, including Director of the in your official biography? York and Geneva. Can you share more about that The first and most important formative
Library and Chief de Cabinet to the Director- Every person has facets that do not fit within the experience and how it shaped your professional experience as a UN staff member was the
General in Geneva. In each of these roles, he pithy wording of a brief biography, or a CV genre, outlook? satisfaction of working impartially for all the
has demonstrated an unwavering commitment and I am no exception. Without going on at As I noted above, I began my career as a ‘bilateral member states of the Organization and not just
to the values of the UN and to the people who length about ‘Dear Me’, as Peter Ustinov entitled diplomat’ working for my country which at the for one country. I must admit, though, that it
work within it. his autobiography, I can say that I consider time was the Soviet Union. I have always been, took me about a year to train my heart not to skip
myself to be a ‘normal extrovert.’ I like and enjoy am and will be a Georgian, ethnically, mentally, a beat at the sight and sound of a presidential
Those who know him best describe him as interacting with people. Professionally, in every physically, culturally, but at the time, my little motorcade! The other key formative experience
intelligent, efficient, and tireless in his work. duty station this translated into making contacts native land was part of the Soviet Union, and was when I first went on mission to a war-torn
He is also widely appreciated for his integrity: and friends in the host country and city. The I saw no discrepancy. At the end of my five area and saw the people for whose well-being,
a man who keeps his word, who combines worst thing for a diplomat, any person, in fact, is years in Washington, D.C., I was invited to often survival, we were working in offices in New
professionalism with a rare human touch. His to lock oneself into the ‘international ghetto’ and join the protocol office of the newly established York and other comfortable duty stations. The
long-standing presence at the UN has made not interact and get to know the population and administration of the president of the USSR. work and role of the United Nations and of my
him both a reference point for colleagues and the country where fate has taken you. Language It was exciting work planning foreign visits small part in the huge Organization immediately
a trusted voice in the international community. skills and the nature of one’s work also have a and accompanying the president and Mrs. fell into perspective and became worthwhile
Now we will leave the floor to Mr. Chikvaidze lot to do with the extent of one’s integration. In Gorbachev and managing the visits of foreign when I saw the bright eyes of displaced children,
to kindly replied to all our questions, the floor my first diplomatic posting as special assistant dignitaries. All that came to a screeching halt on so unfortunate, yet so enthusiastic and full of
is yours. to the Soviet ambassador in Washington, D.C.
December 25, 1991, when Gorbachev resigned energy and kindness. That first feeling stayed

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