Friday

29th Mar 2024

EU leaders court Obama with bling, vodka

What do you give a man who has everything, including the White House?

A bamboo bicycle? Bird-shaped cufflinks? Some coffee in a fancy box?

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Get the EU news that really matters

Instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.

... or subscribe as a group

  • Sarkozy favoured designerware, while Merkel opted for CDs and adidas t-shirts (Photo: aic.cz)

US President Barack Obama got all the above and lots more in 2009 according to a register of diplomatic gifts published by his protocol department this week.

Most of it ends up in storage in the National Archives and Records Administration in Washington.

Some of the best pieces, such as a framed photo from a Brazilian governor worth $40,000, is loaned to museums.

The coffee, and other "perishable goods," have the mysterious destiny of being "handled pursuant to US Secret Service policy."

And what does the gift say about you?

In terms of European presents, former French leader Nicolas Sarkozy, known at home as "President Bling-Bling" for his flashy style, lived up to his reputation.

The long list of Sarkozy gifts includes: a $7,750 Hermes golf accessory bag; $15,000 worth of Dupont fountain pens, calvados and glassware; a $1,650 crystal statuette of a golfer; a $2,300 Louis Vuitton man-bag; a $2,000 Hermes travel case and a Laguiole letter-opener; as well as $6,200 worth of Lancel and Christian Dior bags and "his and hers white, belted Dior bathrobes with 'Dior' embroidered on the breast pocket."

In each case, the protocol office duly noted: "non-acceptance would cause embarrassment to donor and US government."

Sarkozy's wife, model-singer Carla Bruni, also showered Michelle Obama with presents.

The US first lady got $5,500 of Baccarat crystal table lamps and designer perfumes. Her kids got pink and green outfits from the Bonpoint label.

Sarkozy's foreign minister, Alain Juppe, gave Obama's former secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, some pointedly feminine items.

She received a $385 Hermes silk scarf and a $2,400 calfskin Dior handbag.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the muse of EU austerity, offered relatively modest ware.

She gave Barack Obama $1,400 of golf clubs. She offered Michelle Obama $1,300 of wine glasses and German wine.

But she gave the US first children Adidas t-shirts and swimming goggles, while Hillary Clinton got music CDs.

For his part, British leader David Cameron opted for a $1,400 tapestry of the US flag and some silver children's bracelets.

But British royals made up the shortfall with: $700 worth of china cups; $2,000 worth of gold broaches and porcelain; a $2,800 leather-clad book; and a $4,000 "silver trinket box."

Pre-bailout Ireland also came across as fairly generous.

The Irish leader, Enda Kenny, once gave Obama $3,200 worth of books, photos and shamrock-engraved crystal bowls.

On another occasion, he threw in a "wooden hurling stick with black electrical tape near top and bottom."

Meanwhile, Poland kept up the theme of showcasing national products, even at the risk of reinforcing national stereotypes.

Its President, Bronislaw Komorowski, gave Obama five bottles of fruit-flavoured vodka, while its Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, gave a bottle of bison-grass-flavoured Zubrowka vodka and a set of Zubrowka-logo shot glasses.

Four more years: Obama claims decisive win

Barack Obama has been re-elected as President of the United States after claiming a close but decisive victory over Republican challenger Mitt Romney.

US and EU breaking taboos to restrain Israel

The US abstained and all EU states on the UN Security Council backed a call for an "immediate ceasefire" in Gaza, as Europe prepares to also blacklist extremist Israeli settlers.

EU warns Russia over Moscow terror attacks

Europe has warned Russia not to use the weekend's terror attacks in Moscow as a pretext to escalate its war in Ukraine and crackdown on internal dissent.

Opinion

Why UK-EU defence and security deal may be difficult

Rather than assuming a pro-European Labour government in London will automatically open doors in Brussels, the Labour party needs to consider what it may be able to offer to incentivise EU leaders to factor the UK into their defence thinking.

Latest News

  1. Kenyan traders react angrily to proposed EU clothes ban
  2. Lawyer suing Frontex takes aim at 'antagonistic' judges
  3. Orban's Fidesz faces low-polling jitters ahead of EU election
  4. German bank freezes account of Jewish peace group
  5. EU Modernisation Fund: an open door for fossil gas in Romania
  6. 'Swiftly dial back' interest rates, ECB told
  7. Moscow's terror attack, security and Gaza
  8. Why UK-EU defence and security deal may be difficult

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Nordic Council of MinistersJoin the Nordic Food Systems Takeover at COP28
  2. Nordic Council of MinistersHow women and men are affected differently by climate policy
  3. Nordic Council of MinistersArtist Jessie Kleemann at Nordic pavilion during UN climate summit COP28
  4. Nordic Council of MinistersCOP28: Gathering Nordic and global experts to put food and health on the agenda
  5. Friedrich Naumann FoundationPoems of Liberty – Call for Submission “Human Rights in Inhume War”: 250€ honorary fee for selected poems
  6. World BankWorld Bank report: How to create a future where the rewards of technology benefit all levels of society?

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Georgia Ministry of Foreign AffairsThis autumn Europalia arts festival is all about GEORGIA!
  2. UNOPSFostering health system resilience in fragile and conflict-affected countries
  3. European Citizen's InitiativeThe European Commission launches the ‘ImagineEU’ competition for secondary school students in the EU.
  4. Nordic Council of MinistersThe Nordic Region is stepping up its efforts to reduce food waste
  5. UNOPSUNOPS begins works under EU-funded project to repair schools in Ukraine
  6. Georgia Ministry of Foreign AffairsGeorgia effectively prevents sanctions evasion against Russia – confirm EU, UK, USA

Join EUobserver

EU news that matters

Join us