Farewells serve as a heartfelt way to wish good luck to those leaving, acknowledging their contributions, and expressing love and appreciation. In the realm of diplomacy, farewells carry even more significance as they signify the conclusion of an era in a particular time and place, where envoys worldwide gather to serve the greater good while building strong bonds with fellow diplomats, ambassadors, and the host country.
In January, the Diplomatic Quarter honored three distinguished diplomats during their farewell. H.E. Dya-Eddine Said Bamakhrama, the Ambassador of the Republic of Djibouti and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, hosted a reception to pay tribute to H.E. Ahmed Farouk, Ambassador of the Republic of Egypt; H.H. Sayyid Faisal bin Turki Al Said, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman; and H.E. Michael Ratney, Ambassador of the United States of America.
In his remarks, H.E. Dean Bamakhrama highlighted the immense pleasure and good fortune he and his fellow diplomats experienced while serving alongside these three ambassadors, who not only represent their respective countries but, to some extent, their continents as well.
Ambassador Bamakhrama noted that although the years of service for the three diplomats in Saudi Arabia differed, each made significant and valuable contributions to the core values of diplomatic service and mutual understanding. He then presented special gifts to honor the service and legacy of the departing ambassadors.
H.E. Ahmed Farouk, Ambassador of Egypt, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the embassy team, fellow diplomats, and Saudi Arabia as an exceptional host. “Life sometimes reaches a crossroads. I hope one day to return to Saudi Arabia,” Ambassador Farouk remarked with a laugh.
In his farewell speech, H.H. Sayyid Faisal bin Turki Al Said, Ambassador of Oman, praised fellow ambassadors and their valuable experience. He acknowledged the Omani embassy team’s efforts, making his tenure a significant period in Saudi-Omani relations. “Upon joining the embassy, I aspired to be more than just a conventional ambassador. My team enabled this by thinking outside the box, evidenced by four outstanding years in the Kingdom,” underscored H.H. Al Said.
H.E. Michael Ratney, Ambassador of the United States, emphasized the honor of serving in Saudi Arabia – a place that feels like home. “I would love to stay here longer. Witnessing Saudi Arabia’s transformation and contributing to US-Saudi relations has been an incredible experience,” concluded H.E. Ratney.
The three ambassadors highlighted their achievements, made possible by the Saudi people, officials, the public, and their dedicated embassy teams, who elevated diplomatic endeavors for both Saudi Arabia and their respective countries. As farewells signify new beginnings, the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Dya-Eddine Said Bamakhrama, welcomed the new ambassadors from Peru, Palestine, Uruguay, Romania, Bangladesh, Sierra Leone, and Nepal during the same evening.
