2014 nº 162

JULY - AUGUST
162
FEATURES
Monthly Luncheon From our Colleagues
-Hernán Santiváñez
-Friedrich G. Mack -Manuel Mariño -Fausto Medina
Cigna Buys Vanbreda
Today in History Machu Picchu
Remembering Alejandro
Obituaries
Important Contacts
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THE COLUMN
Happy National Holidays 2
New Members
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Vacabulary Corner, Zar 8
OBITUARIES
Ileana García-Griñan
Horacio Halliburton
Carmen San Miguel Menéndez
Alejandro Scopelli Raffinetti
NOTI C E
INFLUENZA VACCINATION
Health Services Center
Date:
Time:
Place:
Starting October 1, 2014
Mon, Wed, Thu and Fri:
9:00 am - 3:30 pm
Tue: 10:00 am - 3:30 pm
Health Services Center
Room: SE0119
It is available for all IDB and IIC employees, their eligible dependents
(over 18 years of age), consultants,
retirees and their spouses.
If you have any questions, please
contact the Health Services Center
[email protected] or call (202)
623.3135.
Aurora Hurtado, IDB’s General
Services and Travel Section
Association’s Monthly Luncheon
At the monthly Association luncheon on July 25, Aurora Hurtado of the General Services
and Travel Section of the IDB gave a presentation on the Personal Travel Program with
Copa Airlines. She explained that this pilot program is an extension of the corporate
program that Copa provides to employees and retirees of the IDB, and that it offers
discounts on eligible rates for applicable dates of travel. She also reported that Copa
promotional fares are not included in this program and that tickets be reserved and
purchased directly through Copa Airlines.
The diners received the information with much enthusiasm. There were many questions
during and after the presentation, the main ones being about the airline’s destinations
and the duration of the program. Mrs. Hurtado explained that during this initial phase,
the personal travel program will apply only for travelers who originate trips from Dulles
Airport, near Washington, DC. She remarked that Copa Airlines offers direct flights to
and from Panama, with connecting flights from Panama to major cities of the Caribbean,
Central America and South America.
Update: This program has been extended until Novemberl 30, 2014.
She recommended sending an email to [email protected] as the most effective way
of getting information, or calling the exclusive phone number for the IDB, 305-267-7834
(ext. 7604/7606). Employees and retirees of the IDB must be properly identified with a
Bank ID card.
Friendly reminder: The Bank ID card lasts only five years. It is imperative that retirees
and spouses update their respective IDs if expired or are soon to expire. To update
your card, please contact the pension office at (202) 623-3560 or email HRD/SRP@
iadb.org to learn how to renew it.
IN TOUCH
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AJBID.ORG
Happy National
Holidays!
Near the Bank Atrium, in the entrance
to the east and west elevators, the flag
of the country celebrating its independence is displayed for the day. Most
Latin American countries commemorate
their independence between July and
September and we wish them all Happy
National Holidays!
But it was on December 9, 1824 that
the freedom of all of South America was
finally sealed.
On the Peruvian plains of la Quinua in
Ayacucho, the Field Marshall of the Royal
forces, José de Canterac, acting on behalf
of the Viceroy La Serna, surrendered
to Venezuelan General Antonio José
de Sucre, Commander of the American
forces of the Liberating Army. This great
army included generals, commanders
and soldiers from Venezuela, Colombia,
Ecuador, Peru, Chile, and Argentina, and
had fought with great dedication and
courage. This victory meant the end
of the last remaining viceroyalty, the
Viceroyalty of Peru, the center of Spanish
power in South America.
“Our fathers made us free; it is up to us
to make us great.” –Nicolas de Pierola,
100 years after Peru’s independence.
WELCOME
Our New Members
Norelis Betancourt de Alvarado
Adriana Patricia Araujo
Maria Gabriela Avilés-Jiménez
Manuel Emilio Cortés Ojeda
Eduardo Figueroa García
Simón Gauthier
Ricardo Miranda
Rigoberto Ordóñez
Angélica Pérez
Blanca M. Surtees
Ana María Vanoni
Left: Orlando Reos, Helmuth Carl, Alfred Thieme, Cristina Thieme, Friedrich Mack
Center: Fernando Costa, Marbella Álvarez, Juan Manuel Fariña, Clemencia Urribarri
Right: Alicia Adrien, Federico Klein
In an atmosphere of camaraderie many members gathered at Alfio’s Restaurant on July 25.
They enjoyed their favorite dishes, laughed and had cheerful conversations. Alfio’s Restaurant is most appropriate for these meetings: it is spacious, centrally located in Friendship
Heights in DC and even offers valet parking at the door.
FROM OUR COLLEAGUES
Why do I keep on writing instead of walking the dog?
by Hernán Santiváñez
To my country, Peru, I owe my life. To Lima, I owe my genetic umbilical
cord, my childhood and my happy adolescence. However, I owe my memories to other countries: To Argentina for its universal culture within
reach of a student from Lima. Bolivia, for the magic of the Oruro devils
having no borders between them and the Candelaria in Puno. The
kinship between the Bolivian Lord of the Great Power (Señor del Gran
Poder) and the Peruvian Lord of Miracles (Señor de los Milagros), both
who win more votes than any political party. Then came Ecuador and
my bohemian night life of pasillos, canelazos, sanjuanitos and fried
meats from Cuenca. Unforgettable Honduras, where I loved and I was
loved. The Venezuelan Guaraguao singing and lamenting the cardboard
houses. The day before I left, I felt tears in my eyes hearing on Radio Carreño “Viva Venezuela
my beloved country…” by Serenata Guayanesa. Jamaica, for the academic excellence of its
one, single university, plus its rum and its beaches. I have lived in these nations sharing
moments with peasants, government officials and bankers. They have all left a mark on me
and I am indebted to their cultures.
Returning to my Homeland and reuniting with friends from my youth; remembering those
I found in distant places, who replaced my absent family, and with whom I shared the
avenues of life; sharing with new friends in Lima the challenges and enjoyment of narrative
and prose. Gratified by this overload of fond memories and inspirations: how can I not keep
writing?
Some of Sr. Santiváñez ‘s have been translated to other languages and taken to the theater. We ae very
grateful to him for sharing his stories with our Association’s members. For those who would like to purchase his books, please contact him directly at email: electrónico: [email protected]
IN TOUCH
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AJBID.ORG
Continues from page 2
Friedrich G. Mack’s Commentary: Small Countries and
Little Wars, Stories from El Salvador, Panama and Haiti
by Ana María Puch, AJBID
Blanca Mantilla, Lily Fuentes, Amelia Schnorr,
Alicia Adrien
Carl Helmuth, Federico Klein, Friedrich Mac,
Fernando Costa
Orlando Reos, Álvaro Ramirez, Héctor Prieto,
Fausto Medina
Margarita Fuentes, Marbella Álvarez
QUESTION OF THE DAY...
Can you get me a retiree’s phone number?
We remind our members that the names
and addresses of your fellow Association’s
members can be found in the our database.
For this, you are encouraged to go to
our website (www.ajbid.org) and in the
User Access section, enter your email as
username and then your password. If you
forget your password, call us and we will be
happy to assist you.
Friedrich G. Mack personally introduced us to his latest book,
entitled “Small Countries and Little Wars: Stories from El Salvador,
Panama, and Haiti.” This is a historical novel whose chief protagonist, Max, is a representative of a well-known international
economic development bank.
As the title indicates, the stories are about the severe political,
economic, and social crises that these three countries suffered
during the 1980s and 1990s, all seen through the eyes of Max. A
young man of German origin, Max comes from a good middle class
family. He has obtained his education from renowned universities,
which served as a passport to the excellent jobs with the arena of
international organizations. As a young man, traveling to many countries, he became
aware of the drastic differences between the disparate worlds he visited, and became
an idealist. As such, Max gets a job in a development financing organization and during
his work travels, his “missions”, sees things that many of his fellow colleagues and recipients of international aid overlook: the true reality of the country in which they are sent
to help. This unsettling discrepancy has him constantly questioning and analyzing the
meaning of what he sees particularly the actions and motives of others, such as what
journalists, colleagues and politicians are actually doing there.
A recurring theme throughout this book is how separate and different the realities are
between rich and poor, the haves and have nots, the city and the country, and furthermore, between international aid agencies and those who really need their help. Who
determines which projects are carried out, and when, and why? What are the unintended consequences of delays in a project’s implementation? How necessary are they, and
what are the attitudes of these professionals toward that particular country and the
complexities of its underlying situation?
The stories that Max presents were intensely and personally experienced by him when
he was in these three countries, but when he returns home and observes how they are
presented through the eyes of the media, in his view it frequently toes the line of propaganda. Written in the third person, his stories are transmitted to the reader as thoughts,
not of a politician or historian, but of a human being. A spectator who tries not to pay
attention to the contradictions around him, but soon finds he can’t avoid it.
In summary, the author’s stories captivate the reader on several levels. They reference
each country’s past in contrast to its present, they point out idiosyncrasies of local and
international people, but they also take the time for personal things, including paying
homage to traditional foods and vividly describing the exquisite taste of the fruits of
Haiti. This work was originally written in German, the author’s native language, and
should undoubtedly occupy an important place within the intellectual arena. Both
English and German editions are available in e-Book, Kindle, at Amazon.com, and can
be downloaded to a computer with a Kindle program. This uniquely gives the book the
advantage and originality of offering direct links to documentaries, press releases and
amateur videos on YouTube. In total, these links make the experience of reading his stories even more alive and fascinating, or horrifying as when he learns a massacre happened at the same outdoor restaurant where he had been dinning only two days earlier.
We are very grateful to Mr. Friedrich G. Mack for sharing his book and his stories with the numerous members of the Association who are eager to learn the experiences of their colleagues.
For those who wish to purchase this book, please communicate directly with Mr. Mack through
email:macgeorge7aol.com or use the services of Amazon.com for e-Book and printed copies.
IN TOUCH
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AJBID.ORG
Visit of Chile’s Affiliate Associate, Manuel Mariño
During its monthly meeting on June 25, the Board welcomed Manuel
Mariño who was visiting Washington DC. Mr. Mariño presented the
Association with a copy of his latest book “Stories within History,
Amusing Accounts” (Historias con Historia, Crónicas Entretenidas)
and also a poem entitled “IDB La Patria de Todos”. The President
and Directors thanked him for his visit and for donating his work.
The President asked him to send us one of the chronicles of his book
so it could be printed in the Bulletin of the Association, which is
published below.
Being a passionate philatelist, postal stamps are an essential ingredient in Mr. Mariño’s stories. They play an important part in each
story line and throughout the book are beautifully illustrated in full
color reproductions. The result is a book that is not only informative
and but very interesting as well.
Combate Naval de Valparaíso
by Manuel Mariño Reimann. (This story is intentionally published here in Spanish, its original language.)
La Guerra de 1812 fue un conflicto armado que enfrentó al
Imperio Británico con los Estados Unidos de América, país
que, el 18 de junio de 1812, le declaró la guerra debido,
entre otras razones, a una serie de exigencias que la corona
británica quería imponerle, para que restringiera el comercio
con la Francia napoleónica, con la que Gran Bretaña estaba
en guerra.
Las acciones militares se desarrollaron mayormente en el
territorio de los Estados Unidos, con victorias y derrotas por
ambos lados. El mayor revés que sufrieron los americanos fue
ver su capital, la ciudad de Washington, ocupada y parcialmente destruida, incluyendo el incendio del Capitolio, por las
tropas inglesas.
El otro teatro de las operaciones de guerra fue el
océano Atlántico Norte, especialmente por el bloqueo
marítimo que estableció la
armada inglesa sobre las
costas de Norte América,
para impedir el movimiento
de buques desde y hacia
Europa.
los cargamentos de un importante número de buques de las
flotas balleneras inglesas, que operaban en los mares del
Sur, motivo por el cual el almirantazgo británico dispuso que
salieran en su búsqueda la fragata “Phoebes”, al mando del
capitán James Hillyar, y la balandra “Cherub”. En realidad,
el buque menor que acompañaba al “Essex” era un buque ballenero inglés de nombre “Atlantic”, que al ser capturado fue
acondicionado y rebautizado “Essex Junior”.
Corría el mes de febrero de 1814 cuando, estando los buques
norteamericanos reabasteciéndose en el puerto de Valparaíso, fueron avistados por las naves inglesas, las que de
inmediato fondearon a sus costados, casi a topa penoles, lo
que hizo que el capitán Porter se preparara para un ataque
inminente.
Sin embargo y no obstante que Chile aun no era un país
soberano, pues se encontraba en la primera etapa de la gesta
independentista, el capitán Hillyar respetó la neutralidad de
las aguas en que se encontraba y quedó a la espera de una
oportunidad propicia para tomar la acción, si los buques
norteamericanos intentaban salir del puerto.
Sin embargo, los avatares del conflicto también se presentarían insospechadamente en las aguas del Pacífico Sur, nada
menos que en las costas de Chile, donde se enfrentaron dos
naves de guerra inglesas con dos naves de guerra norteamericanas y, aunque el resultado del combate no haya sido
decisivo para el resultado del conflicto, constituyó un capítulo
que tuvo su importancia en ese momento.
La fragata norteamericana “Essex”, comandada por el capitán David Porter, junto con un buque menor, el “Essex Junior”,
había estado hostigando, capturando y apoderándose de
IN TOUCH
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De esta manera, se produjo una situación especial, que se
prolongó por varias semanas, durante las cuales la cortesía se mezclaba con acaloradas disputas. En ocasiones,
los capitanes Porter y Hillyar coincidían en tierra, incluso a
veces en la casa del Gobernador don Francisco de la Lastra,
oportunidades en que intercambiaban alguna que otra breve
reverencia de saludo, mientras más allá, grupos de marineros ingleses y americanos intercambiaban insultos y más de
algunos golpes de puño. Por las tardes, las tripulaciones se
reunían en las cubiertas de sus respectivas naves y, mientras
los americanos cantaban a voz en cuello el “Yankee Doodles”,
los ingleses respondían con igual energía con el “God save
Continues on page 5
the King”.
AJBID.ORG
importante la Plaza Farragut, una de las principales
de la ciudad de Washington, DC, ya que se encuentra
en un lugar céntrico de dicha ciudad, con un imponente monumento a su memoria. Por su parte, el Correo
de los Estados Unidos ha emitido tres estampillas con
su imagen.
Continues from page 4
Así las cosas y siempre esperando un momento de relajo del
enemigo para salir del puerto, el 28 de marzo, pasado el mediodía, el capitán Porter estimó que era la oportunidad para
levar ancla y salir a mar abierto, pero, con tan mala suerte,
que una fuerte ráfaga de viento dañó el palo mayor de su
nave, dificultando grandemente su maniobrabilidad, cuando
aun se encontraba muy cerca de la costa.
El capitán James Hillyar ya tenía una larga trayectoria
en la marina británica, cuando debió asumir la misión
que le fue encomendada, de neutralizar las correrías de
la fragata norteamericana “Essex”, la cual, en definitiva, después de su captura en Valparaíso, fue reparada y
puesta al servicio del almirantazgo británico.
De inmediato la “Phoebe” y la “Cherub”
salieron en su demanda y abrieron fuego manteniéndose a cierta distancia,
pues sus cañones tenían más alcance
que los de la “Essex”, lo que hacía que
el combate fuera completamente desigual, con el resultado de que causaron
grandes estragos y pérdidas de vidas
en la nave americana, mientras en las
inglesas hubo daños menores y muy
pocas bajas.
Después de cumplida dicha misión, continuó su brillante carrera en la marina, que por sus méritos lo llevo
a alcanzar el grado de Almirante de la Royal Navy y,
además, se hizo acreedor a dos famosas distinciones
emblemáticas de Gran Bretaña como son: Caballero de
la Real Orden de Guelphic, en 1834, y Caballero de la
Orden del Baño, en 1840. James Hillyar falleció el 10 de
julio de 1843, a la edad de 72 años.
Ante esta situación y después de más de dos horas de combate, al capitán Porter no le quedó otra alternativa que ordenar
el abandono de la nave y aquellos que pudieron llegaron a
nado hasta la orilla, algunos de ellos bastante mal heridos.
En cuanto al capitán David Porter, después del combate
naval en Valparaíso, continuó sirviendo en la marina
de los Estados Unidos y durante algunos años, 1826 a
1829, como Comandante en Jefe de la marina de México. Falleció el 3 de marzo de 1843, el mismo año en que
murió el capitán Hillyar, cuando desempeñaba el cargo
de Embajador de los Estados Unidos en Turquía. En su
honor, se le dio el nombre de “Porterville” a una ciudad
del Estado de Indiana. Dicho nombre fue cambiado
posteriormente a la ciudad por el que tiene actualmente
“Valparaíso”, en recuerdo de la heroica defensa que
hizo de su barco en circunstancias tan adversas.
De un total de 154 hombres que constituían la tripulación de
la nave, 31 fueron declarados desaparecidos, posiblemente
arrastrados por el mar y 58 perdieron la vida, algunos durante
el combate y otros a causa de sus heridas. A todos los fallecidos se les dio sepultura en el Cementerio de Disidentes de
Valparaíso, donde existe un monumento en su memoria.
Aunque herido, entre los 65 que salvaron con vida se encontraba un joven aspirante a oficial de nombre David G. Farragut, de tan solo 12 años de edad, que había sido autorizado a
embarcarse por ser ahijado del capitán David Porter, motivo
por el cual llevaba su mismo nombre.
David Farragut, nacido el 5 de julio de 1801, en la ciudad de
Campbell, Tennessee, era hijo de un inmigrante español de
nombre Jordi Farragut, que había llegado a los Estados Unidos
procedente de la isla balear de Menorca, quien se casó con
Elizabeth Shine, una dama de Carolina del Norte.
Después de su bautismo de fuego en Valparaíso, el joven
Farragut continuó sirviendo en la Armada de su país en forma
brillante y distinguida, hasta el punto que llegó a ser el primer
Almirante que tuvo la marina de los Estados Unidos. Falleció
desempeñando dicho cargo el 14 de agosto de 1870, en Portsmouth, New Hampshire, a los 69 años de edad.
Muchos son los homenajes que se le han
brindado, erigiendo
monumentos y poniendo su nombre a
escuelas e instituciones
de distinta índole, así
como a calles y plazas
en diversas ciudades,
siendo, tal vez, la más
IN TOUCH
Agradecemos al Sr. Mariño por compartir su libro y sus historias
con los numerosos miembros de la Asociación. Para aquellas
personas que deseen comprar este libro, sírvanse comunicarse
directamente con el Sr. Mariño a través de su correo electrónico:
[email protected]
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VOLUNTEERING
Become a Volunteer through the IDB Solidarity Program
by Fausto Medina-López
The recent inflow of unaccompanied immigrant children coming to the United States, mostly from Central America, has
been gaining attention as a humanitarian crisis that cannot
longer be ignored. Because of the traumatic experiences they
have been exposed back home and during their painful journey to reach this country, those children are in urgent need of
medical, legal, counseling and mental health services. Soon
enough, they will be also requiring all the support they can
get to address the multiple needs they will face to become
productive members of the American society.
Solidarity Program has disbursed around $5.4 million in
grants to almost 70 community-based organizations.
The IDB Solidarity Program is also a strong advocate of volunteerism among IDB employees, retirees and their families.
This commitment is born from the program’s conviction that
it takes more than financial assistance to empower the Latin
American and Caribbean communities in the Greater Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area and that by providing time
and energy to organizations working with those low-income
immigrants, the lives of thousands of people are enriched.
Indeed, IDB Solidarity makes a difference through volunteer
work, health fairs and drives to collect toys, food, books and
clothing. The “Share the Magic Campaign” at Christmas time
is a successful event of this type.
Many of those
vulnerable children
will be settled in
the Washington
D.C. Metropolitan
area and will then
join the significant
and steady growth
of the Latino and
Caribbean communities that have made
this area their home
in recent decades.
Most of these immigrants come from IDB member countries,
and over the years they have become the area’s fastestgrowing minority group.
Our Retiree Association has been an active supporter of the
activities carried out by the Solidarity Program for many
years. Representatives of the Association are members of
the Consultative Committee that annually meets to allocate
grants to the community-based organizations that request
financial support from the Program. Orlando Reos and Fausto
Medina-Lopez are the current representatives of the Retiree
Association to that committee.
In addition, many of our colleague retirees are already actively volunteering and performing different functions at several community-based organizations serving the low-income
Latino and Caribbean communities of the Great Washington
D.C. area. Some retirees are members of the boards of some
of those organizations; others serve as counselors to families facing different type of difficulties; mentors to children
facing academic or language challenges; teachers of different subjects; helping in fund-raising activities; or assuming
roles for which they have special talents, skills or previous
experiences.
In response to the social, economic and educational challenges these communities face the Bank created the IDB
Solidarity Program in 1998. By doing this, our institution
acknowledged its civic and corporate responsibility to the
community in which it resides and operates.
During its sixteen years of continued and committed humanitarian work, the IDB Solidarity Program has succeeded in
building strategic partnerships with local community-based
organizations to promote social and economic development
initiatives with education, health, and economic development
as priority areas. The program supports these organizations
with grants, volunteers, and surplus equipment donations
(computers, office equipment, furniture, used books and magazines and supplies). The program also coordinates special
drives and initiatives, such as “Share the Magic Campaign”
and the “IDB Community Volunteer Fair,” that also help those
organizations.
But much more is
needed to ensure
that these Latino and
Caribbean communities
have access to every
opportunity to advance
socially, professionally,
and healthfully in American society. Today, more
people than ever before
need our help. So, we encourage all our retired colleagues
to raise their hands, take action and make a difference by
becoming a volunteer through the IDB Solidarity Program,
which can match our personal interests, talents and skills with
Continues on page 7
Grants are annually awarded to them in areas such as
education, health, childcare, youth development, immigration, employment, rehabilitation, economic development,
and violence prevention, among others. Since 1998, the IDB
EN CONTACTO
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Continues from page 6
specific needs in those vulnerable
communities.
Retirees that want to be involved as volunteers in the IDB Solidarity Program
can get more information about opportunities by contacting the program’s
coordinator, Marta Estarellas, either by
e-mail ([email protected];
or [email protected]) or by telephone
(202-623-1959; 202-623-2045).
Take Action! Sign up!
Make a Difference!
HEALTH INSURANCE ANNOUNCEMENT
MEDICAL INSURANCE PROGRAM UPDATE:
Vanbreda International will become CIGNA IGO
Health Benefits
In late 2010, Cigna Healthcare bought Vanbreda International (VBI) because of the many
advantages Vanbreda would bring to Cigna’s international operations. Among them:
VBI’s unsurpassed customer service excellence, quick claims turnaround processing,
multi-lingual staff, and its longstanding niche and expertise working with International
Governmental Organizations (IGOs) all over the world.
Thus, as part of the acquisition agreement, Vanbreda International will be renamed
Cigna IGO Health Benefits as of February 2015.
What does this mean for us?
First and most importantly, there will be no impact to our plan members because the
change is limited to the rebranding of the company only. In other words, Cigna IGO
Health Benefits will continue to offer the same values and service teams. Nothing will
change in the way we have been working with them.
We will still have the same contacts for Cigna IGO as Vanbreda. The administrative and
customer service teams we interface with at all levels will also remain the same.
What to Expect in the Near Future:
Become a Volunteer in the
IDB Solidarity Program!
•
•
•
•
•
A smooth transition because it is only about a name change
Assistance where needed like it has always been done
Additional information messages coming directly from Vanbreda in the coming
months regarding the name change
Temporary website about the name change of Vanbreda to Cigna IGO Health
Benefits - www.vanbredabecomescigna.com
7 Good Reasons to Give Back
Plus:
Improve Your Health and the
World Around You
All Vanbreda plan members will be receiving new ID cards showing the new Cigna IGO logo
• The new ID cards will arrive in February 2015
• Claims address (Miami) and phone numbers will remain the same
• Email addresses will change from @vanbreda.com to @cigna.com in February 2015
Whether you donate money or time,
giving back is beneficial, and not just
for the recipients. Research has shown
that the old adage, “it’s better to give
than to receive” is true after all.
Here is what you get:
1. Develop new skills.
2. Make social connections.
3. Give back to your community.
4. Develop and grow as a person.
5. Gain a new perspective.
6. Know that you’re needed.
7. Boost your self-esteem.
The smile from a child or thankful person that shows you’re really making a
difference in someone’s life...that’s the
greatest feeling in the world.
More communication about the name change and upcoming events will be forthcoming
periodically.
Please feel free to contact Vanbreda / Cigna IGO if you have any questions or comments
at + 1-305-908-91-71 or [email protected]
Cigna Acquires Vanbreda International,
Making Cigna the Leading Global Provider of
Expatriate Benefits
EN CONTACTO
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THE VOCABULARY
CORNER
TODAY IN HISTORY
July 28, 1914: The World War One Centennial
Who was to blame?
The Eagle’s Egos and Alliances
by Ana María Puch, AJBID
At the turn of the last century, three ruling dynasties of Europe shared an eagle symbol:
the Habsburgs in Austria-Hungary, the Hohenzollerns in Germany, and the Romanovs in
Russia. Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany and King George V of England, along with Empress
Alexandra of Russia (empress consort of Tsar Nicholas II), were all first cousins via Queen
Victoria and Prince Albert. In their struggle for European continental domination and for
eternal guarantees to their rule by divine right, the “Eagles” brought unbelievable death
and destruction to Europe and laid down the seeds for a second global war only 20 years
later.
CZAR
by Lic. Ricardo Soca, el castellano.org
After Julius Caesar died, the fame of
his imperial power and glory spread
through the centuries and his name became synonymous with “Emperor”. But
the history of the Caesars did not end
after the collapse of the Roman Empire.
Hoping perhaps that the Roman
emperor’s name would replicate its
glory, Germanic emperors decided to
adopt it by reviving its pronunciation
the way they believed the Romans
pronounced it: /cáesar/, adapting it as /
kaisar / and later: Kaiser.
This old Latin word did not stop at the
German border; it reached archaic
Russian as Tsísari, and later as Tsar,
which in turn passed into French and
English as Czar. The first person with
this title was Tsar Ivan the Terrible, who
reigned from Moscow in the sixteenth
century, some 1600 years after the
assassination of Julius Caesar.
The Spanish Language Academy
included “Czar” in the first edition of its
Dictionary in 1739, as ‘Ruling Prince of
Moscovia’, with a note explaining that
the word was entered in the dictionary
without the initial ‘c’ pronounced by the
Moscovians, because of the difficulty in
phonetics in Spanish of the consonant
cluster cz.
Permission granted by author
In 1914, the six dominant powers in Europe were split into 2 major alliances: The Triple
Alliance formed by Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy; and the Triple Entente, known
as the “Allies”, was composed of Britain, France and Russia, the latter formed because of
Germany’s actions and miscalculations. Most importantly, Russia was Serbia’s supporter.
One of the reasons for increasingly bad relations among the nations of Europe in the years
prior to 1914 was that they were engaged in a competitive struggle to obtain overseas
colonies, especially in Africa. Britain had managed to get the most valuable land in Africa,
most importantly the Suez Canal in Egypt because it provided a quicker route to India.
France controlled a big chunk of North West Africa. Italy also had colonies and even tiny
Belgium had the Congo. But the land that Germany had taken was not very valuable, so
Kaiser William II was determined to break up the ‘friendly understanding” between Britain
and France so that Germany might have the opportunity to grow its empire. Thus long before the outbreak of hostilities, Prussian-German conservative leaders were convinced that
a European war would help to fulfil Germany’s ambitions for more colonies plus military as
well as political prestige in the world.
In the European summer of 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the throne of the
Austro-Hungarian empire, and his wife were shot dead in Sarajevo by a young Bosnian
Serb. The plan for the assassination had been backed by the Serbian terrorist organization, the Black Hand, and with the full knowledge of the Serbian government. This public
execution of Archduke Ferdinand pushed European animosities and alliances into the most
catastrophic war ever seen. In short order, after an ultimatum to Serbia, Austria declared
war on Serbia, Germany to Russia, Germany invaded Belgium on its way to France, Britain
declared war on Germany, and so on... Thus began a four-year period that eventually saw
65 million men mobilized for war, but barely 30 million returning back home in one piece.
It lasted until the United States finally flooded the killing grounds with millions of troops,
tipping the scales and bringing about Germany’s surrender.
Where do we place the blame? Was it imperial and colonial rivalry for wealth, power and
prestige? Economic and military rivalry in industry and trade? Germany’s misconstrued hope
that Britain would stay out? In retrospect, all resulted in a fatal mixture of political misjudgments at the highest levels that brought destruction to the world and to themselves.
In an opinion by Sean McMeekin, Assistant professor of history at Koc University, Istanbul,
he notes that Austria-Hungary, Germany, Russia, France, Britain and Serbia are all to blame. As he points out, it is human nature to seek simple, satisfying answers and this is why
the German war guilt thesis endures today.
Continues on page 9
EN CONTACTO
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Continues from page 8
113 Years of Machu Picchu
But it is also clear that without
Berlin’s encouragement of a strong
Austro-Hungarian line against Serbia
after Sarajevo - the so-called “blank
cheque” – the Great War would
clearly not have broken out. So Germany does bear responsibility.
However, it is equally true that absent
a terrorist plot launched in Belgrade,
the Germans and Austrians would
not have faced this terrible choice.
Civilian leaders in both Berlin and
Vienna tried to “localize” the conflict
to the Balkans. Unfortunately it was
Russia’s decision - after Petersburg
received its own “blank cheque” from
Paris - to Europeanize the Austro-Serbian showdown into first a European
and then - following Britain’s entry
– a World conflagration. Russia, not
Germany, mobilized first.
The resulting war, with France and
Britain backing Serbia and Russia against two Central Powers,
was Russia’s desired outcome, not
Germany’s. Still none of the powers,
including all of the “Eagles”, can
escape blame. All five Great Power
belligerents, along with Serbia, unleashed Armageddon.
Today, exactly 100 years and several
generations removed, the causes still
remain a contentious topic among
historians everywhere.
by Cartoonist Steven Camley
Felipe Oyarzún | The Force
Galeria ISAAG - IDB Staff Association
Art Gallery
The works of Chilean Felipe Oyarzún
contemplate the infinite through images
that are traces left by the psyche during its process of transfiguration. By
irradiating in some way the idea of a
hidden dimension, Oyarzún invites us to
decipher the work by tapping into our
subconscious.
On the greatest archaeological discovery in our history
by El Montonero
On July 24, 1911, American historian Hiram Bingham (1875-1976) discovered Machu Picchu
and made it known to the world. Thus concluded the so-called “pre-discovery” phase of
this fortress, and began another one that lingers to this day, transforming Machu Picchu
into one of the wonders of the modern world and one of its most sought-after tourist
destinations.
Theories on its origin
There are two general theories on the origin of this fortress. The oldest and most wide-spread
contends that it was built by Inca Pachacutec circa 1450. The Inca rationale would have been
to place an important ceremonial center on the outskirts of the capital of Tawantinsuyu, the
city of Cusco. Another theory attributes its construction to Inca Viracocha (a predecessor of
Pachacutec), which would put its construction about 50 years earlier.
Nevertheless, the one thing that historians do agree upon is that Machu Picchu was never
a secret city. The valleys surrounding Machu Picchu were densely populated zones in the
pre-Hispanic era, and there were other similar “urban centers” near the site, such as
Quentemarca and Patallacta. Furthermore, there are various Inca trails that lead to the
citadel. The fact that these roads lost significance in the face of the development of other
major “axis roads” those of Ollantaytambo and Vilcasbamba, may explain for the abandonment and apparent “neglect” of Machu Picchu.
Discovery?
It appears that Machu Picchu was always somewhat known. For example, the Spaniard
Baltazar de Ocampo at the end of the 16th century wrote of a city “situated on a mountain
top” where housed a large “acllahuasi” (home for Acllas, or ceremonial virgins, a central
part of the Inca religion). Evidence of Peruvian visits prior to the “official” discovery have
been found in the citadel itself, having taken place between 1892 and 1904. And, even
though it was thanks to Bingham that Machu Picchu became known around the world, it
was also because of his discovery that many archaeological objects found there were sent
to the United States to form part of the Machu Picchu collection at Yale University’s Peabody Museum. Only recently, in 2007, was the Peruvian Government able to repatriate many
of those objects.
World Wonder
Since the second decade of the 20th century, Machu Picchu has become a true icon of
pre-Columbian American culture. In 1948, a road was opened to visitors, and since then it
has become one of the most famous tourist destinations in the world. In the 1940s Pablo
Neruda (1904-1973) wrote the poem, “Heights of Machu Picchu”, which became part of
his Canto General (General Song), one of his most important works. Peruvian Adam Martin
(1908-1985) dedicated his book “La mano desasida” to Machu Picchu. Finally, on July 7,
2007, a global survey chose Machu Picchu as one of the Seven New Wonders. Hopefully
Yale University will fulfill its promise (made that same year) to return the archaeological
pieces that remain in its possession.
Shared blog by elmontonero.pe
EN CONTACTO
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Alejandro
Remembering
“Alejandro was one of the most
educated people I have met in my
long life. This quality was only surpassed by his loyalty as a friend,
and both qualities were a gift to
many colleagues from the Bank. We
will never forget him.”
—Guzmán Aguilar
Alejandro Scopelli
Unprecedented expressions
of sympathy and
appreciation
by friends and colleagues
in response
to the passing
of a person with
unparalleled charisma
“I had the pleasure of accompanying Alejandro in many representatives’ meetings, and remember
him fondly as a friend of great
eloquence and sense of humor. I
don’t remember any meeting with
him from which I did not emerge
happier than before.”
—David B. Atkinson
“With deep regret we have learned
of the death of our colleague from
Chile, Alejandro Scopelli Raffinetti. Many retirees residing in Chile
remember Alejandro with great
warmth, both from the student days
at the University of Chile, as well
as in jobs in different representations.” —Álvaro Beca
“It is very sad to receive the news
of the death of Alejandro Scopelli.
He was a loyal and valuable friend.
A great memory remains. May God
receive his humble and Christian
spirit.” —Bolivar Cobos
“Let me add my feelings to those
expressed so eloquently by several
colleagues. I had many opportunities to work and spend time
with Alejandro. These were always
pleasant moments, even when
situations were very serious. In the
notes that I have seen I didn’t see
any mention of his love for race
EN CONTACTO
10
AJBID.ORG
cars, another of the many interests
that defined him as a person and
friend.” —Ken Cole, Albuquerque,
New Mexico
“Scopelli was a ‘champion’ of the
old guard at the IDB, from the
beginning showing affection and
love for the Bank’s work. In my 40
years of working at the Bank, I have
received many annnouncements of
colleagues’ passing, and this is the
first time that I’ve seen such a spontaneous outpouring of friendship.
It would be great if we could share
our feeling with others. Alejandro
was a great friend. We felt his
absence greatly when he retired,
leaving a big void that was only
infinitesimally filled by sporadic
contacts and eloquent Christmas
cards that brought us much joy and
memories. Scopelli will always be
remembered with great love and
‘saudades’”
—Leonardo Da Silva
“As a son of a great soccer player
and trainer, he deserves the title of
M” —Luis de Lucio
“I met Alejandro in one of my first
missions to Mexico in 1969. Since
then we kept in contact whenever
I went to Mexico or he came to
Washington. When I retired in 1994,
we kept in touch via email, and I
enjoyed his bright and insightful
comments on different subjects. In
mid-2013, I stopped receiving his
messages and my emails started
bouncing. I contacted 3 mutual
friends and none of them knew anything about him. Now I have the
answer.” —Gonzalo Delfierro.
Continues on page 11
“With great regret I read the news of the
death of Mr. Alejandro Scopelli on December 17, 2013. Alejandro Scopelli was
my boss as representative in Caracas,
Venezuela. As retirees we kept in contact
via email, and his emails always provided significant insight and exchanges of
ideas.” —Bernhard Gübitz, Austria
“Alejandro Scopelli’s son, also named
Alejandro, died of cancer in Mexico in
2004, leaving behind two sons. They
could probably be tracked down in
Mexico. His ex-wife Patricia lived in
Miami probably until 2007-2008. He
also has cousins in Buenos Aires that
are children of his mother’s sister,
Haydee.” —Sam Güeller
“We had the privilege of enjoying his
friendship in Mexico and later in
Colombia. In Miami at the retirees’
meeting we had dinner with him and
enjoyed his unparalleled agreeableness,
euphoria and human warmth. Here in
Colombia many of us are going to regret
his departure, especially in his undeserved condition of loneliness. However,
we will always have great memories of
shared moments. To those who read
this message, these are the feelings of
the retirees of the Colombian chapter.
We hope God will give him the peace he
deserves.” —Francisco Hoyos and wife
Lucila
“I wish to join my thoughts with the
fond memories that others have expressed for my good friend Scopelli, a
dedicated and loyal servant of this institution and its responsibilities. The Bank
should place our friend Scopelli among
the long list of men and women who are
committed to its mission.”
—Enrique Iglesias
“Although late, I share the condolences surrounding the death of Alejandro Scopelli, one of the most brilliant,
honest, and caring people I have ever
known. I lost track of him in 2010 when
he stopped writing to me. I very much
regret not having tried harder to resume
contact with him.”
—Olivia Lawson
“I would like to add my voice to the
messages that have been received in
reference to his unfortunate passing.
If you have the opportunity to forward
a message of sympathy to his family, I
would appreciate it if you would include
my name as well.” —Gastón Loma
Gomez
“What sad news you give me, which
I had suspected since I hadn’t heard
anything from Alejandro in a long time.
I had asked the Association but they
weren’t able to give me any information. He had told me that his son Alejandro died some time ago and that he has
a grandson who lives with his mother.
Alejandro rarely saw him, not by choice,
but due to circumstances. Alejandro
was a good friend of Osvaldo, my
husband (Luis y Prado), who was quite
fond of him. We kept in close contact by
phone or mail when we lived in the DC
area, and previously in Caracas, and
also when we came to Europe. Since
Osvaldo died, he had been a source of
great support to me via email and I deeply regret his loss. He was a brilliant,
cultured, likeable and generous man.”
—Ida F. Luis y Prado, Barcelona, Spain
“I had the pleasure and privilege
of sharing many representatives’
meetings with Alejandro. He was
characterized by his erudition, people
skills, his way with words, and his great
sense of humor. In my opinion he was
not only Chilean, Mexican, Colombian
and Venezuelan but also a great player
and connoisseur of soccer—in other
words, a citizen of the world.”
—Vladimir Radovic
“I think Alejandro’s father, also named
Alejandro, was a famous soccer player
in the second and third decades of the
twentieth century. He played on the
Argentine national team in the first
World Cup in 1930 (where they were
runners up) and then played in Italy.
He was able to also play on Italy’s
national team during the World Cup
because he had dual nationality. After
a career as a player, he became a
manager and coached many teams both
in Europe and South America (Italy,
Portugal, Spain, Chile, Mexico). This
could explain the fact that the Alejandro who worked with us at the IDB was
an erudite expert on America, a unique
Latin American citizen, and a soccer
connoisseur. RIP” —Orlando Reos
“I know it is difficult to effectively
disseminate any notes on Alejandro, to
whom many of us have great gratitude
for making us grow. I respected his
professionalism and admired his love
for the Bank. We cannot remain silent,
we ought to provide a fitting tribute to
Alejandro.” —Mario Mejía
“I join in the general sympathy for our
colleague Alejandro Scopelli and send
my condolences to his family.”
—Cosme Manuel Rosal
“What sad and regrettable news. I
had the privilege and good fortune to
work closely with Alejandro who was
an extraordinary official, a true friend,
an exceptional comrade and an unforgettable person. Due to the death of
his son Alejandrito several years ago,
as well as of his beloved mother Aidée,
when he retired from the Bank he
established himself in Miami, Florida,
where death surprised him. He leaves
us with his best memories. May he find
peace in his grave.”
—Vicente Orellana
“Alejandro (Sandro) Scopelli RIP has
a son, also named Alejandro. I don’t
know if he resides in Mexico or in
Buenos Aires. His mother’s name is
Patricia, the ex-wife of our colleague.
Sandro’s parents were good friends of
my parents when we lived in Portugal
40 years ago... I will ask my parents if
they have information about the family.
If so, I will let you know.”
—Cecilia B. Vallejos
EN CONTACTO
11 AJBID.ORG
“Let me add my words of appreciation
for Alejandro Scopelli, who I remember
so vividly from several of my missions.”
–Hugh Schwartz
RIP
INVITATION
OBITUARIES
1933–2014
Ileana García-Griñán, of American nationality, was born on October
31, 1933 in Cuba; and died on April 30, 2014 in Florida. Miss. García
studied at the University of Villanueva in Havana where she graduated in 1955 with a degree in Education. Then in 1957 she earned
a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the Havana
Business Academy. Before joining the Bank in 1992 as a Financial
Officer, she worked in the National Bank of Washington as Assistant
Vice President. Condolences may be sent to her niece Beatriz Portela at the following
email address: [email protected]
1920–2014
Horacio Halliburton Halliburton was born in Argentina on September
19, 1920; and died on June 6, 2014 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He
graduated from the University Ciudad Buenos Aires and obtained
a degree in Agricultural Engineering in 1943. His expertise and
interests focused on assessments of agricultural projects and rural
development programs. He joined the Bank in September 1973 as
a Project Specialist and was promoted to Sector Specialist until his
retirement in 1985. Condolences may be sent to his daughter, Maria Teresa Halliburton,
at the following email address: [email protected]
1926–2014
Carmen S.M. de Menéndez, an American citizen, was born in Cuba
on August 21, 1926 and died on August 21, 2014 in Silver Pring, MD.
Mrs. Menéndez started her career at the Bank on a temporary basis
in November 1961 as Secretary in the Division of administration. A
year later, after changing her appointment to permanent status, she
was promoted to Bilingual Secretary. In December 1964 she was
promoted to Executive Secretary III, and subsequently to II and I,
retiring in 1987. Condolences may be sent to her brother, Francisco
San Miguel, at the following email address: [email protected]
1943–2013
Alejandro Scopelli Raffinetti of Argentine and Chilean nationalities, was born in Chile and died on December 17, 2013 in Florida.
From 1960 to 1966 he attended Universidad de Chile and obtained
degrees in Civil-Industrial Engineering, Economics, and Systems. He
was the recipient of the Ismael Valddé Valdés Award from the Instituto de Ingenieros de Chile for his thesis on Fundamentation of Mathematical Simulation and its Application in a Simulation Model of
Chile’s Interconnected Electric System. It was the first computerized digital model ever developed in Chile. In 1971 he began his career at the Bank as Mexico’s
Officer of Finance and Operations and in 1973 was promoted to Industries Specialist. In
1978 he was its Mexico Sub-Representative and in 1984 he became the Representative
in Mexico. From August 1989 to August 1994, he was IDB’s Representative in Colombia;
and the Representative in Venezuela from October 1994 to March 1997. As Representative, Mr. Scopelli served as the Chief of International Mission in these countries where he
was in charge of keeping contacts with high Government officials, including the Office
of the President and Cabinet members. He monitored closely these countries’ political,
social and economic evolution and assisted national & provincial authorities in keeping
track of IADB operative policies. He coordinated between Country & IADB joint efforts
for detecting viable national interest projects that were eligible for prospective IADB
financing. He retired from the Bank on June 1, 1998.
Do you want to write an article? Give an
interview? Express an opinion? Share
an experience or project, tell us a
story? Publish that amazing photograph you took? Do you know of a
particularly interesting web site? Would
you like to review a movie or a book?
If your answer to any of these questions
is “Yes”, we invite you to publish in the
pages of InTOUCH.
Our newsletter belongs to all Association’s members, so your contribution
will be welcome. Contact us by sending
an email too a: [email protected].
InTOUCH THANKS THE CONTRIBUTIONS
FROM STAFF AND RETIREES OF THE
BANK that enrich the content
of the Newsletters. Articles that are
included must be approved by the Publications Committee and will be edited
to fit available space and style of the
publication.
AJ•BID
Retiree Association
Inter American Development Bank
1300 New York Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20577
Tel. 202.623-3035 Fax: 202.623.3083
PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE
COORDINATOR
Douglas Kline
InTOUCH
COLABORATORS
Friedrich G. Mack, Manuel Mariño,
Fausto Medina
TRANSLATORS
Silvia Torre, Ana María Puch
EDITOR
Rosario Barbosa de Solares, a member of our Association and wife of our late colleague
William Solares died on Friday, July 18 in Guatemala. For more information you may contact her daughter, Virginia Solar Stricker, by calling 502-2368-7676 or sending an email:
[email protected]
IN TOUCH
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Ana María Puch
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Ana María Puch
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Telephone: (305) 908·9171
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