L.A. Diplomats
* Craig Turner’s interview with Kim Campbell (Opinion, Nov. 24) was an interesting look at Canada’s new consul general in Los Angeles. However, his opening line, which began “California’s small and low-profile international diplomatic corps,” missed the mark.
The U.S. has diplomatic relations with 165 countries. Eighty-two of these nations have consuls general in Los Angeles. This makes the Los Angeles consular corps second in size only to New York in the U.S.
All G-7 countries, as well as most of the Commerce Department’s 10 emerging trading partners, have consulates in Los Angeles. Many of the consuls general have been ambassadors in previous postings and most leave Los Angeles to take major ambassadorships or high-level assignments in their foreign ministries.
These international policy leaders take advantage of opportunities to implement innovative ideas such as strategic alliances between foreign and American companies in order to grow the international presence of both countries. It is these efforts that have made Los Angeles a major player on the global scene, and the major U.S. city on the Pacific Rim.
J. CURTIS MACK II, President
Los Angeles World Affairs Council
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