The Foreign Service Journal, October 2016

60 OCTOBER 2016 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL AFSA NEWS AFSA Interns Visit Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina On July 28, AFSA’s summer 2016 interns (Eunice Ajayi, Martin Vasev, Alyssa God- frey, Orianne Gonzalez and Vanessa Sorrentino) visited the Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina, where they met Deputy Chief of Mission Milenko Misic, Minister Coun- selor Amra Hadzovic and Assistant to the Ambassador Irma Zejcirovic. Organized by Awards Coordinator Perri Green, the field trip was part of AFSA’s program to give its interns an introduction to real-life diplomacy. DCM Misic, who had only arrived at the embassy the week before, spoke to the group about his route to for- eign affairs and the highlights of his career so far. Originally a mechanical engineer, he returned to university to gain his master’s degree and began his diplomatic career in 1998. Ms. Hadzovic has served as the minister counselor in the embassy for three years, where she acts as a resource for the more than 350,000 citizens of Bosnia and Herze- govina who live in the United States. In addition to issuing passports and visas, she helps citizens with problems they encounter while living abroad. AFSA’s interns also talked with Irma Zejcirovic, who has COURTESYOF IRMAZEJCIROVIC AFSA interns visiting the Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Washington, D.C. (l-r) AFSA Awards Coordinator Perri Green; Deputy Chief of Mission Milenko Misic; AFSA interns Alyssa Godfrey, Vanessa Sorrentino, Orianne Gonzalez and Martin Vasev; Minister Counselor Amra Hadzovic; AFSA intern Eunice Ajayi and Counselor Marino Avramovic. Career Ambassadors Discuss AFSA Legislative Strategy On July 18, AFSA President Ambassador Barbara Stephenson hosted a group of distinguished career ambassadors to discuss AFSA’s legislative strategy and policy messaging on the Hill. (l-r) Ambassador Tim Carney, Ambassador Barbara Stephenson, Professional Policy Issues Director Maria Livingston, Ambassadors (ret.) Marcie Ries, Ruth A. Davis, Earl Anthony (Tony) Wayne, AFSA Executive Director Ian Houston, Ambassador (ret.) Gillian Milovanovic. served as assistant to the ambassador since March. She is a graduate student at The George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs, study- ing European and Eurasian affairs. She shared her unique perspective as a dual citizen of the United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina. After coffee and informal discussion, the embassy staff briefed the interns on the history, geography and politi- cal system of the country, as well as the different tourist attractions in Bosnia and Herzegovina. AFSA presented a copy of Inside A US Embassy , AFSA’s popular introduction to the U.S. Foreign Service, to DCM Misic as a token of apprecia- tion for their hospitality. n —Vanessa Sorrentino, Advocacy Intern AFSA/ORIANNEGONZALEZ