Diplomats Given Expensive Gifts by Governments

Officials in high places get pretty good salaries, but wait until you cast your eyes through just a small section of the list of gifts they also receive from foreign governments. Gifts that appear to spend their life hidden in 'Archives Foreign'.  After glancing over just some of the 1998 list it reads as if the Archives Foreign are something like Harrods the day before Christmas.

Moamar Qaddafi, Libya, proved to be one of the most generous gift-givers, being particularly grateful for former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's visit to Tripoli last year. According to a newly-released State Department report he handed over gifts to the total value of $212,225, including a diamond ring and a locket with his picture inside.

Officials, by law, are required to hand these gifts over to the U.S. government.

Following is Just a tiny sample of the official gifts that were received with the excuse that 'non-acceptance would cause embarrassment to both the donor and the U.S. Government'.

Farwa overcoat

Gold dagger

Gold sabre with diamonds and rubies – foreign archives

A navy suede robe with gold trim and mink lining

Gold necklace

Black Mercedes mountain bike

24” gold Collar of State chain

2 Tan leather saddles

49 piece white china set

3 wind chimes and candle holder

Pair of leather boots

Painted leather saddle

Music system with speakers and remote control

Waterford crystal footed bowl

Pen and ink set

Silk Afghani rug

19 x 39 oval lapis tabletop

MTB Hard tail special edition mountain bike

uSqueeze Calf and foot massager

Zen Mp3 player

Taxidermied lion and leopard

Silver tea pot and teaset

Carved statues

Bottle of Kutjevo wine (location – handled pursuant to Secret Service policy)

Gold plated SMG PK Caliber 9mm gun

Gold necklace with emeralds, diamonds and rubies

The list of gifts goes onto included many watches, cufflinks and rings, diamond bracelets and earrings, rugs, robes, statues, pens, vases, scarves, paintings and items of clothing, traditional dress, carved statues, books, handbags, teasets, vases, plates, photos.

Many items were moved to 'General Services Administration', showing they are being 'officially' used somewhere.

Several members of the White House staff also received similar gifts, which were transferred to 'General Services Administration'. These included items like swords, carpets, gold and silver tea cups. Children's books, stuffed toys and children's shirts.  Caviar, cognac and pomegranates and 12 lb of Arabian dates were handled pursuant to US Secret Service policy.

The list does not include accommodation, round trip air tickets etc., provided by host countries.

The list rolls on and on into hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of goods. And the list is only for the Bush administration in 2008!

So what about all the other years and other presidents and governments around the globe, including royalty? The question remains: How massive are the Archives Foreign and are they constantly expanding, or do officials have an 'auction' from time to time? Are there buildings tucked away that are full of treasure and larger than several football fields? Who has the control of this uncountable wealth, or do the 'Archives Foreign' have revolving doors?