QBP
Some friends of mine, here, have taken one particular British tradition to heart … that of the “Loyal Toast“.
A loyal toast is a salute, (or toast), given at a formal gathering such as a Dinner or Reception, to a head of state who represents and symbolizes the nation, (even if they not are actually present at the event). Usually, it is a matter of protocol at state and military occasions, and a display of patriotic sentiment at civilian events. The toast is usually announced by the host and then repeated by the assembled guests, in unison.
In the United Kingdom it is simply expressed as “The Queen!“, (or “The King” – depending on who is sitting on the throne at that time). In the United States it is often the case that official functions begin with the toast, “The President of the United States of America!“
Whenever we meet for dinner, either as a guest in someone’s home or in restaurant, then they always insist on starting the proceedings with the loyal toast – a toast to “The Queen”. It might seem very strange, or perhaps just a little eccentric, that citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic take such an interest in an esoteric point of protocol and a sign of respect to the monarch of another country, but there is a reason. On one occasion I was guest at a dinner party and was called upon to give a toast … now, toasts are taken very seriously here and I took at this as my theme … aiming to end up with one of my favourite toasts: “May the best of your yesterdays be the worst of your tomorrows”. I described the traditional “Health, Wealth and Happiness”, drawing out the similarities with local toasts. During the speech, however, I also mentioned the “Loyal Toast”, to “The Queen” and pointed out that it was only after this had been proposed and drunk that people were allowed to smoke. Now, many people smoke here in Kyrgyzstan, and someone, (a non-smoker, I think), picked up on this point and started to complain whenever someone attempted to light-up … “But, we haven’t had the ‘Loyal Toast’, yet”. Other’s took up the cry and now the smokers often ask that we follow American precedent … and begin an evening “a loyal toast” so that they could indulge in their nicotine habit.
Another esoteric point in the diplomatic calendar is the Queen’s Birthday Party, or as it is often affectionately referred to, QBP.
The Queen’s Birthday Party is a function arranged by British embassies around the world as a representative National Day. In Britain, we don’t have a National Day, or an Independence Day, although there have apparently been suggestions in some of the more tabloid press that we should create one. We have our national Saints’ Days – St. George’s Day, for England; St. Andrew’s for Scotland, St. David for Wales and St. Patrick for Ireland – but there isn’t a day for the United Kingdom as a whole. Some people have made suggestions for different days, such as Trafalgar Day or Commonwealth Day, but as far as British Diplomatic missions abroad are concerned, they celebrate the Queen’s Birthday.
The Queen’s Birthday Party does not celebrate the Queen’s actual Birthday. She was born on April 21st, but the Queen’s Birthday Party is always held in June … usually on the first or second Saturday in the month – and just occasionally on the third Saturday. The practice of holding an Official Birthday for the monarch separate from their actual birthday dates back to King Edward VII, who decided to move the celebrations from his actual birthday, (November 9th), to the summertime, hoping that the weather would be better.
The day is marked by the Queen’s Birthday Parade and the Trooping of the Colour, a military ceremony where the flag of a regiment would be carried slowly amongst the serried ranks of its troops with massed bands, pomp and pageantry, and the publication of the Birthday Honours List, in which members of the “great and the good” are rewarded with awards and titles in recognition of their contribution to various aspects of life. It is not a public holiday in Britain, although civil servants may be given the day off in order to make a long weekend holiday. Oddly enough, however, in some commonwealth countries it is a public holiday, (and even in Fiji, which is now a republic and has been suspended and threatened with expulsion from the British Commonwealth).
British interests in Kyrgyzstan are represented by the British embassy in Astana, Kazakhstan, which also is the accredited embassy for Tajikistan. As a result, the ambassador in Astana usually has to arrange and attend three receptions each year: one in Astana, another in Bishkek and a third in Dushanbe, (the capital of Tajikistan). As a result, the QBP is never held on the queen’s official birthday, (which is always a Saturday – not a good day to hold an official diplomatic reception at the best of times), yet alone her actual birthday.
One of the nice things about the QBP is that it tends to bring a lot people “out of the woodwork” … people that haven’t seen for some time as they are busy with their work and daily lives … as I am with mine … so that our paths rarely cross. It is nice to catch up with old friends … and also to meet new people. On the other hand, I sometimes find the evening a little bit of a strain, as I am not particularly good at making small talk. Sometimes, even, there are embarrassing moments, like the occasion when an official who said that he had promised himself to “make less trips to Kyrgyzstan this year” or when another told a joke, (which I am sure was very funny in the original), about the English, Scots and French but dressed it up so that it was about the Kyrgyz, Kazakhs and Uzbeks … but didn’t quite work because there is no equivalent to the English Channel, upon which the punch line hinged, between Kyrgyzstan and its neighbours.
This year the QBP was held on a Monday in the Hyatt Regency hotel. (They do change the venue occasionally, but most years it is at the Hyatt …) I don’t manage to go every year, some years I am busy or on a trip. This year, however, I was able to go.
I quite like getting to places early and letting them fill up around me … so I got to the Hyatt early. The six flagpoles outside the front of the hotel were surprisingly empty. The two in the center normally fly the Kyrgyz flag and the Hyatt Corporate flag. The four flanking poles sport different flags depending, often, on which official visitors may be staying: Russian, Kazakhstan, the US, China, the United Kingdom … and so on. I had expected to see the Union Jack flying as they were hosting the QBP … but, no. There were no flags at all!
Actually, I was quite pleased about that because the flag that they fly is not actually the Union Jack – they probably think it is, because it looks very similar … but it isn’t. When I am feeling mischievous, I often consider calling on the Manager and asking him whose flag it is. You see, on the flag of the United kingdom the white diagonal lines are different widths … but not on the one they fly at the Hyatt.
I know … I know … I am a pedant!
Even if this little niggling question wasn’t an issue on this occasion, there was another one associated with flags. The room where the QBP was being held was decorated with flags of all sizes. The were several Union Jacks, (all with the proper white diagonals), a couple of Kyrgyz flags, a flag bearing the Queen’s seal, (although not the Royal Standard itself), the red cross of St. George on a white field, the white diagonal cross of St. Andrew on its on its royal blue background and the red dragon of Wales with its green and white background. Where, I asked, was the Red Hand of Ulster that represents Northern Ireland? It is, after all, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland!
This time I was feeling mischievous … it was an Irishman that I asked!
There was a brass sextet playing as I approached the welcoming line comprising the Ambassador and his wife, the military attaché, (in full uniform), and his wife and some other officials. We shook hands, exchanging names and pleasantries as is normal on these occasions. The sextet went to perform the two National Anthems, and they have obviously had a lot more practice with the Kyrgyz anthem than “God Save the Queen”, but having said that, they did produce a good sound and it was so much nicer than having the anthems played on a cassette recorder. The sextet also went on play a number of medleys on the poolside patio as the evening progressed.
The big surprise of the evening, however, came when the Ambassador and the ranking Kyrgyz official mounted the platform where the ceremonial flags stood. The announcement was made, “Please be silent for the Loyal Toast!” … The ambassador raised his glass of (I presume) Sovietskaya champagne and intoned “The Queen!” to be greeted by a number of us expats responding loudly: “The Queen!”. After a little sip and a pregnant pause … everyone was waiting for the usual (lengthy) speeches … he raised his glass once more and intoned “The Kyrgyz Republic!”. A surprised murmur of “The Kyrgyz Republic!” greeted him this time.
Of course, the traditional ” Loyal Toast” should not have been to the Kyrgyz Republic, but to “The President of the Kyrgyz Republic”, the Head of state. (the perviy leetso), who represents and personifies the state, but given the present circumstances that might have presented a few diplomatic difficulties, so this alternative was probably a wise move on somebody’s part.
Some of the Kyrgyz that I was standing with looked bemused and asked me, “Is that it?, Is that all?” When he dismounted from the platform and it was clear that, yes, that was indeed all, they turned to me and congratulated on British sensibleness, not to waste valuable (drinking) time.
Attention turned to the snacks and the socializing … networking and “working the room”, which is probably the main point of the event.
I couldn’t help wondering, however, if the lack of the traditional formal speeches highlighting the good relations enjoyed by the two nations, might not have signified something. I do hope not … just that the current ambassador prefers a less formal approach to his duties.
As it happens, I think he might well have been following “protocol” instructions … something to the effect of “Keep it simple” … however, as I have said, toasts are taken very seriously here, and I fear that the lack of formal speeches might well be misunderstood.
Still, the current ambassador is well experienced, both generally and in this particular region. During the day he had been in meetings with various government officials, including one of the deputy chairmen of the interim government, Almazbek Atambaev, where these sort of comments were made: “London sees Kyrgyzstan as a friendly country”, “Kyrgyzstan is interested in the development of the bilateral relations with the UK in political, trade, economic, cultural, humanitarian and other spheres of a mutual concern.”, “We highly value the social importance of DFID projects in health care, rural water supply, sanitation, fight against HIV/AIDS, rural investments. …” and so on, so I presume he knows what he was doing.
At least we were saved from any embarrassing stories!
All in all, however, I was happy to raise my glass in the traditional Loyal Toast, once more, and I hope I get invited to next year’s QBP.
Bishkek