Kerry Comes To Syria Talks Bearing Unusual Gift: Potatoes (PHOTO)

[ProSense]

Kerry Comes To Syria Talks Bearing Unusual Gift: Potatoes (PHOTO)

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Secretary of State John Kerry showed up to a Monday meeting in Paris bearing an unconventional gift for his Russian counterpart.

Kerry gave Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov two Idaho potatoes, according to NBC News, after Lavrov mentioned the state's most famous export in their last meeting. The Russian minister happily accepted, remarking that the potatoes were "impressive."

The foreign policy leaders are in Paris along with Syrian opposition groups ahead of peace talks scheduled for next week, according to NBC News.

- more -

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/kerry_lavrov_potatoes

[Luftmensch067]

1. ROFL!

JK's goofiness is transferring to other world leaders! The world can only be the better for more silliness.

[karynnj]

4. One of the other articles spoke of Lavrov bringing up potatoes in a phone call

Last edited Mon Jan 13, 2014, 08:42 PM - Edit history (1)

Likely the Kerry family spent Christmas/New Years in Idaho - as they often do -- and JK continued making calls. I would guess that potatoes may be the only thing Lavrov associated with Idaho!

More important - there is clearly mutual respect and they can and have worked together well. Neither Condi Rice or Hillary were able to work with him. Apparently they both love ice hockey. It is interesting that they are working together in advance of this conference.

This link has video of Kerry giving them to Lavrov - http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_01_13/Lavrov-presents-Psaki-with-Russian-ushanka-after-Kerry-gave-him-two-potatoes-2512/

[DetlefK]

2. Know, what he got in return? A pink fur hat.

(Well, they presented it to a State Department spokeswoman in his stead.)

http://rt.com/news/potato-hat-lavrov-kerry-521/

[WhiteTara]

3. What a difference and adminstration makes

from laughing at us to laughing together. One more step toward peace.

[karynnj]

5. Actually - the change of Secretary of State mattered

Hillary and Lavrov had a very abrasive relationship, which could be characterized by her joke gift - a red button on a box with the wrong Russian word for RESET written in latin, not Cyrillic, letters.

Kerry worked very effectively with him on Syria and on the Iran issue.

[JI7]

6. Lavrov seems to really like KErry even if Putin doesn't

interesting .

[karynnj]

7. With Iran and Syria in the news, here is what we need more on the potatoes!

It is interesting though. Lavrov has given the potatoes to a Russian farmer who will experiment with them. (Given that Idaho potatoes really are good, not a bad idea.) http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_01_21/Lavrov-sends-potatoes-presented-by-John-Kerry-to-Russian-farmers-for-experimental-cultivation-0216/

From that article, there is also backstory on the relationship between Kerry and Lavrov - which is interesting as they are both players in the diplomacy that is needed on Syria and Iran. http://voiceofrussia.com/2014_01_19/Kerrys-potato-gift-to-Lavrov-a-sign-of-friendship-9712/ Form this account, like others, they have a good strong relationship. Obviously, that will not mean that they will agree on the issues, but it does suggest that they will be able to work in good faith - and no little insignificant things will create problems between them.

In addition, the restaurant that Kerry bought the potatoes from has come forward and the potatoes were from Blackfoot, Idaho - near Pocatello. http://www.mtexpress.com/index2.php?ID=2007150462#.Ut6AK_so5H0

Given the possible agricultural use and the obvious good relationship between these two powerful men on different sides of many big issues, the potatoes may have been less silly than they seemed.

[mylye2222]

8. Unfortunely,

He didn't spoke in French this time........

BTW, Im new, my name is Emilie and I live in France. I'm 29 and a since-04 admirer of JK!

Emilie

[Luftmensch067]

9. Welcome!

It's so exciting to see JK making such a positive impact all over the world, isn't it? I loved seeing his speech in French last year and wish I could find it online!

Bienvenue, Emilie !!!

[mylye2222]

10. Here is the vid.

So ProSense, a gift for you,

And a second one, much Longer, about Syria,

And voila! Enjoy.!

[Luftmensch067]

11. Merci bien!

Thank you, Emilie! I made up an expression where I say "merci mille fleurs" instead of "fois" but maybe in French that's just weird!!! (hm, when I google it, I see one use from 2006, so I'm not the only one to think of it!)

I love listening to JK speaking French! He seems very fluent and has a good accent, but he still sounds like himself (and still sounds American, to me, like he's pronouncing the words carefully.) How does he sound to your French ears?

[mylye2222]

12. To my éars,

well....he just have little accent, It can be heard, but very thiny, as thought as it's oubviously he'd pactices the languages for decades ( mostly on unofficial accasion, I presume, surely only with family and friends)

This guys, nor in French or English or so....says just sincere and truth things. He seems also to be a very sensitive and compationnate guy. Whish just I could meet him someday..... And give him a fierce hug of admiration, respect and admiration.

[ProSense]

14. Thanks for the clips.

Welcome to DU.

[karynnj]

13. Welcome to DU

I think JK is the best statesman/leader the US produced in his generation. Until recently, that made me sad that we never got to have a Kerry Presidency. However, seeing all the things he has accomplished and could potentially accomplish as Secretary of State, this might be better - or at least as good - for the world.

France did play a role in who he is. His mother, an American, was born and lived in France until her 20s and he spent part of his summers as a young boy with his grandparents in France.

[Mass]

15. Bonjour. Emilie

Je suis française aussi, mais j'habite aux Etats Unis depuis 2001.

Nice to see you here. I am a lot older than you are, so the name of Brice Lalonde may be foreign to you (he was an important player in the Green movement in France years ago), but Lalonde is Kerry's first cousin.

[mylye2222]

16. Well, not so foreign

I am a found of politics sinces 12 years, I had already heard of Lalonde, and then I knew also he was JK's firts cousin, when I begun to follow the campaing for 2004

[HappyPlace]

18. Hi!

I'm sorry I didn't get back to you on Facebook--- super busy and even now, at 4:48 I have to drive 110 miles to miss traffic, for a meeting.

I'm fine, hope you are too but your Facebook account seems tied up.

[mylye2222]

19. well I opened a nex one. PM me.

[mylye2222]

17. So, tel me

I see you're from Massachussets right? Have you met JK in person once? How he is for real?