 Well, good afternoon. This is Ralph Wenning, Jr., Director of the China program at the Eurasia Center, Vice President of Global Business Development for Eurasian Business Coalition. We're here to just talk with Ambassador Francisco Campbell of the Nation of Nicaragua regarding cultural and trade diplomacy. Ambassador Campbell, how are you doing? I am doing wonderful and really grateful for the opportunity to speak about diplomacy, culture, especially about my experience at the University of Hawaii some 50 years ago. Well, tell us about that. How did you come to study at the University of Hawaii and what did you take from the experience living and studying in our great state of Hawaii? Well, I had the good fortune of running into a Hawaiian student in Los Angeles, and he suggested to me that Hawaii would be a very interesting place for me to study, and at the time I was very adventurous, so I submitted an application and was admitted to the university. When I got to Hawaii, I went there with the idea of studying business administration, but then being in that vibrant cosmopolitan state with students from all over the world, I developed an interest in other cultures, other people, and I believe that's where my interest in going into international relations and diplomacy really took hold. During my time at the University of Hawaii, I was president of the international students association from 1972 until 73, and had the opportunity of really promoting the various cultural expressions and manifestations of the international student body at the University of Hawaii, so that was a tremendous experience for me, and it played a very important role in my becoming a diplomat for the last 45 years. And what have you taken from your experience in Hawaii that has led you to become a very effective diplomat representing Nicaragua's interests here in Washington, D.C.? The openness and willingness to listen to other people, develop empathy and clear understanding of their culture and their aspirations, valuing the point of view of other people, and being as a whole being very, very empathetic. I think that's one of the characteristics that I found in Hawaii, a great large degree of tolerance and openness and willingness to accommodate others, and that Aloha spirit I think plays a very important role, has played a very important role in my career, and I think it has helped me very, very much in being an effective diplomat representing Nicaragua, not only in the United States, but also in parts of the cities in Africa as well. What are some of the challenges to being an effective ambassador for Nicaragua in the United States? Would you say that to most people don't realize or understand? We have had a very difficult history with the United States going back to the 1850s. We have had U.S. insistence on trying to impose the interest of the United States on the expense of the Nicaraguan people, and so as a diplomat, my job is to try to find ways to get around those kind of difficulties, those kinds of complications, to try to overcome what I refer to as ideological prejudice, and to find ways of identifying areas in which we can work together in advancing the fundamental interests of our two people. There are areas in which Nicaragua and the United States must cooperate in the interests of our two people, and my job is to try to reach out and to bring that to the attention, not only of government officials in the United States, but also to the American people as a whole, pointing out that there are things that we can do together that would be a benefit to our two people, especially in the areas, for example, of security, the fight against drug trafficking and organized crime, dealing with the challenges posed by irregular migration, handling issues pertaining to climate change. Central America is one of the most vulnerable regions of the world, as is Hawaii, to the effects of climate change, and so these are all areas that we need to find ways of cooperating, of working together to advance the fundamental interests of our two people. And how has relations changed since you have been ambassador? Would you say it's improved for the better, or there's still constant challenges that you're having to react to? There are constant challenges, while at the same time we are making important progress in significant areas. For example, the United States is the most important trading partner for Nicaragua, and we would like to see that continue to grow, continue to improve. We are definitely cooperating in the fight against drug trafficking and organized crime. We believe that the United States could do more in terms of dealing with the challenges posed by drugs and the abuse of drugs within the United States. We, on all parts, we are doing our best to intercept as much of the drugs as we can, because Nicaragua is neither a producer nor a consumer of drugs. Our territory is being used by drug traffickers for their shipment of the drugs to the United States. So our job is to intercept as much of the drugs as we can, and Nicaragua is very, very effective in that regard. We are the most effective partner of the United States Central American Legion in terms of effectiveness in the fight against drug trafficking and organized crime. There are areas in which we have made great improvements, but there are still many areas in which we need to continue to work, and Nicaragua continues to show good will, and a willingness to work effectively with the United States. That's great. That's very, very important. When I had the privilege of attending a reception that you hosted, that was geared to promoting tourism and leisure resort development. As you know, Hawaii is a major tourism and leisure destination in our family business in Hawaii was real estate. So I found that quite fascinating that Nicaragua was really promoting tourism and leisure development as a way to generate income for the economy. How do you see that continuing to develop in terms of promoting positive relations with the United States and overcoming the ideological prejudices that you described? I think it's a very important part, a very important component in our development strategy. As you know, Nicaragua has a lot to offer. We have certain possibilities on the Pacific side of the country. We have beautiful beaches on the Caribbean side of the country. We have the tropical rain for it on the eastern part of the country. The largest tropical rain for it north of Brazil is, in fact, on the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua. That provides interesting fauna and flora that is very attractive to people who are interested in that type of tourism. Then we also have the culture and the colonial history. In fact, Nicaragua has a wide variety of things to offer for the take up of any tourist interested in opportunities to get to know about other peoples, other cultures and what they have to offer. We are doing our best to promote Nicaragua as a tourism destination. I have one who lives in Hawaii and saw how tourism has played a very important role in the economy of that country. I value what we have to offer. I would like to encourage people from all over the United States to think about the possibility of including Nicaragua in their vacation plans. That would be very interesting to have more and more Americans travel to Nicaragua and learn about the tourism leisure opportunities. You don't hear a lot of positive information coming out of Nicaragua. That's always been a challenge as you said throughout the years. But having you as an ambassador, I think, has been very effective because you've trained in the United States in Hawaii and you've understand the American mindset and you're also able to effectively articulate Nicaragua's priorities in terms of the areas of cooperation. How do you see that moving forward in terms of finding ways to promote global peace and dialogue? Has Nicaragua been a focal point in terms of that goal? Where do you see your priorities moving forward at this point? Well, my priority continues to be the same thing. It is important that we find ways in which we can open avenues of communication, that we identify ways in which we can cooperate to the benefit of both countries. That means looking at opportunities for collaboration in the exchange of culture, education, technical abilities, sharing of knowledge, sharing of experiences. All of these are things that can be put on the table so that we can find ways in which we can enhance a greater understanding, greater communication in such a way that it becomes beneficial for the peoples of the two countries. As I was telling you at the outset, my experience in Hawaii really implicated in me openness, willingness to really appreciate what other people have to offer and value it in such a way that we can, in sharing, we can enhance the quality of life for each other. And I think that is at the core of how I approach my work here. And I think I do my best to transmit the empathy that I feel towards the people of the United States and my willingness to transmit my understanding of the United States to the Nicaraguan authorities so that they too can have a better appreciation of what the United States and the people of the United States are all about overcoming some of the misunderstanding and some of the prejudices that have obstructed has made it more difficult for us to find ways of working together. So that's the challenge and that is how I approach the work that I try here in the United States and hopefully we are going to continue to make progress in that regard. What advice would you give people that are aspiring to enter into the diplomatic field? What qualities should they possess in terms of being an effective diplomat? We need to listen very carefully and try to develop empathy for the other side, try to understand what motivates them and where they are coming from and only after listening very carefully then decide how to approach the challenges posed by the responsibility you are you are assuming. The important thing I believe is listening and empathy that is the starting point in order to be able to advance in any positive and significant way. How effective do you think the media has been in terms of allowing you to effectively communicate your message to the American people? The American media generally I would say and to be susceptible in my opinion to official government narratives even though they would say otherwise. It seems to me that they would could be much more effective if they would take the time to really analyze more in depth the various situations that arise and not limit themselves to buy into what I would call the official narrative emanating from the government. That is not true of all in India but the majority in my opinion tend to fall into that category. How effective do you think sports diplomacy and peace building have been in terms of helping to promote Nicaragua and its values and culture? I think it has created a very important part for culture and for it is a very important component of our diplomacy. We are very good in baseball and we are known especially in the Central American and Caribbean region as a very important baseball country. Our music and our dance forms are also very highly appreciated and play a very important role. Our poetry Nicaragua is known as a country of poetry and Nicaragua in one way or another that they are their point and so culturally and in sports we are very recognized in the Central American region especially in terms of baseball. I was also going to add I think your wife and your daughter have been very effective in terms of their engagement with the legal and diplomatic community in Washington DC. Do you have anything to add about their role in Washington? We believe that the entire family has a role to play in projecting what Nicaragua is all about. The family plays a very important role in Nicaragua and we believe that it's important that that family relationship should be projected in our work as diplomats representing Nicaragua. That is why my wife and daughter they are always along with me when we go to the various events organized here in Washington and other parts of the United States because everywhere we go we are in fact representing the values and the essence of the Nicaraguan nation and so yes their role is very important and I think it plays a very significant part of our efforts here in the United States. When will your next trip to Hawaii be? Do you have any plans? I am looking forward to be able to do that sometime in the near future however I don't have any specific date set as yet but we are always looking for opportunities to visit and that state has played a very important role in my life. It really turned me around. I didn't know that I was going to be a diplomat until I went to Hawaii and that is when I really began the foundation for what became my career as a diplomat. Are many Nicaraguans traveling to Hawaii since COVID? I'm not sure that there are many Nicaraguans traveling to Hawaii. I would hope that as conditions with respect to COVID continue to improve you will find more Nicaraguans traveling abroad. As a result of COVID our attention was centered on promoting what we call domestic tourism and that has really taken off but now that all the airlines are flying again and things are opening up who knows maybe we might be able to see Nicaraguans traveling to Hawaii as well. I would want to be among the first to go. You will be the example and people will follow. I need to get Hawaiian to come to Nicaragua as well. Absolutely. I remember when I was a student at the University of Hawaii my dentist was a Japanese doctor by the name of Dr. Nishi and much to my surprise he told me that he had traveled to the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua to do bird watching. That's more than 50 years ago. Wonderful. Well Ambassador Campbell thank you for being on our show trading around the world. It's been a very insightful conversation and we really appreciate your contributions and your connection with Hawaii. Thank you very very much and whenever anything about Hawaii comes up you can be assured that I am always very very interested and would just love just love to talk about it. As I said it it takes Hawaii to change my life for the better and I thank you very much for this opportunity. Well you're very welcome and we'll look forward to seeing you soon. Take care.