<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC '-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN' 'http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd'>; <html><head><title>Article Directory Online : Free Online Article Submission - Articleonlinedirectory | U.s. Dignitaries Receive Gem-encrusted Baubles Worth Thousands</title></head><body><h3>U.s. Dignitaries Receive Gem-encrusted Baubles Worth Thousands</h3><br /><br />By: <br /><br /><p>Tensions between the U.S. and Middle East may be high, but you wouldn't know it given the gifts lavished on Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in the past year. In fact, she has received jewelry valued at more than $750,000 from Arab leaders. The kings of Jordan and Saudi Arabia gifted her with nearly $316,000 in gems alone in 2007 - making her among the top recipients among U.S. officials to receive gifts from foreign states in 2007.<br /> <br /> Particularly stunning, King Abdullah II presented Rice with an emerald and diamond necklace, ring, bracelet, and earrings with an estimated value of $147,000 in January 2008. Not to be bested by his neighbor, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia treated Rice to a ruby and diamond necklace with matching earrings, bracelet and ring at a worth of $165,000 last summer. Several years prior, Rice also received from the Saudi monarch a $170,000 flower petal motif necklace.<br /> <br /> Meanwhile, President Bush and the First Lady received from the same Arab leaders an $85,000 sapphire and diamond jewelry set, as well as a piece of artwork valued at $10,000, which depicts a desert scene complete with a tent made of gold. Other unusual gifts during the president's past term included a vermeil horse statue positioned atop a malachite base with a gold, mother of pearl, and malachite octagonal clock, which was offered by King Abdullah of Saudi with an estimated worth of $8,000. Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of Italy gave the president an Omega men's watch valued at more than $3,100. In 18K yellow-gold, the watch was designed with a crystal face and brown alligator band.<br /> <br /> Lest we think the leaders of the world only present one another with expensive jewelry and art, some gifts are quite modest and even unusual. For instance, the Dali Lama offered Mrs. Bush a $6 assortment of nuts and dried fruit while the Swedish prime minister went more practical with his gift - a $570 Brush Cutter apparently for use on the Bush's Crawford, Texas ranch. Perhaps one for the records, Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov gifted the world's leader with a two-month-old Bulgarian Goran shepherd puppy named Balkan of Gorannadraganov. <br /> <br /> No matter how tempting - or unusual - the gift may be, one thing is for certain. All gifts presented to presidents, their families, and other dignitaries, are considered U.S. property. As such, President Bush, Rice and others are actually banned from keeping any gift valued at more than $305 unless they pay for them. All foreign gifts are turned over to the State Department, which is responsible for recording and acknowledging the gifts. Domestic presents are handled in the same manner by the White House Gift Unit.<br /> <br /> So what becomes of all those fabulous baubles and glittering gifts? Items not chosen to be kept for personal use are placed into a courtesy storage unit at the National Archives warehouse. Eventually, they are transported to the president's library.<br /> <br /> It's not something taken lightly by the American government. In fact, a presidential family can find themselves in hot water if gifts are not appropriately reported. Take for instance jewelry which was given to the Patricia Nixon and her daughters by Saudi Arabia's royal family. After it was discovered the gifts had not been turned over to appropriate parties, the courts had to step in and order the family's packing crates to be impounded in search of $2 million in state gifts which were eventually turned over to the government. <br /> <br /> In the case of the Bulgarian Goran shepherd, the Bushes purchased the pooch for $430 and then re-gifted him to a Bulgarian-American friend who owns a Maryland farm.<br /> <br /> So thankfully, while we don't need to worry about a shepherd being crated away into a stuffy corner at the National Archives, sadly many of the world's most precious and beautiful gifts won't see the light of day anytime soon. What could be more tragic than a beautiful piece of jewelry relegated to obscurity in a State Department warehouse? Gives new meaning to "it's the thought that counts."</p> <br /><br /><b>Author Resource:-></b> Lewis Jewelers is proud to carry the full line of <a href=http://www.LewisJewelers.com/pandora_bracelets/>Pandora Jewelry</a>. <a href=http://www.LewisJewelers.com>Pandora charms</a>, Pandora bracelets and Pandora beads are only a part of the collection. For more information, Lewis Jewelers, 2000 West Stadium Blvd., Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48103, 877-88-LEWIS or visit the website.<br /><br /><b>Article From</b> <a href='http://www.articleonlinedirectory.com/'>Article Directory Online : Free Online Article Submission - Articleonlinedirectory</a><br /></body></html>
