The Consular Corps of Arizona

2010

The Consular Corps of Arizona

Honorary Consuls are appointed by their respective countries and approved by the US Department of State.  The first Honorary Consul appointed in Arizona was Joseph E. Refsnes, in 1949, representing Norway.  This happened at a time when NATO was training cadets from other countries at Williams and Luke Fields. Paul Coze was appointed Honorary Vice Consul of France in 1951, Rudy Zepada was appointed the first Honorary Consul of Belgium in 1952, Foster Mori was appointed Honorary Consular Agent of Italy in 1957, and Robert C. Kelso was appointed Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1961.  The preceding five consuls formed the Consular Corps of Arizona in 1961, electing Rudy Zepada as Chairman, Foster Mori as Vice Chairman, and Robert Kelso as Secretary Treasurer. Robert P. LeMarr, representing Ecuador, joined the Consular Corps in 1963, while Dr. Ingel Anderson, representing Sweden, joined the Corps in 1967. Both Consul Anderson and Consul LeMarr subsequently served as Chairman.  Consuls Mori and LeMarr are still active in the activities of the Arizona Corps.  

Over the past years there have been as many as 30 countries represented in the Consular Corps of Arizona.  Currently 28 countries are represented with the Honorable Brad Brados, representing Brazil, serving as Chairman.  Each Honorary Consul is the liaison between the country represented and the Government and the citizens of Arizona.  Additional duties of Honorary Consuls include promotion of business and cultural exchanges and assisting citizens of their represented countries, while living or traveling in Arizona.  The majority of Honorary Consuls serves without pay, and indeed pays their own expenses.  At the same time, many of the Honorary Consuls have the same duties as career diplomats.  There are several  Consuls General within the Consular Corps of Arizona.  These include Mexico,  Canada, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.  Most importantly, the Consular Corps members work together in a supportive manner to assist each other in this increasingly integrated world.