In a note in the federal register of gifts, the ministry says that there is no trace of the bottle, and that an internal investigation is underway to see where it may have gone.
The information about the missing whiskey bottle is included in the annual overview of what senior officials and women have received from gifts from foreign governments and heads of state.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ protocol office is required to keep an overview of what has been given and where the gifts are located. Recipients have the choice between transferring gifts of a certain value to the National Archives or another public body, or purchasing them for personal use by transferring money corresponding to the value to the Ministry of Finance.
G-20
The Japanese whiskey bottle was valued at $ 5,800 and was presented to Pompeo in June 2019, probably during a visit to Japan at a G-20 meeting, where he accompanied President Donald Trump.
But unlike other gifts that were given, there is no trace of this bottle. Attempts to obtain a comment from a spokesman for former Foreign Minister Pompeo have failed.
Pompeo reported to the registry that he had once again received two blankets worth $ 19,400 from the president of Kazakhstan and the foreign minister of the United Arab Emirates, respectively. According to the rules, both carpets were transferred to a public agency.
Trump received many gifts
The survey also shows that former President Trump and his wife Melania received gifts valued at $ 120,000 in 2019, significantly more than the year before, but less than the peak year of 2017, when the sum was $ 140,000.
It is not a common theme for the gifts American leaders receive from abroad. Several leaders, including from Australia, Egypt and Vietnam, presented Trump with portraits of himself. In total, these gifts were valued at $ 10,000.
Australia’s gift was a framed photograph of Trump and Melania worth $ 470.
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