On March 4-6, Deputy Chief of Mission Lynne Tracy made her first visit to the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). She was accompanied by Erik Holm-Olsen, U.S. Consul General in Vladivostok. In addition to meeting with officials from the Ministry of Federal Relations and External Affairs of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia), Ms. Tracy visited and met with the staff of the Permafrost Research Institute, Arctic Innovation Center, Mammoth Museum, and the Museum of the Khomus (mouth harp) – the national musical instrument of Yakutia. She also met with Yakutsk Rotary Club members to discuss the role of public diplomacy, and delivered welcoming remarks at the opening of the 4th Forum on the Masters of Yakutian Folk Art, noting the importance of protecting the cultural heritage of indigenous peoples.
