In the Some People Never Learn category, I interviewed the Swiss Ambassador to Cairo Raimund Kunz on June 20, 2002 and, given the slightest hint that this starched diplomat might have a sense of humor, mistook him for my private comedy club audience. Excerpt:

Bernard: Given the timing that you took office just before September 11, have you found yourself having to spend time dealing with the increased tension between the West and the Middle East?

Kunz: We supported and took initiatives before September 11 within the UN for the promotion of a dialogue of civilizations. This was one of the issues I was following. In a more direct way, as Swiss ambassador, I was not particularly confronted with this problem because, apparently -- I don't know why -- but we [Swiss] have a very high ranking in Egypt. All the people, on all levels, being the taxi drivers or my domestics at home or the government, the elite here -- all of them are enthusiastic about Switzerland. I still don't know why (laughs).

Bernard: Well you never invaded them! That's, that's probably kept you on their good side. (Dan's laughter at own joke dies down as he notices the ambassador is silent and unsmiling.)

Bernard: (tries to explain joke) (inaudible) Switzerland. Just kidding.

Kunz: Well -- (Recovering) this is certainly one of the, eh, and this is certainly one of the reasons -- they admire our position. They admire our nature, environment, natural environment. The precision, especially in the (inaudible) or the (inaudible) from Switzerland. Eh, (pause) yeah, a sort of -- apparently they admire our mentality, the simple people. (Laughs harshly). Do you (inaudible, could be "agree"?)? (General nervous laughter from Dan, ambassador and a photographer) But if you push a little bit, you can find Switzerland a little bit boring, as I do. (Belly laugh).

Bernard: (Finding it necessary to defend Switzerland) I liked it.