ID :
48153
Sat, 02/28/2009 - 07:49
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/48153
The shortlink copeid
Obama announces Hill's appointment as new ambassador to Iraq
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Barack Obama announced Friday that chief U.S. nuclear envoy Christopher Hill will be the new ambassador to Iraq.
Obama made the announcement in a speech at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, in which
he declared that he will remove all U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of 2011.
"This effort will be led by our new ambassador to Iraq, Chris Hill," Obama said,
while stressing the need for the U.S. to help Iraq's stabilization in the
transition period.
"From his time in the Peace Corps to his work in Kosovo and Korea, Ambassador
Hill has been tested, and he has shown the pragmatism and skill that we need
right now," the president said. "And he will be supported by the courageous and
capable work of so many American diplomats and aid workers who are now serving in
Iraq."
The official announcement confirmed persistent rumors that Hill had been tapped
to lead the largest U.S. embassy. His appointment was something of a surprise as
he has no prior experience in the Middle East.
Hill, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, reportedly
is to be replaced by Kurt Campbell, head of the Center for a New American
Security (CNAS), a private think tank. Campbell is former deputy assistant
secretary of defense.
Hill was ambassador to South Korea for two years until 2005, when he was
appointed assistant secretary of state. He did double duty as the chief U.S.
negotiator at the six-party talks on ending North Korea's nuclear ambitions.
The job as envoy will be taken over by his deputy, Sung Kim, who has been
promoted to head the U.S. delegation.
Sung Kim is to cooperate closely with Stephen Bosworth, special envoy for North
Korea, who is expected to contact higher-level officials than North Korea's Vice
Foreign Minister Kim Kye-gwan, the chief North Korean delegate to the six-party
talks, to make a breakthrough in the stalled negotiations.
Hill also served as U.S. ambassador to Macedonia and Poland and special envoy to
Kosovo.
hdh@yna.co.kr
(END)
Obama made the announcement in a speech at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, in which
he declared that he will remove all U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of 2011.
"This effort will be led by our new ambassador to Iraq, Chris Hill," Obama said,
while stressing the need for the U.S. to help Iraq's stabilization in the
transition period.
"From his time in the Peace Corps to his work in Kosovo and Korea, Ambassador
Hill has been tested, and he has shown the pragmatism and skill that we need
right now," the president said. "And he will be supported by the courageous and
capable work of so many American diplomats and aid workers who are now serving in
Iraq."
The official announcement confirmed persistent rumors that Hill had been tapped
to lead the largest U.S. embassy. His appointment was something of a surprise as
he has no prior experience in the Middle East.
Hill, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, reportedly
is to be replaced by Kurt Campbell, head of the Center for a New American
Security (CNAS), a private think tank. Campbell is former deputy assistant
secretary of defense.
Hill was ambassador to South Korea for two years until 2005, when he was
appointed assistant secretary of state. He did double duty as the chief U.S.
negotiator at the six-party talks on ending North Korea's nuclear ambitions.
The job as envoy will be taken over by his deputy, Sung Kim, who has been
promoted to head the U.S. delegation.
Sung Kim is to cooperate closely with Stephen Bosworth, special envoy for North
Korea, who is expected to contact higher-level officials than North Korea's Vice
Foreign Minister Kim Kye-gwan, the chief North Korean delegate to the six-party
talks, to make a breakthrough in the stalled negotiations.
Hill also served as U.S. ambassador to Macedonia and Poland and special envoy to
Kosovo.
hdh@yna.co.kr
(END)
