Hill confirmed as new U.S. ambassador to Iraq

By Hwang Doo-hyong
WASHINGTON, April 21 (Yonhap) -- Christopher Hill, U.S. assistant secretary of
state, was Tuesday confirmed by the Senate as new U.S. ambassador to Iraq,
despite criticism that he lacks experience in Middle East affairs.

Hill was approved in a 73-23 vote.
U.S. President Barack Obama nominated Hill, the chief U.S. nuclear envoy, last
month, citing Hill's experience "in the Peace Corps to his work in Kosovo and
Korea" and saying, "Ambassador Hill has been tested, and he has shown the
pragmatism and skill that we need right now."
Obama has said Hill is the right man to effectively implement his pledge to
withdraw all U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of 2011.
Hill's appointment was something of a surprise to many observers as he has no
prior experience in the Middle East.
His previous post, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific
Affairs, will likely be filled by Kurt Campbell, head of the Center for 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, the U.S. special
representative to North Korea, who seeks to contact higher-level officials than
North Korean 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 as special envoy
to Kosovo.
hdh@yna.co.kr
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