Kenney Nominated Next U.S. Ambassador To RP

Ambassador Kristie Anne Kenney. (Photo U.S. State Department)

ZAMBOANGA CITY (Zamboanga Journal / 04 Jan) -- President George Bush nominated Clemson political science graduate Kristie A. Kenney to become the U.S. ambassador to the Philippines, an embassy posting said.

She would become the first woman ambassador to Manila -- replacing Francis Ricciardone, who left in May -- if the U.S. Senate approves the nomination.

Kenney, a member of the U.S. Foreign Service, served as senior adviser to the assistant secretary for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs at the Department of State. She served as U.S. ambassador to the Republic of Ecuador.

Prior to that, Kenney was economic counselor at the U.S. Mission in Geneva and economic officer at the U.S. Embassy in Argentina and worked as consular officer at the U.S . Embassy in Jamaica.

Earlier in her career, she served as executive secretary of the State Department, the first woman to hold that position. She headed a staff responsible for inter-agency policy coordination and crisis management, working directly for Secretaries of State Colin Powell and Madeleine Albright.

Kenney also led the State Department transition team from the Clinton to Bush administrations.

Her Washington assignments included director of the State Department Operations Center, a detail to the White House as a member of the National Security Council staff and political-military officer in the Office of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) Affairs.

Kenney holds a Master's Degree in Latin American Studies from Tulane University and a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from Clemson University.

She also attended the National War College. She speaks Spanish and French. A native of Washington, D.C., Kenney was a page for the U.S. Senate, a tour guide in the U.S. Capitol, and an intern in the House of Representatives.

Prior to joining the Foreign Service, she worked as a staff member for the Senate Human Resources Committee.

Kenney received the Department's Distinguished Honor Award, the Arnold Raphel Memorial Award (for leadership, motivation and mentoring), and several superior honor awards.

STATEMENT OF KRISTIE A. KENNEY, AMBASSADOR-DESIGNATE TO THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES BEFORE THE U.S. SENATE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS JANUARY 31, 2006

Mr./Madam Chairman, Members of the Committee,

I am deeply honored to appear before you today. It is a privilege to be President Bush’s nominee as the United States Ambassador to the Republic of the Philippines. I am grateful for the trust and confidence the President and Secretary Rice have shown in nominating me for this position.

Mr. Chairman, I am a senior member of the Foreign Service with the rank of Career-Minister. I recently finished my assignment as the United States Ambassador to Ecuador and before that held senior positions at the State Department and National Security Council in Washington as well as overseas positions in Geneva, Argentina, and Jamaica. I am an experienced manager of people, policy and resources.

If confirmed, I will put those skills to good use in enhancing U.S. relations with the Philippines to include protecting American citizens, promoting U.S. business interests and our mutual work on the global war on terrorism.

The Philippines is a longstanding treaty ally of the United States and became a major non-NATO Ally in 2003. Our peoples fought side by side to preserve freedom and democracy in World War II, and today our nations stand together in fighting the global war on terrorism and the global war against poverty.

The United States is the largest investor in the Philippines and, in most years, its number one trading partner. More than 125,000 U.S. citizens reside in the Philippines and more than half a million visit every year. There are approximately two million Americans of Philippines ancestry in the United States.

The size and complexity of the U.S. Mission in Manila reflects the depth and breadth of our relationship with the Philippines.

Twenty-seven different agencies are present strengthening our mutual security, promoting prosperity and serving the American and Filipino publics, to include providing important consular and veterans benefits services.

We have a large Peace Corps program with more than 100 volunteers working throughout the country. We also have a virtual presence post in Davao and a consular agent in Cebu. If confirmed, I believe that I have the experience and expertise to lead this large and diverse Mission.

The United States and the Philippines share common goals designed to make our world more secure and more prosperous. We work together to fight terrorism and enhance security. The United States provides training to assure that the Armed Forces of the Philippines have the skills necessary to combat terrorism.

We have provided economic assistance for a highly successful program to help re-integrate former combatants into productive life in predominantly Muslim areas of Mindanao, and hope to offer a similar program if another major Muslim insurgent group signs a peace accord with the Philippine government. And we use the Rewards for Justice program to strengthen our joint efforts to apprehend terrorists.

By promoting economic prosperity in the Philippines, we contribute directly to our own prosperity and security. We work together to open markets, protect intellectual property rights, fight corruption, and promote structural reforms to encourage economic growth and development.

The Philippines is currently a threshold country for the Millennium Challenge Account, a reflection of its interest and commitment to improving governance and economic growth.

Our bilateral relationship with the Philippines is based on a deep affection between our peoples and shared democratic values. We each have the goal of making our democracies strong and stable so that every citizen’s vote has meaning.

These closest of ties have extended for more than a century. We carry that strong relationship into global forums and issues. The Philippines is a vital contributor to international peacekeeping missions, and we work actively together at the United Nations as well as in key regional organizations such as APEC and the ASEAN Regional Forum.

Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee, I believe our historic relationship with the Philippines will continue to flourish as we pursue our common vision of peace, stability, and prosperity.

If confirmed by the Senate, I will work to promote U.S. interests by developing a relationship with the leadership and people of the Philippines that will benefit both our nations. Thank you again for granting me the honor of appearing before you today. I will be happy to answer any questions you may have.