Chris Hill confirmed as Ambassador to Iraq



Christopher R. Hill was confirmed late this afternoon as the new ambassador to Iraq, winning strong Senate support despite some Republican objections to his handling of previous talks with North Korea. The vote on the nomination of the career diplomat after a day of debate was 73-23. Christopher R. Hill, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs and former U.S. ambassador to South Korea, served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Cameroon.

Chris Hill confirmed as Ambassador to Iraq

Senate Confirms Ambassador to Iraq
By Carl Hulse

Christopher R. Hill was confirmed late this afternoon as the new ambassador to Iraq, winning strong Senate support despite some Republican objections to his handling of previous talks with North Korea. The vote on the nomination of the career diplomat after a day of debate was 73-23.

“No progress on human rights, terrible deal, failed diplomacy,” said Senator Sam Brownback, Republican of Kansas, assessing Mr. Hill’s record on North Korea.

But Senator John Kerry, Democrat of Massachusetts and chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, said Mr. Hill was acting on instructions from former Secretary of State Condeleezza Rice and the Bush White House in not pursuing human rights issues in his talks with the North Koreans.

“The decision to leave the special envoy for human rights out of the negotiations was not made by Chris Hill,” said Mr. Kerry, who had earlier noted that Republican complaints should be aimed at the previous administration.

In his new posting, Mr. Hill will be the chief State Department representative in Iraq as the Obama administration moves ahead with its plan to reduce the American military presence in Iraq.

Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: April, 2009; RPCV Christopher Hill (Cameroon); Figures; Peace Corps Cameroon; Directory of Cameroon RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Cameroon RPCVs; Diplomacy; Rhode Island

When this story was posted in April 2009, this was on the front page of PCOL:




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