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Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee: It is a great honor to appear before you all today as President Clinton's nominee to be the next United States Ambassador to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. I am very grateful for the trust and confidence shown me by the President, Secretary of State Albright, and Assistant Secretary Rice by my nomination. Mr. Chairman, most of my 20-plus years of service in the United States Foreign Service have been spent in Africa. I have had the privilege of seeing Africa's immense potential and equally enormous challenges first-hand across the continent, from Guinea to the Seychelles. My last posting was as Ambassador to the Republic of Guinea. I was born in Hungary and came to the United States as a refugee. I have a deeply personal understanding of the tragedies of war and civil unrest, and the uprooting of families that often follows. That experience also taught me the inestimable importance of a free society and democratic government. Mr. Chairman, Ethiopia is one of our most important partners in Africa. Our bilateral relationship is founded on mutual strategic interests and the shared aspirations of our governments for the people of Ethiopia. Since the fall of the repressive socialist regime of Mengistu Haile Mariam in 1991, Ethiopia has made great strides toward building a democratic society, advancing human rights, and transforming its economic system to allow its full participation in the integrated world economy. In many of these areas progress has continued despite the border conflict. However, we need to help Ethiopia renew its focus on its future as the new millennium approaches. Our immediate and most urgent priority is to help end the fighting between Ethiopia and Eritrea, and to help resolve the border dispute which provoked this conflict. Tens of thousands have died and hundreds of thousands have been uprooted on both sides. The cost of the conflict to both Ethiopia and Eritrea has been incalculable. The conflict has set back economic and social progress for the entire Horn of Africa. We are working intensively with and supporting the Organization of African Unity's active efforts to end the conflict. A working group that includes participants from our government is now meeting in Algiers to prepare for a cease-fire and implementation of the OAU's Framework Agreement to resolve the conflict, and there is hope that a cease-fire can be reached soon. When the fighting stops and peace returns, we must do all we can to reassert stability and economic growth in Ethiopia and among its neighbors in the Horn. Mr. Chairman, Ethiopia, with its thousands of years of history, its strategic position, its large and diverse population, its broad resources, and its natural affinity for U.S. interests in Africa as a whole, is and will remain central to our efforts to help Africa take up full partnership in the international community of nations. Since the fall of Mengistu, Ethiopia has been a reliable partner in our pursuit of stability and growth in the Horn of Africa. If confirmed by the Senate, I will look forward to applying my energy, skills, and experience to enhancing effective relations with Ethiopia and assuring that the strong relationship we have built over the past 8 years continues to bear fruit. I am very much aware of the important responsibilities I face if confirmed as Ambassador. I want you to know that I will do my best to assure that our embassy in Addis Ababa effectively represents the United States and our pursuit of our national goals. I will work with you and your colleagues on the Committee to insure that the resources placed in our charge by the citizens of the United States are applied wisely and prudently. Thank you for this opportunity. I look forward to your questions. [end of document] |
