New US envoy arrives next month

The new US ambassador is expected to arrive here next month after the US Senate confirms her appointment this February, US Embassy Chargé d’ Affaires Paul Jones said.

In a speech delivered before participants of the US International Visitors Program on Saturday, Jones said that Ambassador-designate Kristie Anne Kenney had her hearing before the Senate foreign relations committee on Jan. 31.

"I expect her to be confirmed by the Senate sometime this month. If that timetable holds, then I believe she will arrive in the Philippines sometime in March," Jones said.

Kenney is a career diplomat. Prior to serving as ambassador to Ecuador, she held senior positions at the State Department and National Security Council in Washington as well as overseas positions in Geneva, Argentina and Jamaica.

The next US envoy, who will succeed Francis Ricciardone who left last May to become the US ambassador to Egypt, emphasized the strength, breadth and importance of US-Philippine relationship in a statement she delivered before the US Senate.

She pointed out that the Philippines is a long-standing treaty ally of the US and had become a "major non-NATO ally" in 2003, which is a formal status reserved for a handful of countries worldwide.

According to Jones, Kenney also underscored in her statement that Washington and Manila share common goals designed to make the world more secure and prosperous.

"She particularly emphasized how our two nations work together to fight terrorism and enhance security. As I’m sure all of you know, the United States provides training to assure that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) acquire the skills necessary to combat terrorism," Jones said.

The top US Embassy official added that Manila and Washington are engaged in transformation programs for the AFP and the Philippine National Police (PNP) that will help make them more effective and transparent institutions.

"Does the United States have an upbeat view of our relationship with the Philippines? The answer to that question is a definite ‘yes.’ As ambassador Kenney put it in concluding her statement to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, we Americans believe that our historic relationship with the Philippines will continue to flourish as we pursue our common vision of peace, stability and prosperity," he said.