{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221020111/http://www.coons.senate.gov/newsroom/statements_and_speeches/opening-statement-chairing-foreign-relations-committee-hearing-on-ambassadorial-nominations", "Opening Statement: Chairing Foreign Relations Committee hearing on ambassadorial nominations", "2013-12-17", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "DE", "Christopher Coons", "C001088", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Tuesday, December 17, 2013 \n\t\t\t\t\t Opening Statement: Chairing Foreign Relations Committee hearing on ambassadorial nominations \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t As Prepared for Delivery  \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tI am pleased to chair this hearing for the ambassadorial nominees to Angola, Mauritania, Zambia, and Gabon, a post which also includes the islands of S\u00e3o Tom\u00e9 and Pr\u00edncipe. All four nominees have impressive records of accomplishment in the Foreign Service and I look forward to hearing their priorities for advancing U.S. interests and goals. If confirmed, the four nominees will serve at a particularly significant moment in which the United States seeks to strengthen its economic ties with Africa and as it engages even more deeply to combat regional challenges in security, development and health. \u00a0\nOur first nominee is Ambassador Helen La Lime for Angola. While it is one of the largest oil producers and diamond exporters on the continent and an important regional power, Angola faces extreme socioeconomic inequality, with an astonishingly low ranking on the UN Human Development Index. It continues to struggle with the lasting ramifications of a 27-year civil war; political and economic dominance by a small, wealthy elite; lack of political will and capacity to achieve transparency and accountability in governance; and a poor human rights record. The U.S.-Angola relationship is not an easy one, and I am particularly interested in how we can promote improved governance, respect for human rights, and diversified trade while also exploring ways to strengthen ties with Angola\u2019s relatively capable military.\u00a0 \u00a0\nFor this important post, the President has nominated Ambassador La Lime, who is no stranger to diplomacy and Angola. A career member of the Senior Foreign Service of the U.S. Department of State with the rank of Minister Counselor, Ambassador La Lime most recently served as Deputy Chief of Mission and Charg\u00e9 d\u2019 Affaires in South Africa. She also has served as Consul General in Cape Town, U.S. Ambassador to Mozambique, Deputy Chief of Mission to Morocco, and Director of the Office of Central African Affairs. \u00a0\nJust north of Angola lies Gabon and the islands of S\u00e3o Tom\u00e9 and Pr\u00edncipe.\u00a0 Thanks to its rich natural resources and small population, Gabon has the fourth highest per-capita income in sub-Saharan Africa. \u00a0However, a third of its population lives in poverty. While Ali Bongo, son of Gabon\u2019s long-serving autocratic president Omar Bongo, has shown some reformist inclinations, political opposition has been suppressed and impunity for corruption continues. S\u00e3o Tom\u00e9 and Pr\u00edncipe are located off the coast in the Gulf of Guinea where maritime security cooperation has become a critically important issue that Senator Flake has championed with my strong support and partnership.\nWe are considering Cynthia Helen Akuetteh for both Gabon and the Democratic Republic of S\u00e3o Tom\u00e9 and Pr\u00edncipe. Ms. Akuetteh, a career member of the Foreign Service, has wide-ranging experience in Africa and strong mentoring skills. She most recently served as Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of African Affairs and has previously served as Director, Office of Europe, Middle East, and Africa in the Bureau of Energy Resources and as a Peace Corps staff member. \u00a0\nNext we consider Mauritania, located on the Western edge of the Sahel, where regional security threats include AQIM and splinter organizations active in neighboring Mali, Algeria and Niger. In addition to challenges relating to transnational security threats, Mauritania faces pressing socioeconomic challenges with an impoverished society that continues to recover from a devastating regional drought in 2011. While Mauritania is one of our leading counterterror partners in the Sahel, bilateral relations are complicated by Mauritania\u2019s problematic record relating to democracy and human rights, including the persistence of slavery.\u00a0\nLarry Andr\u00e9, the nominee for Mauritania, most recently served as Director of the Office of the Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan.\u00a0 Given the long history of development, governance and human rights problems in Mauritania, Mr. Andr\u00e9\u2019s recent experience with Sudan will be especially relevant.\u00a0 A two-time Deputy Chief of Mission, Mr. Andr\u00e9 will bring strong leadership, mentoring, and policy skills, as well as extensive regional knowledge, to this small isolated mission.\u00a0\nLast but certainly not least, we consider Eric Schultz to be Ambassador to Zambia. Home to one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, Victoria Falls, Zambia draws tourists not only because of its UNESCO World Heritage sites, but also for its peace and stability since independence. \u00a0Like the other three countries we are considering today, Zambia faces challenges, including some backsliding on democracy, widespread poverty, corruption, and poor health conditions, largely due to the prevalence of HIV/AIDS.\nMr. Schultz is a three-time Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) with regional experience and an extensive background in economics, security issues, and democratization.\u00a0 At State, he has led interagency teams on coordinating extensive assistance programs.\u00a0 He has broad experience in key Zambian economic sectors, especially finance, agriculture, mining and energy.\u00a0\nI would like to welcome all of our nominees to today\u2019s hearing and encourage you to take the time to introduce your families who are an essential part of your service in government.\u00a0 We are grateful for their sacrifices and ongoing support.\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPress Contact\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIan Koski at 202-224-5042\u00a0 \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n        \n        \n\t\t\n                    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTags:\n                            \n                                \n                                Foreign Relations,\u00a0\n                            \n                                \n                                Africa,\u00a0\n                            \n                                \n                                Foreign Relations Committee", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221020111/http://www.coons.senate.gov/newsroom/statements_and_speeches/opening-statement-chairing-foreign-relations-committee-hearing-on-ambassadorial-nominations"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8662189356982708, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}