25 September 2001Text: Statement by Ambassador-designate to Tajikistan Huddle
(Sept. 25 confirmation hearing for Franklin Huddle) (630) Franklin Huddle, President Bush's nominee to be Ambassador to Tajikistan, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee September 25 that he intends as ambassador to focus his efforts on ensuring "that a hard-won peace continues to last, that Tajikistan continues to become more democratic, and that stability and regional cooperation continue to improve." Following is the text of Huddle's statement at his confirmation hearing: (begin text) STATEMENT OF AMBASSADOR-DESIGNATE FRANKLIN HUDDLE Before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee September 25, 2001 Mr. Chairman and distinguished members of the Committee, thank you very much for this opportunity to appear today as the nominee to be our Ambassador to the Republic of Tajikistan. It goes without saying that I am deeply honored that President Bush and Secretary Powell have recommended me for this challenging position and that, if confirmed, I would serve our country to the very best of my abilities. The Republic of Tajikistan has faced many daunting challenges since the breakup of the Soviet Union which ushered in a lengthy civil war that took tens of thousands of lives prior to a 1999 national reconciliation and power-sharing agreement. The poorest republic even in Soviet times, today Tajikistan faces economic challenges of independence and post-war reconstruction as well as widespread unemployment of former combatants, poverty and malnutrition. All the while it must contend with a second year of severe drought and potential famine, anarchic and/or hostile neighbors, terrorist incursions and narco-traffickers. To leave Tajikistan to face this burden alone invites attendant negative consequences for regional stability, trans-national crime, terrorism, and for our traditional humanitarian beliefs. Thus, I hope to represent our U.S. interests in actively engaging and assisting when and where we can to ensure that a hard-won peace continues to last, that Tajikistan continues to become more democratic, and that stability and regional cooperation continue to improve. Through selective, cost-effective engagement, the United States can nurture Tajikistan, and by extension the entire Central Asian region. Slowly but surely, Tajikistan is making progress. Indeed, Tajikistan's recent acceptance by the PfP [Partnership for Peace] is all the more reason to be more engaged. Tajikistan has stayed on track with IMF guidelines, and is in the initial stages of working towards WTO accession. Moreover, it is the only country in the region to allow an openly Islamic political party to participate in politics. My academic and diplomatic careers have prepared me for this assignment. From service with the Peace Corps to graduate work specializing in Central Asia and 17 years in Asia at our diplomatic missions, my focus has been on the developing world. In Joining the Foreign Service, I set aside an academic career in what was then Soviet Central Asia, little thinking in all honesty that these Soviet Republics might gain their independence in my lifetime, or that I of all people might be blessed with the opportunity to represent the United States in furthering the independence and territorial integrity of one of these new states. More specifically, my 14 years of management experience as Charge or Principal Officer in demanding Asian posts dealing with ethnic rivalries, counter-narcotics concerns, fostering American commercial interests, humanitarian issues, and nurturing democracy, have prepared me to represent our interests in Tajikistan, if confirmed. For over a decade, I have worked with host governments to promote democratic and free market principles, respect for human rights, and provide humanitarian aid to those least fortunate, and I hope to do the same in Tajikistan. Mr. Chairman and distinguished members of the committee, thank you for this opportunity to appear before you. I look forward to working closely with members of Congress and would be happy to respond to your questions. (end text) (Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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