The US ambassador-designate made a passionate plea for his confirmation to the position before a US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, PANA reported here quoting a media advisory from the US Embassy in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.
Booth also highlighted to massive interests the US government had in Ethiopia, terming US interests in Ethiopia 'complex.'
'In my almost 34 years as a Foreign Service Officer, I have served in both developed and developing countries, in countries with liberal democracies as well as in one of the most repressive dictatorships,' the envoy said.
He said almost half of his career had been spent in Africa or working on African affairs in Washington.
'Early in my career, I served as desk officer for Sudan and Uganda and as back up desk officer for Ethiopia where I first came to appreciate the country's rich and long-standing cultural heritage,' he said.
The confirmation hearing is one of the key steps that senior US appointees have to pass through before their posting.
Ethiopia is preparing to hold parliamentary elections in May, 2010. The last parliamentary elections in the East African country, ended in a bloody confrontation between opposition politicians and the ruling party.
'I will bring my experience, commitment and energy to advancing a balanced and productive US agenda in Ethiopia,' he said.
The new envoy said his expectation was to work with Ethiopia on advancing food security and human rights in the country.
Ethiopian analysts feared that the absence of a top American diplomat ahead of the 23 May parliamentary elections, means the US would miss a chance to shape the future of elections in Ethiopia.
Ethiopia's National Electoral Board says it has registered 22 million eligible voters for the elections.
Ambassador Booth said he would be committed to reflecting American values to both the government and people of Ethiopia.
President Barack Obama said in Accra, Ghana, recently: 'America will not seek to impose any system of government on any other nation,' the envoy recalled.
"At the same time, he observed that, Governments that respect the will of their own people are more stable and more successful than governments that do not.' I believe America's diplomats have a duty to promo te respect for basic human rights and freedoms, Booth told the Senate hearing.
Addis Ababa - Pana 05/02/2010
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