Tag: Envoy

  • US Senate confirms former Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti as envoy to India 

    By PTI

    WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden’s close aide Eric Garcetti was confirmed on Wednesday by the US Senate as the country’s next ambassador to India, filling the key diplomatic position that had been vacant for more than two years.

    The Senate voted 52-42 to confirm his nomination.

    The former Los Angeles mayor’s nomination was pending before the US Congress since July 2021 when he was nominated for the prestigious diplomatic posting by Biden.

    Last week, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted 13-8 in favour of his nomination.

    “The relationship between India and the US is a strong one, and one of great strategic, economic, and cultural importance. Founded on shared values, supported by growing economic and trade ties, and strengthened by the Indian diaspora here in the US, this partnership continues to hold significant promise for the future,” Senator Mark Warner, Co-Chair of Senate India Caucus, said.

    “As co-chair of the Senate India Caucus, I am glad that there will finally be a Senate-confirmed ambassador in New Delhi,” Warner said.

    His nomination was not brought to the Senate floor for a vote during the last Congress as the ruling Democratic Party did not have enough support to get the 52-year-old close aide of Biden through.

    Garcetti was not confirmed by the Senate in President Biden’s first two years in office amid concerns by some lawmakers that the then-mayor had not adequately handled allegations against a former senior adviser of sexual assault and harassment.

    President Biden renominated Garcetti to the same position in January this year.

    Kenneth Juster, the last occupant of the ambassadorial residence of the US in New Delhi, stepped down in January 2021 after the change of government in America. 

    WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden’s close aide Eric Garcetti was confirmed on Wednesday by the US Senate as the country’s next ambassador to India, filling the key diplomatic position that had been vacant for more than two years.

    The Senate voted 52-42 to confirm his nomination.

    The former Los Angeles mayor’s nomination was pending before the US Congress since July 2021 when he was nominated for the prestigious diplomatic posting by Biden.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Last week, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted 13-8 in favour of his nomination.

    “The relationship between India and the US is a strong one, and one of great strategic, economic, and cultural importance. Founded on shared values, supported by growing economic and trade ties, and strengthened by the Indian diaspora here in the US, this partnership continues to hold significant promise for the future,” Senator Mark Warner, Co-Chair of Senate India Caucus, said.

    “As co-chair of the Senate India Caucus, I am glad that there will finally be a Senate-confirmed ambassador in New Delhi,” Warner said.

    His nomination was not brought to the Senate floor for a vote during the last Congress as the ruling Democratic Party did not have enough support to get the 52-year-old close aide of Biden through.

    Garcetti was not confirmed by the Senate in President Biden’s first two years in office amid concerns by some lawmakers that the then-mayor had not adequately handled allegations against a former senior adviser of sexual assault and harassment.

    President Biden renominated Garcetti to the same position in January this year.

    Kenneth Juster, the last occupant of the ambassadorial residence of the US in New Delhi, stepped down in January 2021 after the change of government in America.
     

  • Heads of European missions in India stand in solidarity with Ukrainian envoy 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The heads of missions of European countries in India expressed solidarity with their Ukrainian counterpart on Friday, strongly condemning Russia’s “unprovoked and unjustified” military attack on Ukraine. The envoys held a meeting here and extended their full support to Ukraine.

    Ambassador of the European Union to India and Bhutan Ugo Astuto said the EU and its member states stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian Ambassador to India, Igor Polikha.

    “Heads of Mission of the EU & its Member States stand in solidarity with #Ukraine Ambassador. EU condemns in the strongest possible terms the Russian Federation’s unprovoked & unjustified military attack. EU is united in its solidarity with Ukraine & its people,” Astuto said in a tweet. The EU ambassador said: “What is at stake is the stability of Europe and the whole international order.

    ” The 27-nation EU has condemned the Russian attack on Ukraine and said President Vladimir Putin is responsible for bringing the war back to Europe. “We condemn this barbaric attack, and the cynical arguments used to justify it. President Putin is responsible for bringing the war back to Europe,” said Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission.

    “In these dark hours, the European Union stands together with Ukraine and its people. What we are facing is an unprecedented act of aggression by the Russian leadership against a sovereign, independent country,” she said.

    Heads of Mission of the EU & its Member States stand in solidarity with #Ukraine Ambassador.