Blackwill to be next U.S. envoy

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON, MARCH 22. In a significant development, the U.S. President, Mr. George W. Bush, has announced his intent to nominate Mr. Robert Blackwill as the next Ambassador to India.

``Bob Blackwill understands the important place India holds in my foreign policy agenda and will be an outstanding American Ambassador to India. He will bring a wealth of expertise to the position,'' Mr. Bush said in a statement issued by the White House.

What is of importance to India is that in the nomination of Mr. Blackwill, the President has shown this is a senior level appointment meaning, among other things, a desire to have the bilateral dialogue at a very high level.

From a political point of view, the nomination is in the first batch of appointments of the Bush administration. Mr. Blackwill has been a foreign policy adviser to the President and part of his transition team. He is known to be very close to the National Security Adviser, Ms. Condoleeza Rice. In fact, there was speculation that he could be appointed to a senior position in the National Security Council.

A Special Assistant for National Security Affairs to the President, Mr. George H.W. Bush, between 1989 and 1990, Mr. Blackwill is considered an expert on arms control and disarmament issues, with particular focus on Russian and European affairs. He was the Ambassador and chief negotiator during negotiations with the Warsaw Pact on conventional forces in Europe.

Mr. Blackwill, who will replace Mr. Richard Celeste, is expected to take up his assignment in New Delhi in about two months.

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