US ambassador-designate outlines policy

Donald J. McConnell, who has been named Ambassador-Designate of the United States to Eritrea, has said Eritrea is at a potentially very positive turning point in its history, the pro-government Shaebia.com web site reported on Wednesday following McConnell’s confirmation hearings last week before the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “The United States has a significant role to play in Eritrea in encouraging its government and people to move forward and implement their stated commitment to peace, democracy, reconstruction and development,” Shaebia.com quoted McConnell as saying. McConnell, nominated ambassador-designate to Eritrea by President George W. Bush on 23 April, is a career diplomat who has been serving since 2000 as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Plans and Policy in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs at the Department of State. He served as Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Director of the Political Directorate at NATO headquarters in Brussels from 1996 to 2000, and was Chief of Mission to Burkina Faso from 1993 to 1996. Also commentating on McConnell’s presentation to the Senate foreign relations committee, the ‘Indian Ocean Newsletter’ (ION) on 18 July said the hearings signaled a shift in US policy towards Asmara. While the Clinton administration was more conciliatory in its relations with the Eritrean government, ION argues that the new Republican policy will take a different line. In reference to emerging public criticism of President Isayas Afeworki, McConnell is quoted as telling the committee, “This reflects the necessity for the government and entire structure of the regime in Eritrea to move from the central control of one person, the president, to a more democratic process.” According to ION, McConnell also told the committee that if confirmed as ambassador he would do everything in his power to ensure that the Eritrean government implemented its public commitments to holding elections at the end of the year and the sharing of power.