I believe that it is in the United States' national interest to support U.N. peacekeeping operations that have an appropriate mandate, support political solutions, and are properly managed and equipped.

A strong transatlantic partnership remains central to U.S. foreign and security policy.

Since 1998, I have written dozens of scholarly articles recommending how U.S. policymakers should support human rights and democracy promotion in the Middle East.

I pressed the Government and obtained permission for a group of Western Ambassadors to visit him.

I opened the Ambassador's residence on an ongoing basis for round table discussions.

I maintained close personal relations with leading human rights figures.

Most of the experts that we have had before this committee... have said that the very first thing you need to do, if there is going to be any confidence that North Korea is going to give up their nuclear weapons, you have to have a…

But we have had high-level meetings in the past and commitments in the past, and we never really have had our eyes on exactly what they have and an understanding on how you dismantle that.

I think you can play a really critical role here because there is a lot of activity by UAE and the Kingdom here in Washington, and there is a lot of engagement.

The comment you made about leaders in Africa wanting to hold onto power rather than allowing their countries to develop I thought was a very poignant point, and I could not agree more with that assessment.

If confirmed, I will engage the Vázquez administration by focusing on the multilateral approach to Venezuela within the Organization of American States (OAS).

I see in Venezuela's present circumstances echoes of Uruguay's past.

the promotion and defense of human rights and democracy is central to U.S. national security and prosperity.

Will you agree to work with our committee as to how we can strengthen the OAS to be more effective in dealing with the challenges we have in our own hemisphere?

Will you make this a personal priority of yours to resolve this particular open case against an American?

There is no country in our hemisphere that could not improve on human rights.

State Department overruled the views of the mission.

It is critically important that this be spotlighted in your work.