Ben Cardin

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

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

I maintained close personal relations with leading human rights figures.

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.

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…

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.

I just hope that we will be pretty tough on this.

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.

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

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

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?

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

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

I hope that you can recognize that we are going to follow up on this.

State Department overruled the views of the mission.

If confirmed, I will use my oversight role on the IMF's Board of Directors to press the IMF management to foster an environment that is diverse and inclusive.

If confirmed, I will promote, mentor, and support staff who come from diverse backgrounds and underrepresented groups.

Human rights and democracy are of critical importance to me and though I have not had the opportunity to promote them actively in my career to date, I intend to make them an important factor in my actions at the IMF, if I am confirmed by…

I believe these issues need to be a priority in our cooperation with allies.

The United States relies on allies to maintain strong democratic institutions, open economies, and defense capabilities.

A strong and healthy democracy in Poland is a vital component of U.S.-Polish relations.

The most pressing human rights issues for the IDB are lack of respect for human rights and democratic freedoms.

A strong, independent judiciary is essential to the protection of individual liberties and a functioning democracy.