Bob Menendez

I think we underestimate in the United States what that challenge is.

I appreciate what you said about Ambassador Aponte.

I would assume that it will be your mission to, beyond interlocutors at an intergovernmental level, to robustly pursue civil society elements in Ecuador in preparation for an election that we hope is free and fair.

He has aligned Ecuador with allies like China and Russia.

President Carrera is a fierce critic of the United States. He has ejected State Department representatives.

I have spoken about this for years, and it continues to be one of the most oppressed elements of freedom of the press in the hemisphere.

I hope you use the tool.

Lopez is convicted in a sham trial, I think 13 years in jail.

But in Venezuela, you have a process in which we do not have yet international observers.

If we are going to get anything out of this agreement, it has to be enforced.

I oppose the agreement. I think it is aspirational. I hope it works now that that is the law.

I think I could probably not find anybody on this committee who believes that the last report did not meet that standard in the questions of Malaysia and Cuba and some other places.

What I have experienced is a lot of notification but not a lot of consultation.

So would you agree with me that consultation with this committee and the Senate is an important factor in us having a united front on U.S. foreign policy?

If confirmed, I will encourage the Government of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea to remove legal and practical barriers to the formation and free operation of political parties.

We have repeatedly encouraged President Obiang--the longest-serving leader on the African continent--to embrace democratic reform and rule of law, and support greater political and economic transparency.

I think most of us are very unsatisfied with the testimony that occurred last week.

I look forward to supporting your nomination.

There is an iron will to do what is right because of the individuals that I have met in trafficking cases. They do not have a voice. You Senators are their voice.

I view my job is to speak to truth to power, and if power does not like to hear it, then I can be outranked clearly in the State Department, but I will speak that truth.

I cannot understand when we are told carte blanche that in fact there are upgrades because they did the right thing.

If Senator Isakson comes and vouches for you, it has an enormous weight.

The Republic of Cyprus does have its right to develop its own.

We would hope that that would be without the interference of other countries?

Despite being a strategic partner of the United States, despite being part of the coalition fighting ISIL.