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Press Release

U.S. SENATE CONFIRMATION OF AMBASSADORIAL APPOINTMENTS

Yaounde, April 11, 2007

President George W. Bush on March 23, 2007, nominated U.S. Ambassador Niels Marquardt to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Madagascar and the Union of Comoros.  This nomination has been submitted to the United States Senate for its consideration, as provided in the U.S. Constitution.  Hearings in the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations are scheduled to take place on April 18, 2007.

Under the Constitution, the President nominates and appoints high government officials “with the Advice and Consent of the Senate.”  As with presidential nominations to the Supreme Court, the Cabinet, and other high-level positions, the Senate holds hearings on appointments of regulatory commission members, federal judges, U.S. attorneys, U.S. marshals, and Ambassadors.

In the Foreign Relations Committee, Ambassadorial nominees typically begin with a prepared statement, and then Senators ask questions about the country of assignment.  Confirmation requires a simple majority vote in both the Committee and the full Senate.

The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations is also scheduled to hold hearings on April 18 on President Bush’s nomination of Janet E. Garvey as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Cameroon.

Ambassador Marquardt expects to depart Cameroon shortly after July 4, the U.S. Independence Day.  The date for Ambassador-designate Garvey’s arrival in Cameroon has not yet been determined.

For further information, please call the U.S. Embassy, Yaoundé, Cameroon, tel. 220-15-00 x4072.

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