New US ambassador to Thailand approved by US senate

Glyn Davies, former US envoy for North Korean policy, approved by US Senate as new ambassador to Thailand, position vacant for 10 months, last step before taking up post in Bangkok.

The appointment of the new ambassador to Thailand Glyn Davies has been approved by the US Senate. This was the last hurdle before Mr Davies can depart for Bangkok to take up the post. The post was vacated by high-profile diplomat Kristie Kenney in November last year. (Photo: AFP)

THAI-US RELATIONS

New US ambassador to Thailand approved by US senate

6/08/2015
Online reporters

The US Senate has voted to approve the appointment of Glyn Davies, a former US envoy for North Korean policy, as the new ambassador to Thailand to fill a position vacant for 10 months.

This development was reported Thursday morning in a tweet by the US charge d'affaires, W Patrick Murphy.

The senate vote was the last hurdle before Mr Davies can depart for Bangkok to take up the post.

Mr Davies was nominated as the next US ambassador by President Barack Obama in mid-April. All ambassador appointments must have Senate approval.

The nomination was welcomed by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) when it was announced.

U.S. Senate has confirmed Glyn Davies as next U.S. Ambassador to Kingdom of #Thailand.

— ACS Bangkok (@ACSBKK) August 6, 2015

Mr Davies will arrive in Bangkok during difficult relations between the US and Thailand following the military coup against the elected government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in May last year. The Obama administration has criticised the military takeover, cut off some aid and called for a swift return to elections.

(Read expert commentary on the appointment by Thitinan Ponsudhirak here)

There are also tensions on the human rights front. The US downgraded Thailand in June of last year to the lowest possible rating in its annual trafficking-in-persons report, and left it there last month. Washington said Thailand has not met the minimum standard for eliminating the crime. The government has said it has "intensified" its efforts to end the use of forced labour.

Happy & honored to be confirmed by US Senate. Jackie & I look forward to our move to Bangkok -- City of Angels!

— Glyn T. Davies (@GlynTDavies) August 6, 2015

Mr Davies is a career member of the US foreign service and is now a senior adviser in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs at the Department of State. Prior to that he was special representative for North Korea policy from 2012 to 2014.

He served as the US envoy to the United Nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna from 2009 to 2012.

Mr Davies replaces Kristie Kenney, who became deputy assistant secretary for public diplomacy and public affairs in the East Asian and Pacific affairs bureau in November, after leaving the embassy in Bangkok.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/646532/new-us-ambassador-approved-by-senate

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