US panel approves South Sudan, Bahrain envoys
WASHINGTON — The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved Wednesday President Barack Obama’s nominees to serve as ambassadors to South Sudan and Bahrain.
Senators backed the nominations by voice vote, along with those of nearly 15 other diplomats and officials. The nominees must still be approved by the full Senate.
The US ambassador-designate to newly formed South Sudan, Susan Denise Page, will be the first US diplomat to serve in the post since the country gained independence in July.
During a hearing before Congress last week, she urged the new state to negotiate promptly with the north to share oil revenues, warning of dire economic consequences otherwise.
Thomas Krajeski, the ambassador-designate to Bahrain, urged the kingdom to avoid cracking down on anti-regime protesters and instead implement reforms.
Lawmakers again voiced their concerns about the regime’s actions ahead of the panel’s vote on nominees.
Other diplomats approved by the committee included Obama’s picks for ambassadors to Bangladesh, Cape Verde, Luxembourg, Mali and Sweden.
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