Boeung Kak on table as 5 Hong, Todd meet

US Ambassador William Todd (l) speaks with Cambodia’s Foreign Minister Hor Namhong yesterday in Phnom Penh. Photograph: Vireak Mai/Phnom Penh Post

Thursday, 28 June 2012
Chhay Channyda
The Phnom Penh Post

The plight of the 13 jailed Boeung Kak protestors was high on the agenda for newly inaugurated US Ambassador Willliam Todd when he met for the first time with Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs Hor Namhong yesterday morning.

The meeting between Todd, who took up his post in April, and Namhong lasted just half an hour and coincided with the appeal hearing that saw the 13 Boeung Kak activists freed.

Speaking with reporters after the brief meet, Todd said he was watching the case closely.

“We will be keeping our fingers crossed, and we are waiting to see what will happen. But we are hopeful there will be a positive outcome and the 13 people will be released,” Todd said.

New U.S. envoy pledges to cement ties with Cambodia [... hopefully NOT in providing military aid used in REPRESSION!!!]

Willian E. Todd

PHNOM PENH, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The newly-designated Ambassador of the United States to Cambodia William E. Todd on Friday pledged to strengthen and expand the relations and cooperation with Cambodia in all fields for mutual interests.

He made the remark during a meeting with President of Cambodia' s National Assembly Heng Samrin, Kaim Sokal, the spokesman for Heng Samrin, told reporters after the meeting.

Todd said the United States would still continue helping Cambodia strengthen democracy and human rights.

He added that the visit of Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong to the United States on June 12 was a new testament of growing relationship between the two countries and that in July, the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will make a visit to Cambodia to attend the 19th ASEAN Regional Forum.

Hor Namhong to talk debt in US [-Hor 5 Hong on a begging mission?]

Comrade Hor 5 Hong

Monday, 11 June 2012
Vong Sokheng
The Phnom Penh Post

Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker Mu Sochua is also in the US, where she is lobbying Washington to withhold military aid until the Kingdom releases the “Boeung Kak 15” and drops the charges against self-exiled party leader Sam Rainsy

Cambodian Foreign Affairs Minister Hor Namhong will conduct a one-day visit to Washington, at the behest of US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, where he will again lobby for US debt forgiveness.

The one-day visit on Tuesday will also focus on strengthening bilateral ties between the two countries, as well as regional co-operation.

“While Cambodia has the chair of ASEAN, truly we will discuss the regional problem, including the Korean Peninsula,” Hor Namhong told reporters before departing from the Phnom Penh International Airport yesterday afternoon.

He said he will continue to lobby the US to cancel Cambodia’s Lon Nol-era debt.

The debt, racked up by US agricultural aid during the Lon Nol reign, would with interest be worth more than $440 million in 2012.

US Ambassador William Todd Introduces Himself to Cambodians

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8sTlPLPL7M

Ambassador to Cambodia: Who is William Todd?

Tuesday, March 06, 2012
AllGov.com

President Obama nominated career diplomat William E. Todd as the next ambassador to Cambodia on December 1, 2011, and the Senate is expected to act on the nomination in the coming months.

Born circa 1962, Todd earned a B.S. at Longwood College (now Longwood University) circa 1984 and joined the Foreign Service shortly thereafter. He has been a career member of the Senior Executive Service for more than 10 years. Todd has held several senior positions within the US government, including executive director of the Bureau of Resource Management in the State Department; director of the Office of Security and Management in the Office of the Secretary at the Department of Transportation; and director of planning and resource management for the US and Foreign Commercial Service in the Department of Commerce.

Todd worked in the State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) for a little more than four years starting in 2002, serving as principal deputy assistant secretary (PDAS), deputy assistant secretary for International Civilian Police and Rule of Law Programs and for the Office of Asia, Africa, Europe and the Middle East, as well as executive director and controller. As PDAS, Todd managed more than 4,000 employees and contractors in more than 75 theatres of operation, including Iraq, Afghanistan and Colombia. As INL’s executive director/controller, he managed about one-sixth of the State Department’s budget (more than $3.5 billion) and one-fourth of the department’s assets.

William Todd nominated by Obama to be ambassador to Cambodia

William Todd has been nominated by Obama to be ambassador to Cambodia, he is yet to be confirmed by the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee

Names: Four new ambassadors nominated; McFaul held up by Kirk

Friday, December 2, 2011
By Josh Rogin
Foreign Policy

The Obama administration keeps on naming new ambassadors, but several key State Department nominees remain stalled in the Senate.

On Thursday, President Barack Obama announced his intention to nominate Joseph Macmanus to be U.S. envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), William Todd to be ambassador to Cambodia, Jonathan Farrar to be ambassador to Panama, and Phyllis Powers to be ambassador to Nicaragua.

Macmanus, who is now principal deputy assistant secretary of state (PDAS) for legislative affairs, replaces Glyn Davies, the new special coordinator for North Korea policy. Previously, Macmanus has served as the executive assistant to Secretaries of State Hillary Clinton and Condoleezza Rice.

Todd, who spent the last year in the U.S. embassy in Kabul coordinating development and economic affairs, was previously the U.S. ambassador to Brunei. Joe Donovan, the recently departed PDAS for East Asian and Pacific affairs, had been rumored to be in line for the Cambodia post -- a consolation prize after he was considered as U.S. ambassador to Seoul but then was not selected. Inside South Korea, there was some criticism of Donovan's relatively low profile compared to other U.S. ambassadors in East Asia.

Kem Sokha: The US government should strengthen its democracy-building in Cambodia

US, Cambodia Prepare Diplomatic Missions

By Reporters, VOA Khmer
Original reports from Phnom Penh & Washington
29 January 2009

Newly appointed US Ambassador Carol Rodley held her first meeting with Prime Minister Hun Sen Thursday, promising a continued policy of cooperation, as Cambodia’s own ambassador prepared for his post in Washington.

The United States will continue friendly relations in politics, economics and culture in a bilateral relationship, the ambassador told VOA Khmer Thursday, following a nearly one-hour meeting with the premier.

“It was our first meeting, and it was very good to have a chance to talk to him again,” said Rodley, who was the deputy chief of mission at the US Embassy in Phnom Penh from 1997 to 2000. “We will continue to have very good cooperative relations and continue to provide assistance to Cambodia.”

Ieng Sophalleth, a spokesman for Hun Sen, said the premier had thanked the ambassador for US assistance.

Cambodia and the US have enjoyed warming relations in recent years, including the resumption of military aid and other programs.

However, the US government should strengthen its democracy-building in Cambodia, said Kem Sokha, president of the Human Rights Party, “and especially help the Cambodian National Assembly strengthen democracy, to make a balance of power in the government.”

Rodley’s meeting with Hun Sen follows the arrival of Hem Heng, Cambodia’s ambassador to the US, in Washington.

“I do hope that our Cambodian people who are living here, as well as living across America, will help my mission to reach success and achievement for our nation,” Hem Heng, who has yet to be officially recognized as ambassador, said following a monk’s blessing at a pagoda in the state of Maryland Sunday.

Cambodian King Receives Credentials From New US Ambassadress 20 Jan

20 Jan 09
Television Kampuchea (TVK)

On 20 January, Cambodian Government-run Phnom Penh Television Kampuchea in Cambodian at 1200 GMT carried a six-minute video report, during its primetime evening newscast, on new appointed US Ambassadress Carol A. Rodley presenting credentials to King Norodom Sihanouk in Phnom Penh Royal Palace on 20 January.

The announcer says the king "warmly and cordially" welcomed the US Ambassadress and that after gift exchange, the monarch said he was "extremely happy" to have the honor to organize this ceremony to accept credentials from the US Ambassadress, who came to carry out her mission to further "tighten the relations of friendship between our two nations, Cambodia and the United States."

The announcer adds that on behalf the Royal Government of Cambodia and the entire Cambodian people, the king voiced "support for the new appointed US Ambassadress' assignment in Cambodia," and he said he was "firmly convinced that the during the US Ambassadress' mission, the relations of friendship and solidarity as well as multifarious bilateral cooperation between Cambodia and the United States will be further wonderfully strengthened and expanded."

The announcer also says that on that occasion, the king "profoundly thanked" the US leaders, Government, and people for "further supporting and enhancing the relations of friendship and cooperation between our two countries" and giving "generous multifaceted aid and assistance, contributing to gradually boosting the restoration and reconstruction of Cambodia."

The announcer says that for her part, the US Ambassadress "profoundly thanked" the king for the audience and presented him with best wishes.

She informed the king that she was "happy and highly proud to carry out her mission in Cambodia, a peaceful country being developed in all fields."

She also affirmed to the king that she would "try to use all her physical and moral strength and spirit to make the relations of friendship and cooperation between our two countries develop and remain close at all times."

The announcer says the king wished the US Ambassadress good health and successes in the course of her mission in the Kingdom of Cambodia.

U.S. Ambassador Rodley Presents Credentials

US Embassy Press Release
Released in Phnom Penh, January 20, 2009

The new U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia, Carol A. Rodley, presented her credentials to His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni on Tuesday, January 20th, 2009 in a ceremony in the Throne Room of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh.

In addressing Preah Bat Samdech Preah Baromneath Norodom Sihamoni Ambassador Rodley stated that the United States looks forward to continued friendship and cooperation with the Kingdom of Cambodia in the political, economic and cultural spheres. She particularly emphasised the last, which presents numerous opportunities to deepen our bilateral relationship.

Ambassador Rodley was nominated by President George W. Bush on June 12th, 2008 and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on October 2nd, 2008. She was sworn in by Deputy Secretary of State John D. Negroponte on October 24th, 2008 as the United States Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Cambodia.

Carol Rodley: New US Ambassador Announced

By Taing Sarada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
10 June 2008

The US has nominated a new ambassador for Cambodia, who will take the place of Joseph Mussomeli.

Carol Rodley was chief of mission in Phnom Penh between 1997 and 2000. Following that, she worked in the US State Department's Bureau of Intelligence and Research.

Mussomeli told VOA Khmer Rodley's experience in Cambodia gave her a "better sense of the country and the culture."

Members of Cambodia's main political parties welcomed the new ambassador.