New US Envoy arrives, looking forward to polls

“MY relationship [with Namibia] begins as the country embarks on a new chapter in its history,” new American ambassador to Namibia Joyce Barr told guests when she was sworn in at the State Department.

Barr said in Washington that she looked forward to serving in the position at an exciting time in Namibia’s history. “The upcoming elections in November will mark the first time that presidential power has changed hands since Independence,” she said.”This transition will further enhance Namibia’s stature as a member of those committed to democracy.”Barr told her audience that Namibia’s efforts to build a democratic organisation, to promote good governance, to respect human rights and to protect its environment make it an effective partner for the US.Acknowledging President Sam Nujoma as an inspiring founding leader, she said his decision to step aside and clear the road for a democratically elected successor made clear his commitment to democratic principles.Barr pledged to help Namibians fight the scourge of HIV-AIDS and vigorously implement US President George W Bush’s emergency plan for AIDS relief, which allocated US$23 million to Namibia this fiscal year.Barr was administered her oath to defend the US Constitution by Assistant Secretary of State for Administration William Eaton.Eaton then introduced the new ambassador to the assembled guests, citing her valued service, experience and accomplishments in the diplomatic world that made her well-qualified to take up the post in Namibia.Before being nominated by President Bush to be ambassador to Namibia, Barr served as the counsellor for management affairs at the US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and the administrative officer at the US Embassy in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.Previously, she had been assigned to US embassies in Kenya, Sudan, Hungary and Sweden.Ambassador Barr’s public service career also included positions in Washington.As a Pearson Fellow she worked in the US Senate and the House of Representatives, where she focused on the AIDS epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa and on trade development.Barr also worked on human rights and international organisation affairs at the State Department, Eaton noted.Her education includes a bachelor’s degree from Pacific Lutheran University, a master’s degree from Harvard University and a second master’s degree from the National Defence University.Thanking President Bush, Secretary of State Colin Powell and guests from the Namibian Embassy, Ambassador Barr expressed her enthusiasm about serving as the next US envoy to Namibia, in part because of the positive relationship the country has developed with the United States since independence in 1990.- The Washington File* Ambassador Barr arrived in Windhoek on Wednesday. She will assume her official duties on presentation of her credentials to President Sam Nujoma.”The upcoming elections in November will mark the first time that presidential power has changed hands since Independence,” she said.”This transition will further enhance Namibia’s stature as a member of those committed to democracy.”Barr told her audience that Namibia’s efforts to build a democratic organisation, to promote good governance, to respect human rights and to protect its environment make it an effective partner for the US.Acknowledging President Sam Nujoma as an inspiring founding leader, she said his decision to step aside and clear the road for a democratically elected successor made clear his commitment to democratic principles.Barr pledged to help Namibians fight the scourge of HIV-AIDS and vigorously implement US President George W Bush’s emergency plan for AIDS relief, which allocated US$23 million to Namibia this fiscal year.Barr was administered her oath to defend the US Constitution by Assistant Secretary of State for Administration William Eaton.Eaton then introduced the new ambassador to the assembled guests, citing her valued service, experience and accomplishments in the diplomatic world that made her well-qualified to take up the post in Namibia.Before being nominated by President Bush to be ambassador to Namibia, Barr served as the counsellor for management affairs at the US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and the administrative officer at the US Embassy in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.Previously, she had been assigned to US embassies in Kenya, Sudan, Hungary and Sweden.Ambassador Barr’s public service career also included positions in Washington.As a Pearson Fellow she worked in the US Senate and the House of Representatives, where she focused on the AIDS epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa and on trade development.Barr also worked on human rights and international organisation affairs at the State Department, Eaton noted.Her education includes a bachelor’s degree from Pacific Lutheran University, a master’s degree from Harvard University and a second master’s degree from the National Defence University.Thanking President Bush, Secretary of State Colin Powell and guests from the Namibian Embassy, Ambassador Barr expressed her enthusiasm about serving as the next US envoy to Namibia, in part because of the positive relationship the country has developed with the United States since independence in 1990.- The Washington File* Ambassador Barr arrived in Windhoek on Wednesday. She will assume her official duties on presentation of her credentials to President Sam Nujoma.