Maine's Senators Support
Nominee Peter Cianchette
For Ambassador to Costa
Rica
Peter Cianchette of
South Portland told a
Senate panel considering
his nomination to be
ambassador to Costa Rica
on Wednesday that he is
up to the job, even
though his Spanish is
rusty and he has never
traveled to Costa Rica.
Cianchette, the Maine
Republican gubernatorial
candidate in 2002, said
he has had a crash
course in Spanish and
Costa Rican politics
since he was nominated
earlier this year.
"I have engaged actively
to boost my knowledge of
the language and to
regain ability that I
had," Cianchette said,
adding that he is taking
a language course with
the Foreign Service
Institute in Rosalyn,
Va.,
Cianchette told Chairman
Christopher Dodd, D-Conn.,
who speaks fluent
Spanish, that he even
consulted Dodd's
brother, who served as
ambassador to Costa Rica
under President Clinton,
and previous
ambassadors.
As a non-career
appointee, Cianchette
would become one of 172
ambassadors representing
the U.S. government
abroad.
The timing of
Cianchette's
confirmation is not
clear. As early as next
week, the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee
could meet in what is
called a "business
session" to decide
whether to send the
nomination to the full
Senate.
Cianchette would be
placed on what is called
the Executive Calendar.
When the Senate goes
into an "executive
session," normally at
the end of the week, the
upper chamber will
consider his nomination
and others.
If confirmed, Cianchette
will attend a two-week
"ambassador school,"
which all incoming
ambassadors attend
before departing for
their host countries,
said Brown.
Assuming the Senate
confirms him, Bush will
"attest" the nomination
and Cianchette can
prepare to leave for
Costa Rica.
It is unclear how long
Cianchette will serve
after the November
presidential election.
He and all career - and
politically appointed
ambassadors will submit
their resignations next
year after a new
president, regardless of
party, is elected. The
new president will
decide whether he stays
or goes. |
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