A/S WELCH ADDRESSES NEA HARDSHIP ASSIGNMENTS

UNCLAS STATE 155061 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AMGT APER XF XI SUBJECT: A/S WELCH ADDRESSES NEA HARDSHIP ASSIGNMENTS BEFORE HFAC ¶1. On November 8, Assistant Secretary Welch testified in a public hearing before the House Foreign Affairs and Senate Foreign Relations Committees on Lebanon and Syria, respectively. During his testimony, A/S Welch refuted some recent criticism alleging that Foreign Service officers were unwilling to fulfill service abroad in hardship assignments. ¶2. The following is an excerpt from A/S Welch's testimony: "Let me just preface what I'm about to say in my testimony with a remark about our business as representatives of the United States overseas. As you all know because you've -- I think most of you have visited Lebanon, it's one of the American embassies in the area of my responsibility that faces very intense security challenges. There are others; Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Algeria, just to mention some. And Congressman Ackerman, you were just in Jerusalem this last few days and you know travel in the Palestinian territories is difficult for us as well. I mention this because everybody who serves in Embassy Beirut is a volunteer. We do not have to ask people to go to Lebanon. They volunteer for that service. I also mention it because in recent days I think there has been a lot of public attention to whether members of the American Foreign Service are prepared to do these jobs overseas. We are. We don't need to be told to do them. The demands to staff Iraq are exigent, but they will be met. They are being met as we speak, and they're being met by people who are prepared to stand up and do it." ¶3. NEA is proud that many of our personnel continue to volunteer to serve not only in hard to fill positions in Iraq, but also in other NEA hardship assignments, often at great sacrifice to their families and personal lives. We recognize your sacrifice, and thank you for your continued service and commitment to your country and the Foreign Service. ¶4. Tripoli minimize considered. RICE