Appointing emissaries,Obama and Hillary stress diplomacy

Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton jointly introduced the emissaries,George J Mitchell,who will be special envoy for Arab-Israeli affairs,and Richard C Holbrooke,who will hold the title of special representative and will be responsible for Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Mitchell,a former Senate majority leader,helped broker a peace agreement in Northern Ireland. Holbrooke,a longtime diplomat who was the American ambassador to the United Nations,played a central role in drafting the 1995 Dayton peace accords,which ended the war in Bosnia.

The appointment of such diplomatic heavyweights could pose a challenge to Hillary as she seeks to carve out her place as the nation’s chief diplomat. Each was once viewed as a potential Secretary of State,and Holbrooke,in particular,will have a wide-ranging portfolio.

Underscoring the potentially tangled lines of authority,Hillary said that the National Security Council,led by Gen James L Jones,would play a coordinating role on Afghanistan and Pakistan. She emphasised unity,saying,“We want to send a clear and unequivocal message: we are a team.”

Both Mitchell and Holbrooke will report to Hillary,and through her,to Obama,according to a State Department spokesman.

As a special envoy,the State Department spokesman said,Mitchell will have a more traditional role,working out of the State Department. As a special representative,administration officials said,Holbrooke will have the freedom to roam,and to represent Obama,the National Security Council and even the Pentagon.

Obama and Biden visited the State Department hours after Hillary arrived for her first day of work there.

Hillary on Friday called up Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and shared with him the vision of the new US administration and to inform him about the appointment of Holbrooke as Washington’s Special Envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Gov David A Paterson selected Representative Kirsten Gillibrand,a 42-year-old congresswoman from upstate who is known for bold political moves and centrist policy positions,to fill the United States Senate seat vacated by Hillary Clinton,according to a person who spoke to the Governor early on Friday. An aide to Gillibrand confirmed that she had accepted the appointment.