Boucher proposed for South Asia posting

US President George Bush proposes to nominate Richard Boucher as the next assistant secretary of state for South Asia, succeeding Christina Rocca.

Bush said he 8220;intends8221; to nominate the career minister to the post. Boucher8217;s nomination has to be confirmed by the us Senate. The White House announcement of the intention to nominate Boucher is the first step in a process. The White House has to formally nominate him followed by hearings and confirmation by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee which will recommend him to the full senate for a vote.

The White House has not stated if Boucher will preside over South Asia or will have him take on a larger bureau of South and central Asia as indicated by the Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.