 | MANILA – New US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Anne Kenney arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport March 17 without too much fanfare. She told reporters: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be here. This is one of the most special countries for the US. We have such a long relationship and we feel very close as peoples. I can’t wait to see the country, meet all of you personally. I hope you share your views and your expertise with me,” a smiling Kenney told reporters.
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“Of course, my first conversation will be official once I present my credentials to the President and her government. But after that I look forward to seeing all
of you. I hope you’ll be kind and generous with me,” she said.
Kenney is the first woman to be nominated by Washington to occupy the top post at the US Embassy in Manila. Bert Asuque, Department of Foreign Affairs
spokesman, said that the government was happy that a new US ambassador had been named. The US Embassy has been without a chief of mission since the departure of
Francis Ricciardone in May last year. “(Foreign) Secretary (Alberto) Romulo is looking forward to meeting her next week prior to her presentation of
credentials to President Arroyo,” Asuque said. Earlier, the Manila International Airport Authority asked airport reporters not to divulge the flight details for
Kenney upon the request of the US Embassy for security reasons.
Kenney, who previously served as ambassador to Ecuador, is also a former senior adviser to the assistant secretary for international narcotics and law
enforcement at the US State Department. She has also served as an economics officer at the US embassies in Switzerland and Argentina and as a consular
officer in Jamaica.
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