USA/FILE: Nicholas Burns, the third-ranking American diplomat, to retire

Record ID: 739355

  • Title: USA/FILE: Nicholas Burns, the third-ranking American diplomat, to retire
  • Date: 19th January 2008
  • Summary: (BN13) WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (JANUARY 18, 2008) (POOL) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE CONDOLEEZZA RICE WALKS TO PODIUM WITH UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE NICHOLAS BURNS (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE CONDOLEEZZA RICE SAYING: "Whether we worked together in times that seemed to be always going our way, or times when life has been a little hard, it has been great
  • Embargoed: 3rd February 2008 12:00
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  • Reuters ID: LVACVA1ZCZB734COPH5ETX38CT23
  • Story Text: The third-ranking U.S. diplomat has decided to retire. Nicholas Burns, the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, had been a key player in managing America's relations with the subcontinent and in brokering two U.N.
    Security Council resolutions imposing sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program.
    Nicholas Burns, a key U.S. policy maker on Iran and India and the number three U.S. diplomat, has decided to retire for personal reasons, U.S.
    Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Friday (January 18).
    Rice is expected to recommend U.S. Ambassador to Russia William Burns to replace him as under secretary of state for political affairs, said a U.S.
    official, who asked not to be named.
    The two are not related.

    "Whether we worked together in times that seemed to be always going our way, or times when life has been a little hard, it has been great to be doing it with my friend Nick Burns, and while you will be stepping down, you will always be my friend," said Rice, with Burns standing next to her.

    "It is obviously a bittersweet day for me, but I am grateful to the President and to you to have served as the Under Secretary of State these past three years, and I will tell you I've loved every day in this job,"
    said Burns.
    Nicholas Burns, a former U.S. ambassador to NATO and State Department spokesman, has been a key player in negotiating the two U.N. Security Council resolutions imposing sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program.
    The United States believes Iran aims to acquire nuclear weapons and the U.N. sanctions are designed to force Tehran to suspend its uranium enrichment activities, which can produce fuel for nuclear weapons or nuclear power plants. Iran says its program is for power generation.
    Burns has also been the lead negotiator on a U.S.-India civil nuclear deal that would give India access to U.S. nuclear fuel and equipment for the first time in three decades.
    Rice said Burns, who will not formally leave until March, will keep a role after that in working on the U.S.-India nuclear deal. The agreement must clear several hurdles, including final approval by the U.S. Congress, before it can take effect.
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