Roemer resigns for family commitments

New Delhi, Apr 28 (PTI) US Ambassador to India Timothy
Roemer Thursday announced his resignation from the key
diplomatic post citing personal commitments.
54-year-old Roemer, a political appointee, said he has
accomplished all of the strategic objectives set two years ago
and he wants to go back home to look after his family.
Roemer, who was nominated by US President Barack Obama
in May 2009, is expected to leave by June.
"Ambassador Roemer's departure is for personal,
professional and family considerations," the US embassy said
in a statement here.
"When I accepted the job two years ago, I told
President Barack Obama that I will serve for two years, but
that family considerations would be the front and centre after
that," Roemer said.
Roemer said that the US-India relationship is on a
"positive historic trajectory" towards a global partnership.
"The horizons of our relationship truly no limits," he
said.
The US envoy said his two sons will be leaving for
college in the next 14 months and he would like his parents
and in-laws to spend more time with his children.
Noting that he came as a diplomat and was leaving
feeling part of a family, he said, "For me and for my entire
family the two years have been a time of incredible
experiences, warm friendship, meaningful partnership".
"The US-India relationship -- what my friend President
Obama calls the defining partnership of the 21st century - has
progressed to the global stage. I am very proud to have led
the team responsible for deepening and broadening the
strategic partnership of this critical bilateral relationship,
which is one of the cornerstones of our foreign policy.
"The US India relationship is on a positive historic
trajectory towards a global partnership that is changing the
way our two nations create economic opportunity for our
citizens, educating the leaders of tomorrow, and ensuring safe
and secure communities," he said.
Roemer said the Indo-US relationship has been further
strengthened by the landmark 2009 visit and White House dinner
honouring Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the history
making trip by President Obama to India in 2010.
President Obama committed America's support to India
for a permanent UN Security Council seat and removed nine
Indian companies from the entities list.
"We have entered into a strategic dialogue on
Afghanistan and a new joint economic partnership for capacity
building," he said.
Roemer said he was proud to have worked with the
Indian government to sign the Counter-terrorism Cooperation
Initiative providing groundbreaking joint US-India work on
mega-city policing, forensic lab training, intelligence
sharing, and sharing best government-wide practices.
He noted that during his tenure, the US-India defence
partnership expanded exponentially.
The sale of C130J aircraft and the pending sale of
C-17s strengthen the strategic partnership between the two
countries, demonstrated the enduring commitment to sharing the
world's best technology with India.
"Our defence partnership offers economic benefits for
both India and the United States and significant job creation
in both countries," he said.
Roemer said the joint commitment to conserve and
protect the resources of the planet as global partners was
evident in the concerted efforts made to identify and
highlight practical, affordable green technologies.
"As Ambassador, I had the chance to travel with my
family to all corners of this incredible and beautiful
country. Whether I was playing basketball with Muslim girls in
Lucknow, seeing the majestic tiger in Ranthambore, or
observing the "aarti" on the banks of the mighty Ganga in
Varanasi, I personally viewed how common values and common
interests bind our two great democracies together more
strongly every day," he said.
The diplomat went on to quote Mahatma Gandhi who said,
"a nation's culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of
its people".
"India has opened the doors of its schools,
communities, and hearts to my family. We will leave with full
and grateful hearts for the many wonderful people who have
welcomed us.
"We came here as diplomats and we leave feeling part
of a family," he added.
Prior to his nomination as Ambassador to India, Roemer
was President of the Center for National Policy (CNP) in
Washington, DC a moderate think-tank dedicated to finding
bipartisan solutions to America's most important national
security challenges