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Welcome everyone, to the Treaty Room, one of the State Derpartment’s most elegant and storied rooms. We reserve this room for special occasions, and this is certainly one of them, as we swear in Chase Untermeyer as President Bush’s envoy to Qatar.
The President’s choice of Chase Untermeyer to lead our mission in Doha is testimony to the importance of the U.S.-Qatari relationship. Chase brings impressive skills to this mission that match perfectly the many dimensions of our partnership with Qatar.
The importance of our partnership is clear. We cooperate in the war against terror. We cooperate to bring stability and peace to Iraq and Afghanistan. We cooperate to advance peace and prosperity in the region, and beyond. In support of all these efforts the Government of Qatar offers critical facilities and access to our military forces, for which we are most grateful.
Under the leadership of Emir Hamad, Qatar has also pioneered economic, educational, and political reform in the Gulf. Qatar will hold parliamentary elections later this year in which, for the first time, the majority of the members of parliament will be elected.
Reform in the Middle East requires new attitudes and institutions to take root. Elections cannot by themselves create real democracy. An understanding of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship must grow. For that to happen, people must appreciate and participate in the unfettered flow of ideas, which, as Americans know, only a free and responsible media can guarantee.
We know, too, that Qatar is the home of Al-Jazeera satellite TV and radio. We’ve had serious concerns with Al-Jazeera’s often biased and inflammatory coverage, which could serve to incite attacks in Israel, and attacks against those committed to security and democracy in Iraq.
At the same time, we recognize the positive impact that satellite media are having, by allowing the concept of public argumentation to set roots in Middle Eastern intellectual and political culture. We firmly support free speech and a free press as inalienable democratic rights. But news agencies and the media must practice journalism ethically. We welcome the blossoming of a truly responsible and responsive free media in Qatar, and throughout the Arab world.
Qatar is also engaged in a dramatic expansion of its educational system, led by Sheikha Mozza. To aid this effort, hundreds of Qataris are now studying in the American universities, and we’d be pleased to host more. Qatar is also bringing American educational institutions to its own shores, with a branch of Cornell Medical School. Similar initiatives are being pursued with Texas A&M; and Carnegie Mellon University as part of Qatar’s newly-inaugurated “Education City” complex.
Beyond innovations in politics, communication, and education, Qatar is making economic progress. We recently signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement with Qatar, which will further bolster our commercial relationship. We’ll work with Qatar to further develop its natural gas resources as part of an overall strategy of energy diversification. And we’ll work together to expand free trade in the region, in pursuit of the President’s goal of a Middle East Free Trade Area.
Clearly, then, the ideal American ambassador in Doha would understand politics, military matters, education, media, and economics. We have precisely such an ambassador in Chase Untermeyer.
Chase knows politics. While attending Harvard College he spent two summers interning on then freshman Congressman George H.W. Bush’s staff. That internship marked the beginning of a strong relationship with the former President and the Bush family that continues to this day. In 1976, Chase was elected to the first of two terms as a member of the Texas House of Representatives. Then, when Bush 41, as he is often known around here, was elected Vice President, Chase relocated to Washington to serve as his executive assistant.
In 1988, Chase joined Vice President Bush’s Presidential campaign planning staff. The morning after his election as President, Mr. Bush named Chase director of presidential personnel. If that were not a heady enough experience, during his first week on the job in the Bush White House, Chase made the most important personnel decision of all, when he met his future wife, Diana.
Chase knows more than just domestic politics. He traveled abroad extensively with Vice-President Bush, and among his numerous other overseas missions he worked with the International Republican Institute to help Mongolia’s new noncommunist government in its transition to power in 1996. He also performed an assessment of the political situation in Cambodia prior to parliamentary elections there in 2003.
Beyond politics, Chase knows the military, both in uniform and out. He served in the Navy during the Vietnam War aboard the Pacific Fleet destroyer USS Benner. He also served as aide and flag lieutenant to the late Rear Admiral Draper L. Kauffman, commander of U.S. naval forces in the Philippines.
Later, in 1983, Chase saw the Navy from the civilian side -- as Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Installations and Facilities. The following year, President Reagan appointed him Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs.
Chase knows media, too. As we all know, in 1991, he became the director of Voice of America. In that post as also oversaw Worldnet, a 24-hour/day television service, and Radio and TV Marti, broadcasting to Cuba.
And Chase knows education. In 1999, he was appointed chairman of the Texas State Board of Education by then Governor George W. Bush, a position he held until January of last year.
Chase Untermeyer’s diverse talents make him uniquely qualified to lead our mission in Qatar. Aside from his distinguished career, Chase has something else going for him: his family. Many members of Chase’s family are here today -- his mother, Marguerite, his sisters Emily and Margot, and Emily’s husband Bruce. And many family friends are with us, too, enough to qualify as a Texas-sized, Houston-sized gathering. Welcome to you all.
Most important, of course, Diana is by your side, as always. Diana is giving up a position she cares about deeply, as director of communications at the Christ Church Cathedral of Houston, to accompany Chase to Doha. Also here, of course, is daughter Elly, who’s going to have a terrific time in Qatar.
Diana and Elly will support Chase in all he does, which is so important. Families are so important to all we do at the State Department, and we czan never thank them enough for all they do. So please join me in thanking the family once again.
Chase, you’ll also have the full support of this building, and of a great team at Embassy Doha. And you have the President’s full confidence, and my full confidence, in your ability to master yet another new career challenge. You also have our gratitude for your willingness once again to serve your country, to serve the American people. And so if you’re ready, I’m now prepare to swear you in.
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