Veteran Senator John Kerry, knownfor his relationship-building skills, is all set to replace Hillary Clinton asthe new US Secretary of State after the Senate overwhelmingly confirmed hisnomination.
69-year-old Kerry, currently the chairman of the powerfulSenate Foreign Relations Committee, has been a close confidant of PresidentBarack Obama on foreign policy issues especially on the volatile Af-Pak region.
The nomination of Kerry, a Vietnam war veteran, wasconfirmed yesterday by 94-3, with all three negative votes coming fromRepublican Senators James Inhofe, Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, who is Co-Chair ofthe Senate India Caucus.
This is the first Cabinet selection during Obama's secondterm to be confirmed by the Senate. Friday is the last working day for65-year-old Secretary of State Clinton.
Senator Robert Menendez, incoming Chairman of the SenateForeign Relations Committee, noted that Kerry was the best choice to head theState Department.
"When it comes to our role in world affairs, we agreethat it is critical for the US to remain fully engaged and to project not onlythe power of our military strength where necessary, but the wisdom of ourdemocratic ideals," he said.
Kerry's exhaustive experience and his relationship withglobal leaders will significantly help the US in its foreign policy matters, henoted.
Exuding confidence in Kerry, Senator Frank Lautenberg notedthe wide support for the diplomat reflected his great qualifications andability to build global relationships.
Senator Ben Cardin said Kerry's legacy of fighting fordemocracy, human rights and global peace will continue at the Department ofState.
"He played a key role in bringing our troops home fromIraq and ending the war, and has been an advocate for peace and democratictransition in some of the most challenging conflict zones, from Sudan toAfghanistan," Cardin said.
Kerry was nominated for the post by President Obama inDecember last year, nearly a month after the Democrat secured a second term inoffice.