MR. ADELMAN: Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
And thank you very much -- (off mike). Thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
And thank you, Senator Isakson, for that very generous introduction. It's my ambition to live up to the confidence you have expressed in me today.
Mr. Chairman, I'll be brief, but I would like to publicly acknowledge and thank my family, including my parents, who are here.
So if you'll indulge me, I'll ask them to stand very quickly.
SEN. WEBB: By all means.
MR. ADELMAN: My beautiful wife, Caroline, is in here somewhere. Where are you? (Applause.) Senator, you can see who really brought the fan club.
(Laughter.) My oldest, my son, Oscar, 14, is here. My daughter Leah, 11 years old, is here. My daughter Avery (sp), eight years old, is here.
And I wanted to publicly thank them. They've been with me every step of the way, for many years, and, if confirmed, they will not only be in Singapore to support me, but they will be very valuable assets to the mission of the United States in Singapore.
Also here today from South Carolina are my father and mother, Nelson and Donna Adelman. And I wanted to publicly express how grateful I am to both of them for all of the sacrifices they have made for my brother Mark and me through the many, many years. I can assure you, any successes I have enjoyed have been every bit a result of the beautiful and warm home they made for my brother and I.
SEN. WEBB: Well, we welcome all of your family members here today. And I know it must be a proud day for your entire family. So -- MR. ADELMAN: Mr. Chairman, you were very gracious in going through some of my background, and in the interest of time, I'd like to just include my written comments for the record -- ask that they be copied in the record -- and maybe read just an abridged version of my testimony for the committee.
SEN. WEBB: Your full statement will be entered in the record at this time. And I neglected to mention that Senator Kerry, the chairman of the full committee, had a statement that he would like to have entered in the record. And it should follow Senator Isakson's remarks and Senator Chambliss's letter -- will be entered in the record at that point. So you may proceed.
MR. ADELMAN: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Members of the committee, if confirmed, I believe my experience in both the public sector and the private sector will serve me very well in Embassy Singapore.
The United States is actively to reinvigorate our relationship with Asia, and our mission in Singapore can help lead the way.
At the outset I would like to express my appreciation for Singapore's contributions to the relief and recovery efforts in Haiti.
The government of Singapore has provided financial support through the United Nations Fund. And a local NGO rapidly organized an eight- person medical team which traveled to Haiti within days of the earthquake.
This effort is just the latest demonstration of Singapore's commitment to be a constructive force in the world.
Over the past three years Singapore has steadily increased its support for the multinational stabilization and reconstruction activities under way in Afghanistan. Singapore's armed forces have contributed medical and engineering teams in southern and eastern Afghanistan. And in September of last year Singapore deployed the first of two weapon locating radar teams it will deploy in the Oruzgan province.
Singapore plays an integral role in the global effort to address the growing threat of piracy in the Gulf of Aden, as you noted in your statement. This year Singapore sent a ship with two helicopters and approximately 50 personnel to patrol waters off the coast of Somalia as part of Combined Task Force 151. And on January 20th -- only two weeks ago -- Singapore assumed command of CTF-151 from the United States. And they will handle that command for the next three months.
Singapore's commitment to free trade, openness to foreign investment, sound economic management and maintenance of world-class port and logistics facilities has led to the development of extensive economic ties between our two countries. Our free trade agreement, as you noted, with Singapore has been a great success. U.S. companies have invested tens of billions of dollars in Singapore, and more than 20,000 American citizens reside there. Furthermore, Singapore's leadership in APEC has assured regional progress toward free and open trade and investment and facilitated growth of small and medium business enterprise activity in the Asia Pacific. While Singapore has not been immune to the recent financial downturn, U.S.-Singapore economic cooperation has remained vigorous. And we now see strong, positive, long-term economic trs developing.
After contracting for a year, Singapore's economy is exhibiting signs of recovery and with it expanding opportunities for mutually beneficial business between the United States and Singapore.
Mr. Chairman, in conclusion I'd like to say: Our friship with Singapore is strong and uring. The continued partnership between our two countries serves as a solid anchor for our successful engagement with all of Asia.
If confirmed, I look forward to serving and leading our mission in Singapore as we go from strength to strength, building on the many ways in which we work together to promote a more secure and prosperous world.
Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today.
And I welcome any questions you may have.
Thank you.
SEN. WEBB: Thank you very much, Mr. Adelman.
And thank you very much -- (off mike). Thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
And thank you, Senator Isakson, for that very generous introduction. It's my ambition to live up to the confidence you have expressed in me today.
Mr. Chairman, I'll be brief, but I would like to publicly acknowledge and thank my family, including my parents, who are here.
So if you'll indulge me, I'll ask them to stand very quickly.
SEN. WEBB: By all means.
MR. ADELMAN: My beautiful wife, Caroline, is in here somewhere. Where are you? (Applause.) Senator, you can see who really brought the fan club.
(Laughter.) My oldest, my son, Oscar, 14, is here. My daughter Leah, 11 years old, is here. My daughter Avery (sp), eight years old, is here.
And I wanted to publicly thank them. They've been with me every step of the way, for many years, and, if confirmed, they will not only be in Singapore to support me, but they will be very valuable assets to the mission of the United States in Singapore.
Also here today from South Carolina are my father and mother, Nelson and Donna Adelman. And I wanted to publicly express how grateful I am to both of them for all of the sacrifices they have made for my brother Mark and me through the many, many years. I can assure you, any successes I have enjoyed have been every bit a result of the beautiful and warm home they made for my brother and I.
SEN. WEBB: Well, we welcome all of your family members here today. And I know it must be a proud day for your entire family. So -- MR. ADELMAN: Mr. Chairman, you were very gracious in going through some of my background, and in the interest of time, I'd like to just include my written comments for the record -- ask that they be copied in the record -- and maybe read just an abridged version of my testimony for the committee.
SEN. WEBB: Your full statement will be entered in the record at this time. And I neglected to mention that Senator Kerry, the chairman of the full committee, had a statement that he would like to have entered in the record. And it should follow Senator Isakson's remarks and Senator Chambliss's letter -- will be entered in the record at that point. So you may proceed.
MR. ADELMAN: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Members of the committee, if confirmed, I believe my experience in both the public sector and the private sector will serve me very well in Embassy Singapore.
The United States is actively to reinvigorate our relationship with Asia, and our mission in Singapore can help lead the way.
At the outset I would like to express my appreciation for Singapore's contributions to the relief and recovery efforts in Haiti.
The government of Singapore has provided financial support through the United Nations Fund. And a local NGO rapidly organized an eight- person medical team which traveled to Haiti within days of the earthquake.
This effort is just the latest demonstration of Singapore's commitment to be a constructive force in the world.
Over the past three years Singapore has steadily increased its support for the multinational stabilization and reconstruction activities under way in Afghanistan. Singapore's armed forces have contributed medical and engineering teams in southern and eastern Afghanistan. And in September of last year Singapore deployed the first of two weapon locating radar teams it will deploy in the Oruzgan province.
Singapore plays an integral role in the global effort to address the growing threat of piracy in the Gulf of Aden, as you noted in your statement. This year Singapore sent a ship with two helicopters and approximately 50 personnel to patrol waters off the coast of Somalia as part of Combined Task Force 151. And on January 20th -- only two weeks ago -- Singapore assumed command of CTF-151 from the United States. And they will handle that command for the next three months.
Singapore's commitment to free trade, openness to foreign investment, sound economic management and maintenance of world-class port and logistics facilities has led to the development of extensive economic ties between our two countries. Our free trade agreement, as you noted, with Singapore has been a great success. U.S. companies have invested tens of billions of dollars in Singapore, and more than 20,000 American citizens reside there. Furthermore, Singapore's leadership in APEC has assured regional progress toward free and open trade and investment and facilitated growth of small and medium business enterprise activity in the Asia Pacific. While Singapore has not been immune to the recent financial downturn, U.S.-Singapore economic cooperation has remained vigorous. And we now see strong, positive, long-term economic trs developing.
After contracting for a year, Singapore's economy is exhibiting signs of recovery and with it expanding opportunities for mutually beneficial business between the United States and Singapore.
Mr. Chairman, in conclusion I'd like to say: Our friship with Singapore is strong and uring. The continued partnership between our two countries serves as a solid anchor for our successful engagement with all of Asia.
If confirmed, I look forward to serving and leading our mission in Singapore as we go from strength to strength, building on the many ways in which we work together to promote a more secure and prosperous world.
Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today.
And I welcome any questions you may have.
Thank you.
SEN. WEBB: Thank you very much, Mr. Adelman.
