07 December 2001

Bush Appoints Special Representative on Mine Action

President Bush has named Assistant Secretary of State Lincoln Bloomfield to be the Special Representative of the President and the Secretary of State for mine action, the State Department announced December 7.

In his new post, Bloomfield will oversee efforts to reinforce official humanitarian demining programs through public-private partnerships, and boost U.S. and foreign efforts to rid the world of landmines that threaten civilians.

Following is the text of the announcement:

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
December 7, 2001

STATEMENT BY PHILIP T. REEKER, DEPUTY SPOKESMAN

Lincoln P. Bloomfield, Jr. Appointed Special Representative of the President and Secretary of State for Mine Action

President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Colin L. Powell have given Lincoln P. Bloomfield, Jr., Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, an additional responsibility as the Special Representative of the President and Secretary of State for Mine Action, effective Friday, November 30, 2001.

As Special Representative, Assistant Secretary Bloomfield will oversee efforts to encourage citizens, civic groups and the private sector to reinforce official humanitarian demining programs through public-private partnerships, and to boost U.S. and foreign efforts to rid the world of landmines that threaten civilians.

The Office of Global Humanitarian Demining has been renamed the Office of Mine Action Initiatives and Partnerships and is located within the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs.