24 February 1999
(Panel to analyze needs of diplomatic posts) (650) Washington -- Secretary of State Albright has announced the establishment of an Overseas Presence Advisory Panel to analyze and make recommendations on the organization of US embassies and consulates overseas. In a statement released February 23, Albright explained that "the purpose of the panel is to make recommendations on our presence abroad -- how we might determine the location, size, and composition of overseas posts in the coming decade." In addition to security issues, the new panel will look at the changing foreign policy responsibilities of our overseas missions, the Secretary said. Lewis Kaden of New York will chair the effort. Ambassador William Itoh, a career member of the Foreign Service, will serve as Executive Secretary. Admiral William Crowe, who chaired the Accountability Review Boards examining the bombings of the U.S. embassies in East Africa, will also serve on the Overseas Presence Advisory Panel. Following is the State Department text: (begin text) U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN February 23, 1999 STATEMENT BY SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE K. ALBRIGHT ANNOUNCING THE FORMATION OF AN OVERSEAS PRESENCE ADVISORY PANEL In light of the findings and recommendations of the Accountability Review Board on the East Africa bombings, I have directed the establishment of an Overseas Presence Advisory Panel to analyze and make recommendations on the organization of our embassies and consulates overseas. The purpose of the panel is to make recommendations on our presence abroad -- how we might determine the location, size, and composition of overseas posts in the coming decade. In order to do this, I have charged the panel with the mandate to look in depth at how all the agencies of the U.S. Government we support through our embassies and consulates do their work abroad. I have also tasked the panel to propose a multi-year funding program for the Department to achieve the appropriate presence overseas. The panel will take the following factors into account: -- the worldwide security situation and the recommendations of the Accountability Review Board; -- the changing foreign policy responsibilities of our overseas missions; -- the roles and priorities of all the government agencies involved in the conduct of diplomacy; -- anticipated resource constraints; -- the possibilities for new approaches to doing business including greater use of available information technology and management practices, the establishment of new patterns of representation and alternative arrangements for financing overseas missions; and -- the manner in which decisions are made in the allocation and management of resources overseas. The panel will consult widely with government agencies, members of Congress, non-governmental organizations and others. Preliminary recommendations will be made in June, 1999. Congress has funded a budget request for the Panel under the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act of 1998. I have asked Mr. Lewis Kaden of New York to chair this effort. Ambassador William Itoh, a career member of the Foreign Service, will serve as Executive Secretary. Admiral William Crowe has agreed to serve on the panel, which will ensure continuity with the Accountability Review Boards he chaired. Additionally, prominent private sector individuals and agency representatives from throughout the U.S. Government will serve on the panel. The past decade has witnessed a transformation of the world political situation and the emergence of new foreign policy priorities. Challenges such as transnational law enforcement, global terrorism, democracy building, protection of the environment, refugee issues and access to global markets and energy sources now compete with traditional security and political issues for policymakers' attention. These changes demand that we re-examine the nature and basic structure of our overseas presence. I have high hopes that the Panel will develop creative ideas on how to deal with these challenges and expect that these ideas will be integrated quickly into our budget and policy planning to the maximum extent possible. (end text)