New US Ambassador ahead for Georgia

This year Georgia will have a new Ambassador of the United States (US) to Georgia.

Current Ambassador Richard Norland is due to complete his three-year term later this summer. Once his term officially ends, he will be replaced by a new American representative.

US President Barack Obama nominated American statesman and career diplomat Ian Kelly as the man who will replace Norland.

Before this can be confirmed, Kelly’s candidacy will be considered by the US Senate. If the US Senate approves Kelly to the role, he will arrive in Tbilisi later this year.

"President Obama stated that he wishes Ian Kelly to be appointed as the US Ambassador to Georgia,” said a statement released by the White House.

Kelly throughout his career has held many significant positions, where most recently he served as the US Ambassador to the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) from 2010 to 2013.

Prior to this, Kelly held a variety of high-level roles at the US State Department, including serving as head of the Russian Affairs Department at the US Department of State, and Department spokesman under Secretary Hillary Clinton. He also has extensive experience working on issues relating to NATO, Russia, and the Balkans.

Meanwhile, outgoing US Ambassador Norland said he was saddened to leave Georgia; a place he had grown to love.

"I am pleased that the White House has nominated such an experienced and well-respected colleague to succeed me later this year here in Georgia,” Norland said in a statement.

"One of the most difficult parts of being a professional diplomat is to contemplate leaving a place one has come to know and love, but that is in the nature of this profession,” he said.

Norland has held the position of US Ambassador to Georgia 2012. His term expires later this summer.