Nomination of Edward P. Djerejian To Be an Assistant Secretary of State

The President today announced his intention to nominate Edward P. Djerejian, of Maryland, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counsellor, to be an Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs. He would succeed John Hubert Kelly.

Since 1988 Ambassador Djerejian has served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Syrian Arab Republic. Prior to this he served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs, 1986 - 1988; as a Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Press Secretary for Foreign Affairs, 1985 - 1986; and as the Deputy Chief of Mission at the American Embassy in Amman, Jordan, 1981 - 1984. In addition, he served at the American Embassy in Moscow as chief of external affairs in the political section and then as acting political counselor, 1979 - 1981.

Ambassador Djerejian graduated from Georgetown University (B.S., 1960). He was born March 6, 1939, in New York, NY. Ambassador Djerejian served in the U.S. Army, 1960 - 1962. He is married, has two children, and resides in Bethesda, MD.