Coexistence envoy

[31 Mar 2005] MANILA - The United States has chosen a conflict resolution expert, Ambassador Cameron R. Hume, of South Africa, to be its next U.S. ambassador to the Philippines.

“Hume has a very good reputation, although he has no background in Asia.” said a former State Department official who is close to the Asia Society in Washington.

“But it’s a tribute to the Philippines. He’s the ambassador for South Africa, a very important assignment and he is obviously held in high regard.”

He has an extensive background in the U.S. mission at the United Nations, where he served for seven years. He was minister-counselor for political affairs for three years, starting in 1994. Earlier, he was adviser and then senior adviser in the Middle East.

Hume has links with the U.S. Institute of Peace (Usip). As a guest scholar at Usip, he wrote Ending Mozambique’s War