Ranking Member Shaheen Opening Remarks for Nominations Hearing for Key Ambassadorial Positions

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, delivered opening remarks during a committee hearing on the nominations of Michael Young to be Ambassador to Serbia, Ronald Johnson to be Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Julia Nesheiwat to be Ambassador-at-Large for the Arctic, Steven Gillen to be Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic and Nutan Patel to be Ambassador to Cabo Verde.

You can watch her opening remarks here.

"More than thirty years ago, the United States helped end the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina," said Ranking Member Shaheen. "That war included the Srebrenica genocide, where more than 8,000 Bosniak men and boys were murdered under the direction of Ratko Mladic. The Dayton Peace Agreement has kept the region from returning to that violence."

Ranking Member Shaheen emphasized that regional political leaders in the Western Balkans must actively work to strengthen their democratic institutions to prevent a return to instability in the region.

"But that peace cannot be taken for granted," said Ranking Member Shaheen. "Political leaders continue to challenge Bosnia and Herzegovina's sovereignty, territorial integrity and state institutions. Genocide denial and the glorification of convicted war criminals continue to deepen ethnic divisions. And Russia continues to exploit those divisions to destabilize the region and block closer ties with Europe."

Ranking Member Shaheen implored the nominees for U.S. Ambassadors to the region to message clearly and directly on these issues if confirmed.

"The United States helped bring peace to Bosnia," said Ranking Member Shaheen. "We cannot afford to send mixed signals about whether we will defend it. Our ambassadors in Belgrade and Sarajevo must be prepared to speak clearly. Srebrenica was a genocide. Bosnia and Herzegovina's sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected. And the United States must oppose efforts to destabilize the region and undermine its democratic institutions."

Finally, Ranking Member Shaheen highlighted the critical ties between her home state of New Hampshire and Cabo Verde to Ms. Patel.

"Ms. Patel, you have been nominated to be Ambassador to Cabo Verde," said Ranking Member Shaheen. "Cabo Verde has important ties to New Hampshire through our National Guard's State Partnership Program - including cooperation on aviation training and countering transnational crime."

The Ranking Member's remarks, as delivered, are below.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And congratulations to each of our nominees today, welcome to all of your families and supporters who are here today. Like the Chairman, I want to begin with the Western Balkans.

Because more than thirty years ago, the United States helped end the war in Bosnia -Herzegovina. That war included the Srebrenica genocide, where more than 8,000 Bosniak men and boys were murdered under the direction of Ratko Mladic. The Dayton Peace Agreement has kept the region from returning to that violence.

But that peace cannot be taken for granted. Political leaders continue to challenge Bosnia and Herzegovina's territorial integrity, its sovereignty and its state institutions. Genocide denial and the glorification of convicted war criminals continue to deepen ethnic divisions. And Russia continues to exploit those divisions to destabilize the region and block closer ties with Europe.

And what is most troubling, I think, is that some of the Administration's actions risk contributing to greater instability. And Mr. Chairman, I'd like to introduce for the record a report that came out of the House Foreign Relations Committee Minority Subcommittee on Europe, called "Pay for Play in the Balkans."

In Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Administration lifted sanctions on Milorad Dodik despite his continued challenges to the authority of the Bosnian state. And just this week, Dodik said that he "dreams" of a referendum on Republika Srpska's secession from Bosnia.

And when leaders around the world condemned the glorification of Mladic last week, the State Department was silent. The Department has also recently stopped calling Srebrenica a genocide - which is a departure from longstanding U.S. policy and the position of Congress.

The United States helped bring peace to Bosnia. We cannot afford to send mixed signals about whether we will defend it. Our ambassadors in Belgrade and Sarajevo must be prepared to speak clearly. Srebrenica was a genocide, I've been there, I saw it, I've talked to survivors, I know how many people were murdered in Srebrenica, and who was responsible. Bosnia and Herzegovina's sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected. And the United States must oppose efforts to destabilize the region and undermine its democratic institutions.

Now, that brings me to our nominees.

Mr. Young, you have been nominated to be Ambassador to Serbia. If confirmed, you will arrive at a time of political transition and growing concerns about Serbia's democratic trajectory and its ties with Russia. I hope you will speak to how you will support democratic institutions there, how you will counter Russian influence and how you will help advance Serbia's path toward Europe.

Mr. Johnson, you have been nominated to be Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina. I am pleased to see that during your Marine Corps service you spent time at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. That means we consider you an honorary New Hampshire citizen. But like Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina is heading into consequential elections amid deep political divisions. I hope you will speak to how you will defend the Dayton agreement and Bosnia's sovereignty and territorial integrity. And how you will use the mandatory sanctions authorities that Congress enacted in the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act to hold bad actors accountable.

Ms. Nesheiwat, you have been nominated to be Ambassador-at-Large for the Arctic. Hopefully I am pronouncing your name correctly. Russia is expanding its military presence in the Arctic, while China is seeking a greater role there. If confirmed, I hope you will work with our Arctic allies to protect U.S. security and economic interests in the region.

I am pleased that our next two nominees are career Foreign Service officers.

Mr. Gillen, you have been nominated to be Ambassador to the Republic of Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyzstan faces growing pressure from Russia and China, as well as serious concerns about democratic backsliding. I hope you will speak to how you will strengthen U.S. ties while pressing for sanctions, compliance and respect for democratic institutions.

Finally, Ms. Patel, you have been nominated to be Ambassador to Cabo Verde. Cabo Verde also has important ties to New Hampshire, so we would consider you an honorary Granite stater as well, our National Guard's State Partnership Program is with Cabo Verde. We also have cooperation on aviation training and countering transnational crime with that country.

So, I look forward to hearing your statement as well and to the opportunity to engage with questions with all of you. Thank you.

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