Roemer resigns for family commitments

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US Ambassador Timothy Roemer on Thursday announced his resignation from the key diplomatic post citing personal commitments.

54-year-old Roemer, a political appointee, said he has accomplished all of the strategic objectives set two years ago and he wants to go back home to look after his family.

Roemer, who was nominated by US President Barack Obama in May 2009, is expected to leave by June.

"Ambassador Roemer's departure is for personal, professional and family considerations," the US embassy said in a statement here.

"When I accepted the job two years ago, I told President Barack Obama that I will serve for two years, but that family considerations would be the front and centre after that," Roemer said.

Roemer said that the US-India relationship is on a "positive historic trajectory" towards a global partnership.

"The horizons of our relationship truly no limits," he said.

The US envoy said his two sons will be leaving for college in the next 14 months and he would like his parents and in-laws to spend more time with his children.

Noting that he came as a diplomat and was leaving feeling part of a family, he said, "For me and for my entire family the two years have been a time of incredible experiences, warm friendship, meaningful partnership".

"The US-India relationship — what my friend President Obama calls the defining partnership of the 21st century — has progressed to the global stage.I am very proud to have led the team responsible for deepening and broadening the strategic partnership of this critical bilateral relationship, which is one of the cornerstones of our foreign policy.

"The US India relationship is on a positive historic trajectory towards a global partnership that is changing the way our two nations create economic opportunity for our citizens, educating the leaders of tomorrow, and ensuring safe and secure communities," he said.

Roemer said the Indo-US relationship has been furtherstrengthened by the landmark 2009 visit and White House dinner honouring Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the history making trip by President Obama to India in 2010.

President Obama committed America's support to India for a permanent UN Security Council seat and removed nine Indian companies from the entities list.

"We have entered into a strategic dialogue on Afghanistan and a new joint economic partnership for capacity building," he said.

Roemer said he was proud to have worked with the Indian Government to sign the Counter-terrorism cooperation initiative providing groundbreaking joint US-India work on mega-city policing, forensic lab training, intelligence sharing, and sharing best government-wide practices.

He noted that during his tenure, the US-India defence partnership expanded exponentially.

The sale of C130J aircraft and the pending sale of C-17s strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries, demonstrated the enduring commitment to sharing the world's best technology with India.

"Our defence partnership offers economic benefits for both India and the United States and significant job creation in both countries," he said.

Roemer said the joint commitment to conserve and protect the resources of the planet as global partners was evident in the concerted efforts made to identify and highlight practical, affordable green technologies.

"As Ambassador, I had the chance to travel with my family to all corners of this incredible and beautiful country. Whether I was playing basketball with Muslim girls in Lucknow, seeing the majestic tiger in Ranthambore, or observing the "aarti" on the banks of the mighty Ganga in Varanasi, I personally viewed how common values and common interests bind our two great democracies together more strongly every day," he said.

The diplomat went on to quote Mahatma Gandhi who said, "a nation's culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people".

"India has opened the doors of its schools, communities, and hearts to my family. We will leave with full and grateful hearts for the many wonderful people who have welcomed us.

"We came here as diplomats and we leave feeling part of a family," he added.

Prior to his nomination as ambassador to India, Roemer was President of the Center for National Policy (CNP) in Washington, DC a moderate think-tank dedicated to finding bipartisan solutions to America's most important national security challenges.