Phnom Penh (FN), August 13 - U.S Ambassador to Cambodia William A. Heidt fully supported the Donald Trump administration's decision to appoint Patrick Murphy as new U.S ambassador to Cambodia.

"Patrick is a terrific nominee for the position. He has a distinguished record of service, is very familiar with Southeast Asia and knows U.S. foreign policy in the region extremely well”, said Ambassador William Heidt, according to U.S Phnom Penh’s Facebook page on Monday.

Murphy has also visited Cambodia several times while serving as Assistant Commissioner for East Asian and Pacific Affairs.

On August 10, President Trump announced his intention to nominate W. Patrick Murphy as the new Ambassador to Cambodia.

Murphy is currently Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Southeast Asia and is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service. He was previously Deputy Chief of Mission and Chargé d’affaires in Thailand (2013-2016) and Lesotho (2006-2008) respectively; and also served as Acting Special Representative and Policy Coordinator for Burma from 2012 to 2013.

Murphy's nomination will now be sent to the U.S. Senate, which under Article II of the U.S. Constitution, has the responsibility of offering “Advice and Consent” on a wide range of Presidential nominations, including Ambassadors.

William A. Heidt is the current United States Ambassador to Cambodia, who has served for three years. He was nominated on 7 April 2015, by President Barack Obama to succeed William E. Todd. ‘
=FRESH NEWS