President announced his intention to nominate five, and appoint three 06/03/05

President George W. Bush today announced his intention to nominate five individuals and appoint three individuals to serve in his Administration:

The President intends to nominate Kevin I. Fromer, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Treasury (Legislative Affairs). Mr. Fromer currently serves as Assistant to the Speaker for Policy, Budget and Appropriations in the Office of the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. He previously served as Chief of Staff to Congressman Harold Rogers. Earlier in his career, Mr. Fromer served as associate staff to the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Virginia.

The President intends to nominate John R. Beyrle, of Michigan, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Bulgaria. A career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Mr. Beyrle currently serves as Deputy Chief of Mission in Moscow. Prior to this assignment, he was Senior Advisor to the Office of the New Independent States at the Department of State. Earlier in his career, Mr. Beyrle served as Counselor for Political Affairs in the U.S. Embassy in Prague. He earned his bachelor's degree from Grand Valley State College and his master's degree from the National Defense University.

The President intends to nominate Charles A. Ford, of Virginia, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Honduras. A Career Minister in the Senior Foreign Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Mr. Ford currently serves as Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service. He previously served as Special Advisor to the Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs. Earlier in his career, he served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Operations for the Foreign Commercial Service and as Senior Commercial Officer at the U.S. Mission to the European Union. He earned his bachelor's degree from the College of William and Mary and his master's degree from The George Washington University.

The President intends to nominate Katherine Hubay Peterson, of California, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Botswana. A career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Ms. Peterson currently serves as Director of the Foreign Service Institute at the Department of State. She previously served as U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Lesotho. Prior to that, Ambassador Peterson was Managing Director of the Office of Overseas Citizen Services in the Bureau of Consular Affairs at the Department of State. She received her bachelor's degree from the University of California at Santa Cruz.

The President intends to nominate Marie L. Yovanovitch, of Connecticut, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Kyrgyz Republic. A career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Ms. Yovanovitch most recently served as Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs. Prior to that assignment, she served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Kiev. Ms. Yovanovitch has also served as Deputy Director of the Russia Desk at the Department of State and as a political officer in Moscow. She earned her bachelor's degree from Princeton University.

The President intends to appoint the following individuals to be Members of the Board of Directors of the Presidio Trust, for the remainder of a four-year term expiring May 4, 2009:

T. Robert Burke of California
Nancy Rowe Conner of California
Curtis Frederick Feeny of California

# # # For Immediate Release, Office of the Press Secretary, June 3, 2005 Personnel Announcement

Republic of Croatia Proliferation Security Initiative

The United States and the Republic of Croatia Proliferation Security Initiative Shipboarding Agreement

On Wednesday, June 1, 2005, the United States and the Republic of Croatia signed a reciprocal Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) Shipboarding Agreement. Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Assistant Minister, Division for Multilateral Affairs & International Organizations Tomislav Vidoševiæ signed the agreement on behalf of Croatia. Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control Stephen G. Rademaker signed on behalf of the United States.

The Proliferation Security Initiative was announced by President Bush on May 31, 2003, and is aimed at establishing cooperative partnerships worldwide to prevent the flow of weapons of mass destruction, their delivery systems, and related materials to and from states and non-state actors of proliferation concern. Proliferation Security Initiative partners marked the second anniversary of the Initiative through a series of recent activities, including an ongoing exercise in Poland and an event hosted by Secretary Rice on May 31 for the Washington diplomatic corps.

The shipboarding agreement signed by the U.S. and Croatia will facilitate cooperation between the two countries to prevent the maritime transfer of proliferation-related shipments by establishing points of contact and procedures to expedite requests to board and search suspect vessels in international waters. If a U.S.- or Croatian-flagged vessel is suspected of carrying proliferation-related cargo, either Party to this agreement can request the other to confirm the nationality of the ship in question and, if needed, to authorize the boarding, search, and possible detention of the vessel and its cargo.

Croatia is the fourth state – following Liberia, Panama, and the Marshall Islands – to sign a Proliferation Security Initiative Shipboarding Agreement with the U.S. Signing the shipboarding agreement demonstrates the commitment of Croatia and the United States to ensuring the highest standards of security for their flag registries. Furthermore, the agreement recognizes Croatia’s ability and willingness to suppress proliferation in the Adriatic Sea. This reciprocal agreement also sends a clear message to proliferators that neither the U.S. nor Croatia will tolerate the involvement of their vessels in the trade of proliferation-related cargoes. We believe that Proliferation Security Initiative shipboarding agreements simultaneously deter proliferators and attract legitimate commercial shipping interests that want to ensure their goods are transported under a reputable and responsible flag, which is not "misused" to transport illicit proliferation-related shipments.

For additional information on the Proliferation Security Initiative, please see state.gov/t/np/c10390 2005/576 Released on June 1, 2005 Joint Statement Richard Boucher, Spokesman Washington, DC June 1, 2005