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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release March 21, 1996

STATEMENT BY THE PRESS SECRETARY

National Security Adviser Anthony Lake today announced the appointment of Ambassador James F. Dobbins as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Inter-American Affairs at the National Security Council, effective March 12.

Since October 1993, Ambassador Dobbins has served at the Department of State as the Coordinator and Senior Adviser to Secretary Christopher first on Somalia and then on Haiti.

From 1991-1993, Ambassador Dobbins was the U.S. Representative to the European Community. He served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary and then Acting Assistant Secretary for European Affairs from 1989-1991.

Ambassador Dobbins joined the United States Foreign Service in 1967. His postings included tours as Deputy Chief of Mission in Bonn, 1985-1989; and assignments to London, Paris, Strasbourg, the United States Mission to the United Nations, the U.S. Delegation to the OECD, and the U.S. Delegation to the Vietnam Peace Talks. He also served in the Department of State with the Policy Planning Staff, the European Bureau, and the Office of the Counselor.

Ambassador Dobbins received a BA from Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in 1963. Prior to joining the Foreign Service in 1967, he served three years as an officer in the U.S. Navy. He has held Senior Fellowships with the Rand Cooperation and the Council on Foreign Relations.

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