US envoy designate Roemer meets Foreign Secretary Menon

New Delhi, July 17 (ANI): US envoy designate to India, Timothy Roemer, met Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon at the South Block headquarters of the Ministry of External Affairs.

Sources described the meeting as a courtesy call by the would be ambassador. The two are said have briefly discussed bilateral issues relating to India and the United States.

Roemer arrived here last night following his confirmation by the full Senate last week.

Testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on July 7, Ambassador-Designate Roemer said, "Our relationship with India is a good news story. And while our relationship has gone through different stages, we are certainly moving ahead on an upward trajectory. This is not a zero sum game with winners and losers but a positive sum game-with India as a strong, stable global democracy increasing peace and prosperity for all."

Prior to President Barack Obama's nominating him as Ambassador to India in May, Roemer was President of the Center for National Policy (CNP), a moderate think-tank in Washington, D.C. He represented the 3rd District of Indiana for six terms as a U.S. Congressman, from 1991 to 2003.

Roemer served as a member of the 9/11 Commission, as well as the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction, Proliferation and Terrorism. He also served on the Washington Institute for Near East Policy's Presidential Task Force onombating the Ideology of Radical Extremism, and the National Parks Second Century Commission.

As a distinguished scholar at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, Roemer worked with Members of Congress and staff to improve public policy outcomes by teaching on the legislative branch and policy analysis.

Roemer holds a B.A. from the University of California, San Diego and a M.A. and PhD. from the University of Notre Dame.(ANI)