[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 85 (Wednesday, June 11, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S7714]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO AMBASSADOR JACQUES PAUL KLEIN

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I rise today to honor a friend and an 
outstanding citizen of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Ambassador Jacques 
Paul Klein, on the occasion of his retirement from the U.S. Foreign 
Service.
  Ambassador Klein was born in Selestat in the Alsace region of France 
in 1939 and spent the first 5 years of his life living in a war zone. 
When World War II ended, Ambassador Klein and his mother came to the 
United States in search of a better life and a brighter future. They 
settled in Chicago, where Mr. Klein worked his way through school and 
eventually joined the U.S. Air Force, volunteering to serve his new 
country in Vietnam. In so doing, he realized a dream that started as a 
young boy when he watched victorious allied fighter planes flying over 
France.
  In 1971 Mr. Klein joined the Foreign Service. His initial tour of 
duty was in the Center of the Executive Secretariat, Office of the 
Secretary of State. He was posted abroad to serve as Consular Officer 
at the American Consulate General in Bremen, Germany. In 1979 he was 
selected to attend the National War College and upon graduation served 
as a Senior Advisor for International Affairs to the Secretary of the 
Air Force. In 1990 he once again answered the call of his country 
returning to Europe to serve as Senior Political Advisor to the 
Commander and Chief of the United States European Command in Stuttgart, 
Germany.
  In 1996 United Nations Secretary General Boutros Boutros Ghali 
selected him to serve as Transitional Administrator for Eastern 
Slavonia and Baranya with the rank of Under Secretary-General. After 
directing another successful international mission, Ambassador Klein 
once again answered the call of his country--accepting the nomination 
of the U.S. Government as the Principal Deputy High Representative in 
Bosnia and Herzegovina.
  In 1999 after more then 2 years of dedicated work to rebuild the war-
torn Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr. Klein was named by United Nations 
Secretary General Kofi Annan as Under Secretary General to the United 
Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Under the direction of 
Ambassador Klein, the UN Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina completed 
the most extensive police reform and restructuring mission ever 
undertaken at the United Nations.
  Ambassador Klein's distinguished career in the U.S. Foreign Service 
and U.S. Air Force and Air Force Reserve demonstrates his continued 
willingness to valiantly serve his country. In addition to retiring as 
Major General of the U.S. Air Force, Ambassador Klein has been awarded 
the Secretary of Defense Outstanding Public Service award, the Air 
Force Distinguished Service Medal, and a Bronze Star.
  I am particularly proud of Ambassador Klein for his service to the 
United States and to the international community. His hard work and 
commitment to further the cause of international peace, to alleviate 
suffering, and to help those affected by international conflict have 
made him a respected member of the U.S. Foreign Service. His central 
goal in life has been to give something back, through his military and 
government service, to the country that took him in after World War II 
and provided him with so many opportunities. To that end, he has been a 
success that all Virginians and all Americans can be proud of.
  I wish to extend my sincerest congratulations to Ambassador Jacques 
Paul Klein and his family on the occasion of his retirement. I am 
honored to recognize his many accomplishments and applaud his 
distinguished service to our great Nation.

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