Rice "pleased" at non-vote on Bolton nomination

WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice shrugged off Thursday the ongoing battle over her choice of John Bolton as UN ambassador and said she was "pleased" the nomination had been sent to the Senate floor.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee took the rare step of refusing to endorse Bolton before sending his name to the full Senate for a vote on his confirmation.
"I am pleased that the Foreign Relations Committee has voted to send John Bolton's nomination as Ambassador to the United Nations to the full Senate for consideration," Rice said in a statement.
"I recommended John for this critical position because he has the skill and dedication necessary to advance the President's reform agenda at the United Nations," she said.
She expressed hope for quick confirmation of Bolton, undersecretary of state for arms control, who has been criticized by Democrats and some Republicans for his unabashed anti-UN statements and abrasive management style.

05/12/2005 21:37 GMT