Credit:  Gary Raynaldo  /  ©Diplomatic Times /   Kelly Knight Craft, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, speaks with reporters at UN world headquarters in New York Dec. 6, 2019.

By Gary Raynaldo      DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

UNITED NATIONS   –  NEW YORK  – Meet Ambassador Kelly Knight Craft. The Kentucky-native is the Trump administration’s new U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.  Craft succeeds Nikki Haley, Trump’s first UN envoy, who resigned last year to spend more time with her family.  Ambassador Craft is 57-years-old.   She is statuesque, standing about 5 feet 9 in flats.  She speaks in a smooth  Kentuckian drawl.  Craft  grew up in the small central Kentucky town of Glasgow,  population 14,000.  Craft graduated with a  B.A. from the University of Kentucky in 1984.   And, of course,  Ambassador Craft loves all things Kentucky. She is a great fan of Kentucky college basketball and Kentucky Bourbon.  Craft is also the President of the powerful UN Security Council for the month of December. The U.S. took over the rotating Presidency from the United Kingdom, which held it in November.   The U.S.  Global Theme for the month will be “Peacekeeping Performance” and “The Role of Philanthropy in Post-Conflict situations.”  

Credit:  usmissionun.gov /   The United States holds the Presidency of the UN Security Council for the month of December.

DIPLOMATIC TIMES  Video /  Kelly  Craft attends her first formal press conference as U.S. Ambassador at world headquarters  New York  Dec. 6, 2019.

Ambassador Craft Will Take Security Council Members To Home Her State Kentucky 

Credit:  Gary Raynaldo  /  ©Diplomatic Times /   Kelly Knight Craft, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, speaks with reporters at UN world headquarters in New York Dec. 6, 2019, with  (left) Michael Barkin
Senior Policy Advisor U.S. Mission to the UN. 

Ambassador Craft spoke at a press conference Friday outlining the U.S. Program of Work for the December Security Council Presidency.   Craft said the Security Council would focus on enhancing the world body’s “credibility” in the  eyes of the world.  The ambassador said for the  December period, the Security Council  is focused on the theme of a credible Council – one that sets and meets clear goals and measureable goals, and that welcomes the assessment of its performance.

“I have stressed to the other members of the Council that when they are speaking in the chamber, to those cameras, that they’re speaking not only to one another but we’re speaking to the world. And it’s really important that they speak from their heart, and we speak less from a script.”

-Kelly Knight Craft, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations  -Dec. 6, 2019  press  conference

The Security Council will be  traveling to Kentucky, Knight Craft’s home state, Dec. 13-15 as part of the Council’s new method of relating informally offsite, called ‘Sofa Talks’.   They will travel to Kentucky state capital city  Frankfort for dinner soiree at the governor’s mansion before heading over to a tour of a bourbon distillery. The Security Council then stops off for a day trip in Lexington where they will take in a men’s basketball game at the University of Kentucky.

SYRIA, Priority on UN Security Council:   Ambassador  Craft 

DIPLOMATIC TIMES  Video / U.S. Ambassador Kelly Craft at UN headquarters New York  Dec. 6, 2019.

“There is no issue to me that has proven more damaging to the Council’s credibility than the conflict in Syria.” –  Ambassador Craft

“There is no question that this is a difficult, complex, and often frustrating issue. But I look at that as a way that we can gain even more from reflecting back on the 11 months and what we have done right this past year, and what we need to set our sights on achieving for Syria in the next 12 months. The humanitarian aid in Syria, which we will discuss on the 19th, provides a similar opportunity for us to make immeasurable progress on behalf of the Syrian people,”  Craft stated.

The Security  Council will also  meet for in December for a briefing on the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan.  “What my focus is in Afghanistan is going to be making certain that the women, that we do not take any steps back – backward on the women when hey do facilitate this peace process,”  Ambassador craft said.  “It’s really important because I think economically the women have taken leadership roles. And they also need to be able to be – have the best tools with how to educate them on best practices for the economy. They play a – really a critical role in establishing the communities with women and children, and as business leaders.

Credit:  Gary Raynaldo  /  ©Diplomatic Times /   Kelly Knight Craft, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations ,  at UN world headquarters in New York Dec. 6, 2019.

U.N. Security Council Must Hold  IRAN  Accountable:  Ambassador Craft

On December 19, the  Security Council will meet for a briefing focused on the nonproliferation challenges posed by Iran.

“This will be an important opportunity for the Council to demonstrate its commitment to enforcing Resolution 2231, especially given Iran’s continued action and direct violations of the terms of this resolution. And as we all know, in any area where there has been a lot of conflict and strife, whether it’s in Yemen, in Syria, in all the areas, Iran is right there – in Iraq. We must hold them accountable. They are bad actors. We have not seen any movement that they are trying to change their behavior.”

-Ambassador Craft on  IRAN 

On  ISRAEL –  PALESTINE   SETTLEMENTS  CONFLICT:  

DIPLOMATIC TIMES  Video / U.S. Ambassador Kelly Craft at UN headquarters New York  Dec. 6, 2019.

Ambassador Craft:       ” I think what’s important is that we understand that each settlement is going to be case by case in making these decisions. What we want is a peaceful process with the – with Israel and Palestine. I mean, that’s what’s important to us. But when it comes to the settlements, those are going to be case by case on making the decision whether or not they’re illegal or they’re legal, if that’s what you’re speaking about”

Craft added, that the U.S. Stands with Israel:

“What’s important is it is not okay that every time we’re in the Security Council or anywhere else that they use Israel as their punching bag. That is not okay with me. I’m going to continue to highlight every chance I can the support, that the United States stands with Israel, that I stand with Israel. That being said, I also want to foster a dialogue to where we can have open conversations concerning Israel and the Palestinians, because we do care about the Palestinian refugees. We care about the people there.”