Finn GS '78 sworn into Afghanistan ambassadorial post

Robert Finn GS '78, University professor of Turkic studies and diplomat-in-residence, was sworn in Friday as the new U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan.

Finn taught in the Near Eastern studies department until Feb. 28, when President Bush selected him for the new post.

Consular officer Michael Metrinko administered the oath of office to Finn at the new U.S. embassy in Kabul.

U.S.-led forces have been waging a campaign in Afghanistan during the last six months toppling the Taliban regime, accused of harboring Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaida terrorist network. The United States helped set up an interim Afghan government led by Harmid Karzai and is now helping to establish a national Afghan military.

Finn, after pausing to remember those who died on Sept. 11, pledged at his inauguration to create strong and lasting ties bet-ween the United States and Afghanistan. But he also noted that war continues in Afghanistan as U.S. and Afghan forces try to root out remaining al-Qaida members.

"My being here as ambassador marks the commitment of the United States to a new relationship with Afghanistan and a new relationship with the long-suffering people of this country," he said in a State Department statement. "It comes, of course, in a time of war, when the nations of the world have united to stop the forces of terrorism that took this nation hostage and threaten the world. The struggle against these forces continues and will continue to demand sacrifices and create victims."

Making clear that the future of the United States is tied to that of Afghanistan, Finn committed his embassy to helping the Afghan people avoid the problems they have suffered in the past.

"We all know that there are enormous difficulties ahead. The problems of terrorism, regionalism, famine and extremism await the people of Afghanistan at every turn. It is our task in this embassy to do our best to help them along the way," he said. "In the end, it is their road and their future, but it is, as well, our road and our future. I pledge to do my best to help our Afghan friends walk along this road."

Finn, who replaces acting U.S. ambassador Ryan Crocker, previously served as ambassador to Tajikistan from 1998 to 2001. In his long career in the foreign service, he was also deputy chief of mission at U.S. embassies in Croatia and Azerbaijan, opened the U.S. embassy in Baku in 1992 and served in several other posts, primarily in Turkey.

Finn received his B.A. in American literature and European history from St. John's University and his M.A. and Ph.D. in Near Eastern studies from Princeton. He also received an M.A. in Near Eastern studies from New York University.