New Delhi, Aug 11 (IANS) US ambassador to India Timothy J. Roemer Tuesday evening presented his credentials to President Pratibha Patil and conveyed to her President Barack Obama’s desire to deepen people-to-people and official ties between the two countries.
In a formal ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Roemer conveyed to Patil the personal greetings of Obama and goodwill of the people of the US, the US embassy said in a statement here.

The 52-year-old new ambassador also conveyed to Patil the high priority Obama places on advancing the “already broad and deep people-to-people and official ties between India and the US”.

“I look forward to engaging with India’s leadership and people throughout the country to explore new directions and new solutions together as we strengthen our partnership for the prosperity, security, and democratic future of all our citizens,” Roemer said after the credential presentation ceremony.

Roemer, who represented the South Bend area in Indiana in the US House of Representatives from 1991 to 2003, endorsed Obama during his primary campaign, helping him become the first Democrat to carry the midwestern state in 44 years.

Once seen as in the running to head the CIA, Roemer served on the blue-ribbon commission investigating the Sep 11, 2001, terror attacks on the US and on a key committee to prevent nuclear proliferation. The former lawmaker holds a doctorate and headed the Centre for National Policy, a Washington think-tank, before he was named the envoy to India.