Azernews.Az

U.S. President Barack Obama presented the new ambassador to Georgia to the Senate, deputy minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Nino Kalandadze said at a press briefing on Monday.

Richard Norland will presumably replace the current U.S. ambassador John Bass. The term of office of the latter expires this fall. He had been in office since October 2009, the U.S. Embassy in Georgia said

Ms Kalandadze noted that the term of office of current U.S. ambassador will expire at the end of the summer but no changes are expected.

"When the term of office expires, discussions about a new ambassador to the appropriate legislative body will begin," Ms Kalandadze said.

She noted that the U.S. Senate will officially turn to Georgia for agreement after approval of the candidacy and only after that the new ambassador takes up office.

Richard Norland was the U.S. Ambassador in Uzbekistan from September 2007 to July 2011.