30/01/2013 (Agence Europe) - Catherine Ashton welcomes appointment of John Kerry to post of secretary of state. On Wednesday 30 January, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton welcomed the confirmation of John Kerry as successor to Hillary Clinton in the post of secretary of state of the United States, saying she was “delighted”. Stating that she had already had “the privilege” of meeting Kerry on several occasions, Ashton said in a press release that she “looks forward very much to seeing him very soon to discuss how we can continue the excellent EU-US cooperation on foreign policy”, and that she was looking forward very much to working with him. “John Kerry's huge experience and impressive track record, most recently as chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, gives him the ideal profile for this key post”, Ashton added. The American Senate approved the appointment of John Kerry, age 69, to the post of secretary of state (the equivalent of the ministry of foreign affairs) by 94 votes to three. (CG/transl.fl)