Randolph M. Bell
Encyclopedia
Randolph Marshall Bell (born 1947) is a former Ambassador
of the United States
.
and to the Cambridge University. Further he completed Advanced East European Area Studies at the Foreign Service Institute
and attended the National Defense University
.
, Prague
and Vienna
as well as to the State Department Operations Center. Subsequently he started working for the Office of the Secretary of Defense, where he was facing Soviet and East European political issues (1984–1985).
After serving as Political-Economic Counselor in Prague
from 1985 to 1988, he was becoming Political Counselor in Brussel. From 1993 to 1996 he directed the Office of Russian and Eurasian Affairs in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research
. He also served as Director of the Office of Benelux
, United Kingdom
and Ireland
(1996–1999), managing U.S. policy for relations with these countries.
In September 1999 he went to Bern to serve as interim Chargé d'Affaires. In the summer of 2000 he returned, to take up his assignment as Director for Austria
, Switzerland
and Germany
Affairs.
In 2003 he was retired from the U.S. State Department. In the end of June 2009 he also took a step down from being the executive director of the World Affairs Council
of Greater Richmond. He has remained a member of the board of directors.
and the Holocaust. He was leading the U.S. team that helped organize London Conference
on Nazi Gold
in December 1997. Further he negotiated the successful closeout of the postwar Tripartite Gold Commission. Also he played an important role in establishing the $61 million Nazi Persecutee Relief Fund, which tries to relief needy victimes who had previously received little or no compensation and also provides resources for projects aimed at preventing similar injustices in the future. Mr. Bell was working closely with the Treasury Deputy Secretary Stuart E. Eizenstat
, negotiating the agreements concluded with Austria
in 2000 and 2001 for refunds to former World War II
forced laborers and to individuals who lost property during that period.
As Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues, he served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the German Foundation, Remembrance, Responsibility and the Future and as an observer to the International Commission on Holocaust Era Insurance Claims
. Further he is on the board of the Virginia Holocaust Museum
and part of the International Council of the Austrian Service Abroad
.
In 2004 Ambassador Randolph M. Bell received the Decoration for Services to the Republic of Austria
in Silver.
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Education
Randolph Marshall Bell went to the College of William and MaryCollege of William and Mary
The College of William & Mary in Virginia is a public research university located in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States...
and to the Cambridge University. Further he completed Advanced East European Area Studies at the Foreign Service Institute
Foreign Service Institute
The Foreign Service Institute is the United States Federal Government's primary training institution for employees of the U.S. foreign affairs community, preparing American diplomats and other professionals to advance U.S. foreign affairs interests overseas and in Washington...
and attended the National Defense University
National Defense University
The National Defense University is an institution of higher education funded by the United States Department of Defense, intended to facilitate high-level training, education, and the development of national security strategy. It is chartered by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, with Navy Vice Admiral...
.
Career
In August 1972 he entered the Foreign Service. He was assigned to postings in FrankfurtFrankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
, Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
and Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
as well as to the State Department Operations Center. Subsequently he started working for the Office of the Secretary of Defense, where he was facing Soviet and East European political issues (1984–1985).
After serving as Political-Economic Counselor in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
from 1985 to 1988, he was becoming Political Counselor in Brussel. From 1993 to 1996 he directed the Office of Russian and Eurasian Affairs in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research
Bureau of Intelligence and Research
The Bureau of Intelligence and Research is an intelligence bureau in the U.S. State Department tasked with analyzing information. Originally founded as the Research and Analysis Branch of the Office of Strategic Services , it was transferred to the State Department at the end of World War II...
. He also served as Director of the Office of Benelux
Benelux
The Benelux is an economic union in Western Europe comprising three neighbouring countries, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. These countries are located in northwestern Europe between France and Germany...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
(1996–1999), managing U.S. policy for relations with these countries.
In September 1999 he went to Bern to serve as interim Chargé d'Affaires. In the summer of 2000 he returned, to take up his assignment as Director for Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Affairs.
In 2003 he was retired from the U.S. State Department. In the end of June 2009 he also took a step down from being the executive director of the World Affairs Council
World Affairs Council
World Affairs Council may refer to:* World Affairs Councils of America, a non-profit, non-partisan umbrella organization for world affairs councils throughout the United States...
of Greater Richmond. He has remained a member of the board of directors.
Engagement for Holocaust remembrance
Mr. Bell has put a great effort on issues related to World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and the Holocaust. He was leading the U.S. team that helped organize London Conference
London Conference
The London Conference could refer to several conferences:* London Conference of 1832* London Conference of 1838–39* London Conference of 1852* London Conference of 1866* London Conference of 1881 * London Conference of 1908...
on Nazi Gold
Nazi gold
Nazi gold is the gold transferred by Nazi Germany to overseas banks during the Second World War. The regime executed a policy of looting the assets of its victims to finance the war, collecting the looted assets in central depositories. The occasional transfer of gold in return for currency took...
in December 1997. Further he negotiated the successful closeout of the postwar Tripartite Gold Commission. Also he played an important role in establishing the $61 million Nazi Persecutee Relief Fund, which tries to relief needy victimes who had previously received little or no compensation and also provides resources for projects aimed at preventing similar injustices in the future. Mr. Bell was working closely with the Treasury Deputy Secretary Stuart E. Eizenstat
Stuart E. Eizenstat
Stuart Eizenstat is a partner at Washington, D.C. law firm, Covington & Burling and senior strategist at APCO Worldwide. He is married to Frances Eizenstat, and has two sons and six grandchildren....
, negotiating the agreements concluded with Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
in 2000 and 2001 for refunds to former World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
forced laborers and to individuals who lost property during that period.
As Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues, he served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the German Foundation, Remembrance, Responsibility and the Future and as an observer to the International Commission on Holocaust Era Insurance Claims
International Commission on Holocaust Era Insurance Claims
The International Commission on Holocaust Era Insurance Claims was established by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in August 1998 to identify, settle, and pay individual Holocaust era insurance claims at no cost to claimants....
. Further he is on the board of the Virginia Holocaust Museum
Virginia Holocaust Museum
The Virginia Holocaust Museum is a Virginia museum dedicated to depicting the Holocaust as experienced by its victims. A main part of the exhibition is about the family story of Holocaust survivor Jay M. Ipson.-History:...
and part of the International Council of the Austrian Service Abroad
Austrian Service Abroad
Austrian Service Abroad is a non-profit initiative and was founded in 1998 by Andreas Maislinger and Andreas Hörtnagl. Since 2001 Michael Prochazka is part of the managing committee.-General Information:...
.
In 2004 Ambassador Randolph M. Bell received the Decoration for Services to the Republic of Austria
Decoration for Services to the Republic of Austria
The Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria is a state decoration of the Republic of Austria...
in Silver.