Robert O Blake, the charge d'affaires of the US Embassy in New Delhi, has been nominated as ambassador to Sri Lanka [Images] subject to confirmation by the Senate.

Blake has played a significant role in cementing the Indo-US relationship, which led to the July 18, 2005 agreement.

Since Blake is a career diplomat with a distinguished track record, confirmation of his new job seems certain.

• Indo-US nuke tango

During his stay in New Delhi, Blake repeatedly told the Indian media to look at Indo-US relationship with a long-term perspective and not from the narrow prism of the controversial nuclear deal.

On various occasions, he spoke on the consolidation of the Indo-US partnership in alternative energy sector, efforts of curbing AIDS, partnership in biotechnology, health,education and other trade related sectors.

• 'India can be example to the world'

US Ambassador David C Mulford has been sick and goes home for treatment quite often.

In his absence Blake, being deputy chief of mission, was running the show most times.

In view of Sri Lanka and India's intricate relationship and the Tamil connection, Blake's appointment will, hopefully, make a positive difference because Blake knows Indian diplomats and the Indian government's workings well.

• Taming the Tamil Tigers

Interestingly, Blake is moving to Sri Lanka when the international community is facing a great challenge in maintaining peace in the country.

They are treading cautiously between the Sri Lankan government and on the plight of Tamils who are trapped in the fight between terrorist outfit Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the Sri Lankan government.

Blake's nomination is an indication of the trust he enjoys in the State Department in Washington because in Sri Lanka the US Embassy has a huge task cut out before his arrival.

On June 1, US Assistant Secretary  for South Asian Affairs Richard Boucher had given significant statements in a press conference in Colombo where for the first time he used the word 'Tamil homeland' for Sri Lankan Tamils.

Boucher made the US government's surprising endorsement of the Tamil demand for self-rule in a press conference and in a speech to the American Chamber of Commerce in Colombo.

Boucher severely condemned the LTTE's use of arms, but also said the US recognises the Tamils' "legitimate desire� to govern themselves in their own homeland."

He added, "They (Tigers) need to focus their vision on how to achieve their legitimate goals through a legitimate process of negotiation (rather than arms)."

As such, the US and the other co-chairs of Sri Lanka's donors -- European Union, Japan [Images] and Norway -- want the LTTE and the Sri Lankan state to "get back into talks as soon as possible," Boucher said.

US and other countries have been saying since long that the conflict of Sri Lanka doesn't have a military solution, it has to be a political solution.

Blake will have an important role to play to set in motion the process to carve out ways to reach a durable political solution to the greatest tragedy of Sri Lanka.