Haley believes her upbringing, resolve will help her at UN job

Indian-American Nikki Haley feels that empathy cultivated during her upbringing and the resolve forged as South Carolina governor will help overcome her lack of foreign-policy skills and fulfil her responsibilities as the US envoy to the UN.

“All I know is that everything I ve done leading up to this point has always been about diplomacy,” Haley, who turns 45 on January 20 the day of Donald Trump’s inaugural said ahead of her Senate confirmation hearing scheduled for January 18.

“It has been about trying to lift up everyone (and) get them to work together for the greater good.”  The daughter of Indian immigrants, Haley acknowledges she faces a learning curve.

Haley said she is doing a lot of reading and speaking to many people as part of her work in “getting to know the agency, getting to know the players, members of the Security Council, all those things.” 

“I don t know what it takes to be a UN ambassador,” Haley said. “I know that I will do everything I need to to make sure that I make people of this country proud”.

She declined to discuss her opinions on issues confronting the United Nations. Haley said her six years as governor has provided her with the know-how and determination needed to navigate the 193-member United Nations.