He chaired numerous interagency processes, regularly engaged foreign leaders, and directed a staff of some 20 directors and other national security specialists [REF].
Working closely with the Secretary of State, his priorities for the region included cooperating with Europe on global issues; promoting U.S. commercial and business interests; extending stability, prosperity and democracy to Eastern Europe, the Balkans and the Caucasus; and developing bilateral cooperation with Russia and with Turkey [REF].