Obama's National Security Advisor to step down

"The Americanpeople owe Jim an unbelievable debt of gratitude for a lifetime ofservice," Obama said as he announced Jones' retirement from the RoseGarden of the White House.

Jones has been aclose friend of India. This month he had met several top Indian officials includingDefence Minister A K Antony, National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon andForeign Secretary Nirupama Rao.

"Through thesechallenges, Jim has always been a steady voice in Situation Room sessions, dailybriefings, and with meetings with foreign leaders, also representing our countryabroad with allies and partners in every region of the world," Obama saidwith Jones (on left in pic) and Donilon standing by his sides.

"We've resetrelations with Russia and signed a historic new start treaty. And after yearsof drift, we have built a broad international coalition to hold Iranaccountable and applied unprecedented pressure through tough new sanctions,"he said.

"We have renewedthe push for peace in the Middle East, charted a course to secure vulnerable nuclearmaterials within four years, and reestablished our leadership in the PacificRim, while taking the lead in forging a response at the global level to theeconomic crisis," Obama said.

Donilon, he said, hasa wealth of experience that will serve him well in this new assignment.

"He has servedthree Presidents and been immersed in our national security for decades,"he said.

"We have somehuge challenges ahead. We remain a nation at war, and we will not rest in ourefforts to disrupt, dismantle and defeat Al-Qaida. And above all, we arecommitted to forging the kind of American leadership that can shape the worldin the 21st century," Obama said.