First US envoy to Syria since 2005 has tough task

US sees Syria as 'vital in achieving comprehensive peace in the region', dialogue with Damascus necessary.

Middle East Online

By Roueida Mabardi - DAMASCUS

'The ambassador's first priority will be to deliver messages' The first US ambassador to Syria since 2005 arrives in Damascus on Sunday to the delicate task of re-engaging the two countries even as they continue to disagree on many issues, analysts say. Robert Ford takes up his post at a time of renewed tensions in neighbouring Lebanon, where the Syrian- and Iranian-backed Hezbollah and its allies quit the government on Wednesday over a UN-backed probe into the murder of former premier Rafiq Hariri. The United States withdrew ambassador Margaret Scobey after Hariri's 2005 assassination in a massive car bomb that was widely blamed on Syria. Damascus has always denied the allegations. "The ambassador's first priority will be to deliver messages from the American government to the Syrian government," a source at the US embassy said. The source did not elaborate, but US-Syrian ties have been strained for years over accusations by Washington of Syria's alleged involvement in Iraq and its support of Iran and Lebanon's Shiite militant movement. US President Barack Obama named Ford to the post last February, but because of Republican opposition was not able to confirm the appointment until December 29, when he bypassed Congress while it was not in session. The appointment should not be viewed as a "reward" for the Syrian government, State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said on January 7 as Ford was sworn in by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. "Sending an ambassador shows that President Obama wants to work with Syria even if we don't agree on every issue," the embassy source said. The United States has accused Syria and Iran of providing Hezbollah with missiles and sophisticated rockets which can threaten stability in Lebanon as well as the region. Clinton last week criticised the collapse of the Lebanese government as "a transparent effort by those forces inside Lebanon as well as interests outside Lebanon to subvert justice and undermine Lebanon's stability and progress." "We believe that the leaders of Lebanon have an ongoing responsibility to serve the interests of their own people, not outside forces," she said, apparently referring to Hezbollah allies Iran and Syria. And in November she told Lebanese An-Nahar newspaper that "Syria's behaviour has not met our hopes and expectations over the past 20 months." Syrian political analyst Sami Moubayed said the United States "is conscious of the necessity to engage a dialogue with Syria." The US source agreed. "Syria and the US do have some mutual interests. We believe Syria is vital in achieving comprehensive peace in the region." Moubayed insisted meanwhile that Damascus would not "negotiate" its ties to Hezbollah, saying relations were "solid." Ford is a veteran diplomat in the Arab world who has served as ambassador to Algeria and held senior posts in the US embassy in Baghdad. rm/hkb/al 'Tunisia's revolution will spread:' Jordan unions AMMAN, January 15, 2011 (AFP) - Shouting "Tunisia's revolution will spread," about 50 Jordanian trade unionists held a sit-in on Saturday outside the Tunisian embassy in Amman, which was closed, an AFP reporter witnessed. Several police officers penned them in. Among other slogans chanted were "Propagate intifada (uprising)," "The Tunisian Revolution will spread" and "Our government has left us penniless." "You are a coward Rifai," they called out, referring to Prime Minister Samir Rifai. Rifai's resignation has been a recurring demand of union-led protests at soaring commodity prices, unemployment and poverty. Around 8,000 people have taken part in demonstrations across the kingdom. A large bouquet of red and white flowers, the color of the Tunisian flag, lay at the door of the embassy with the inscription: "Congratulations to the great people of Tunisia for toppling dictator Abidine." Samed, a passer-by, expressed his joy by distributing chocolates "because this is the first Arab dictator to fall after Saddam Hussein," the Iraqi president ousted by US-led forces. The unionists also carried Algerian flags because, as one of them stated, "the first spark is lit." Algeria is still cleaning up after violent riots over soaring food prices left five dead, hundreds wounded and more than 1,000 in jail. The government pledged on Monday to drop prices to ease tensions.