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Report: US names ambassador to Syria

According to Lebanese newspaper, Mideast envoy Mitchell informed Assad Robert Stephen Ford to fill post that has been vacant for five years

The US's special envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell, informed Syrian President Bashar Assad that the new American ambassador to Damascus is Robert Stephen Ford, Lebanese newspaper al-Nahar reported Saturday, citing US sources.


Ford, who until now has served as the deputy ambassador to Iraq, speaks Arabic fluently. He also served as the US envoy to Algeria from 2006 to 2008, and is considered to be an expert in Mideast affairs.


The White House announced several months ago that it intended to appoint a new ambassador to Damascus, for the first time since February 2005, when former President George Bush recalled his ambassador following the assassination of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.


CBS News quoted a State Department official as saying, "A decision was made last year to return an Ambassador to Syria and this is a concrete example of the administration’s commitment to use our tools, including dialogue, to address our concerns.


"The decision reflects recognition of the importance of Syria's role in the region and we hope that it will play constructive efforts to promote peace and stability in the region," said the official.