First US ambassador in 5 years arrives in Syria

The first American ambassador to Syria since 2005 arrived in Damascus on Sunday at a time of regional turmoil and with Syrian-US relations still mired in mutual distrust.

Few expect immediate changes, but having career diplomat Robert Ford in Damascus offers Washington a better glimpse into Syria at a time of rising tensions — particularly in neighboring Lebanon, where the Western-backed government collapsed last week.

President Barack Obama's administration has argued that returning an ambassador to Damascus would help persuade Syria to change its policies regarding Lebanon, Israel and Iraq and end its support for extremist groups.

Syria is designated a "state sponsor of terrorism" by the State Department.

Ford takes up his post just days after the government in Lebanon collapsed when Hezbollah, which gets key support from Syria and Iran, walked out of the Cabinet on Wednesday.

Security guards escort Ford to Damascus residence (Photo: Reuters)

Ford's arrival is a clear sign of Obama's push for engagement.

Obama nominated Ford, a former ambassador to Algeria, to the post in February.

The nomination stalled after Ford's confirmation hearings, but Obama bypassed the Senate in December and directly appointed Ford and three other new US ambassadors whose nominations had been stalled or blocked by lawmakers for months.

A number of senators objected because they believed sending an ambassador to Syria would reward it for bad behavior.

International isolation

Syria has bounced back from years of international isolation and is wielding its influence in crises around the Middle East, shrugging off US attempts to pull it away from its alliances with Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah.

Washington has increasingly expressed its frustration with Syria, which it says is stirring up tension through its support of Hezbollah. In October, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Syria's behavior "has not met our hopes and expectations."

Syria could benefit from improved ties with Washington, which would boost its economy and end sanctions first imposed by Bush.

Bilal al-Ghazzawi, 23-year-old working at an electronics shop, said he was doubtful relations between the two countries would change.

"Americans cannot be trusted," he said. "Today they send an ambassador, tomorrow they might pull him out again."

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