As-Safir newspaper reported on Friday that the US Senate will convene early next week confirmation hearings on Robert Ford’s appointment as the US ambassador to Syria.

The daily added that such a step coincides with US Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman’s visit to Syria along with US National Security Council’s Middle East chief Daniel Shapiro later this month. The exact date of the visit was not disclosed.

US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Communications Director Frederick Jones also told As-Safir that scheduling a senate session to approve Ford’s appointment was not a rushed step, but is necessary to be able to dispatch the ambassador to Damascus.

Jones quoted US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairperson John Kerry as saying that the US should have diplomatic relations with Syria, adding that Kerry was not involved in the decision to appoint Ford as ambassador. 

The decision was made by the White House and the US State Department, Jones said, adding that the US Foreign Relations Committee took the initiative of scheduling the session without consulting with the State Department.

He also said that the Senate will address Ford regarding Syria and the region. However, he said that he cannot determine the exact time needed to complete the voting process.

The US Congress works independently, and it is scheduled to hold a Q&A session with Ford on Tuesday, said Jones.

-NOW Lebanon