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| US 'to send ambassador to Syria' | |
| (11 minutes later) | |
| Washington has confirmed it is to send an ambassador to Damascus, ending a four-year diplomatic absence in Syria. | |
| The apparent move is being seen as part of President Barack Obama's attempts to increase engagement with the region. | The apparent move is being seen as part of President Barack Obama's attempts to increase engagement with the region. |
| US officials said that Syria's ambassador in Washington had been informed of the move. | |
| The US Middle East envoy, George Mitchell, recently visited Syria and said Damascus had an "integral role" in finding peace in the region. | The US Middle East envoy, George Mitchell, recently visited Syria and said Damascus had an "integral role" in finding peace in the region. |
| A US official told the BBC that ''a decision in principle had been taken'' to send a US ambassador to Damascus, but added that the process would take time. | A US official told the BBC that ''a decision in principle had been taken'' to send a US ambassador to Damascus, but added that the process would take time. |
| Any ambassador would have to be confirmed by the Senate, and no names have been discussed yet, the BBC's Kim Ghattas in Washington says. | Any ambassador would have to be confirmed by the Senate, and no names have been discussed yet, the BBC's Kim Ghattas in Washington says. |
| Mitchell: "Syria has an integral role to play" | Mitchell: "Syria has an integral role to play" |
| A senior State Department official quoted by the New York Times said the move to install a new ambassador was "a reflection of Syria being a pivotal country in terms of achieving a comprehensive peace in the region". | A senior State Department official quoted by the New York Times said the move to install a new ambassador was "a reflection of Syria being a pivotal country in terms of achieving a comprehensive peace in the region". |
| "There is a lot of work to do in the region for which Syria can play a role. For that, it helps to have a fully staffed embassy," said the official. | "There is a lot of work to do in the region for which Syria can play a role. For that, it helps to have a fully staffed embassy," said the official. |
| Another senior US official, quoted by the Associated Press news agency, said Mr Obama "believes that diplomatic engagement helps serve our interests, and that the current policy didn't make sense". | Another senior US official, quoted by the Associated Press news agency, said Mr Obama "believes that diplomatic engagement helps serve our interests, and that the current policy didn't make sense". |
| Mr Obama has said he wants to broker a peace deal with Syria and Israel to end decades of regional conflict. | Mr Obama has said he wants to broker a peace deal with Syria and Israel to end decades of regional conflict. |
| Earlier this month, Mr Mitchell held talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus and said the country had "an integral role to play in reaching comprehensive peace". | Earlier this month, Mr Mitchell held talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus and said the country had "an integral role to play in reaching comprehensive peace". |
| The last US ambassador in Damascus was withdrawn in 2005, following the assassination of Lebanon's former Prime Minster Rafiq Hariri. | The last US ambassador in Damascus was withdrawn in 2005, following the assassination of Lebanon's former Prime Minster Rafiq Hariri. |
| There is widespread suspicion inside and outside Lebanon that Syria was involved in Mr Hariri's death, but Damascus strongly denies this. | There is widespread suspicion inside and outside Lebanon that Syria was involved in Mr Hariri's death, but Damascus strongly denies this. |