US laments delay in approving envoys to Turkey, Syria
AFP
WASHINGTON- The Senate's delay in confirming US President Barack Obama's choices of ambassadors to Syria and Turkey "does have an impact" on US policy in the region, an Obama administration official said Monday.
In February, Obama nominated career diplomat Robert Ford as the first US ambassador to Syria in five years. In July, he nominated career diplomat Francis Ricciardone as ambassador to Turkey.
But their long-awaited confirmations hung in the balance as senators left on a month-long break to campaign ahead of November legislative elections.
"We want to see the nominations of Ambassador Ricciardone and Ambassador Ford go forward and we continue in consultation with the Senate on those nominations," State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told reporters.
"It does have an impact. These are vitally important countries to the future of the region," Crowley said.
"They are countries that we need that kind of day-to-day interaction with, and we’re hopeful that when the Senate reconvenes after the election that their nominations will go forward," he said.
Ford's nomination ignited a festering row with Republicans over Obama's signature policy of seeking to engage US foes.
If approved, Ford would be the first US ambassador to Damascus since Washington recalled its envoy after Lebanon's former prime minister Rafiq Hariri was killed in February 2005 in a bombing blamed on Syria.
The Obama administration, which last month relaunched direct Palestinian-Israeli negotiations, decided to re-engage Damascus as part of its push for a broader Arab-Israeli peace.
Washington meanwhile values the role played in the Middle East by Turkey, one of the few Muslim-majority nations to recognize the Jewish state.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee endorsed Ricciardone for the post, but confirmation by the full Senate has stalled after Republican Sam Brownback place a "hold" on the nomination.
Brownback reportedly expressed concern that Ricciardone might not engage enough with opposition parties in Turkey, which is run by an Islamist-rooted government.
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"It does have an impact. These are vitally important countries to the future of the region," Crowley said.
"They are countries that we need that kind of day-to-day interaction with, and we’re hopeful that when the Senate reconvenes after the election that their nominations will go forward," he said.
Ford's nomination ignited a festering row with Republicans over Obama's signature policy of seeking to engage US foes.
If approved, Ford would be the first US ambassador to Damascus since Washington recalled its envoy after Lebanon's former prime minister Rafiq Hariri was killed in February 2005 in a bombing blamed on Syria.
The Obama administration, which last month relaunched direct Palestinian-Israeli negotiations, decided to re-engage Damascus as part of its push for a broader Arab-Israeli peace.
Washington meanwhile values the role played in the Middle East by Turkey, one of the few Muslim-majority nations to recognize the Jewish state.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee endorsed Ricciardone for the post, but confirmation by the full Senate has stalled after Republican Sam Brownback place a "hold" on the nomination.
Brownback reportedly expressed concern that Ricciardone might not engage enough with opposition parties in Turkey, which is run by an Islamist-rooted government.
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