U.S. ambassador defies Syrian travel restrictions

[alp227]

Source: The Washington Post

The United States’ top envoy in Damascus defied the Syrian government Tuesday by making an unannounced visit to the restive town of Jassem, where he met with members of the opposition movement, State Department officials confirmed.

Ambassador Robert S. Ford spent nearly four hours in the town, located 40 miles south of the capital, and declined to inform Syrian authorities of the visit until after his return, department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters. Syrian officials had clamped restrictions on Ford’s travel in the country following his surprise trip last month to the city of Hama, a visit intended to show support for pro-democracy demonstrators there.

Ford decided to go it alone after Syrian officials denied several requests by the U.S. embassy for permission to travel to various destinations around the country, including Aleppo, Syria’s largest city, Nuland said.

“He informed the Syrian Foreign Ministry after the visit, and he made clear to them that the reason that he didn’t inform them before the visit was because they haven’t been approving any visits by anybody, anywhere,” Nuland said.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-ambassador-defies-syrian-travel-restrictions/2011/08/23/gIQASIsgZJ_story.html

[ClarkUSA]

1. What a courageous soul. Now that's dedication to democratic principles and to the people.

[SkyDaddy7]

2. Yes he is & Yes it was! nt.

[Supersedeas]

4. Yes, a testament to the courage of the West and Western values

[nyy1998]

3. Nicely done Ambassador! nt

[pampango]

5. US brushes off Syrian complaint over American ambassador’s unauthorized trip

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/national-security/us-brushes-off-syrian-complaint-over-american-ambassadors-unauthorized-trip/2011/08/24/gIQAElzkbJ_story.html

The Obama administration is brushing off a complaint by Syrian authorities that the U.S. ambassador violated their travel rules by leaving the capital this week without permission. The State Department says the Syrian foreign ministry registered concern over Robert Ford’s trip Tuesday from Damascus to the village of Jassem, where he met opposition activists.

The U.S. says the Syrians have denied previous travel requests and complained when Ford made this trip without asking.

The State Department said Wednesday it was not clear whether Syria would take action against him. Ford could be expelled or face further travel restrictions.

The U.S. has maintained diplomatic relations with Syria despite protesting President Bashar Assad’s efforts to crush the 5-month-old uprising against him. The Obama administration said last week that Assad should step down.