The former US ambassador to Syria, Robert Ford, said that "US policy has failed to establish a Syrian government through negotiations."
Ford added in an exclusive interview with "France 24" that "there are many divisions within the ranks of the Syrian opposition, from the beginning, and US policy has failed to unite the ranks of the opposition groups."
Noting that "the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is present, and controls 70 percent of the Syrian territory, including major cities, the armed opposition is unable to remove al-Assad," he stressed that "despite the destruction of the Syrian economy, but in the end al-Assad won the war." eligibility.”
He continued, "I think that the Arab countries, not only the UAE, but also Egypt and Jordan, have recognized that the Syrian government is staying and continues to be in power."
The former US ambassador to Syria acknowledged that "the Syrian government will remain, and the Arab countries must find a way to coexist with it."
While he revealed that "there is no American politician who supports the idea of restoring diplomatic relations with Damascus," he considered that "the United States has circumstances that differ with the Arab countries, Syria's neighbors."
He also admitted that "Washington understood that it would be difficult for it to oppose Arab efforts to find a way of coexistence with the Syrian government that continues in power in Damascus. This does not mean that Washington is happy with Arab efforts to coexist with Damascus," stressing that "Washington is unable to offer an alternative to the Arab strategy." That we saw with UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan."
Ford also ruled out imposing sanctions on Arab regimes that restore relations with Damascus, noting that "President Biden's administration is currently focusing on the Asia file."
Ford's position came after the UAE Foreign Minister's visit to the Syrian capital, Damascus, last Tuesday, where he met President Assad, and said from there that "Syria, led by Assad, is capable of overcoming challenges."
And the UAE foreign minister said last March that "Syria's return to its Arab surroundings is inevitable, and it is in the interest of Syria and the region."
In conclusion, the former US ambassador to Syria also acknowledged that “the United States bears responsibility for what happened in Syria,” and said, “We sent arms to groups open to the idea of finding a negotiated solution,” referring to the opposition, which he had assured in the year 2019 to "expect nothing from Washington."
And the former US ambassador admitted last May that "Washington cannot remove Assad, and the elections are a failure of its policy," and that "the Americans are convinced that Assad will remain president of Syria until the next elections."
In a similar position to Ford, former US official Jeffrey Feltman said last January that "Washington's policy in Syria in the past two eras failed to achieve any tangible results, and that President Assad is now militarily stronger."
Two days ago, Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra confirmed that "the time has come for Syria to return to the Arab League."
In the context of these developments, the Israeli newspaper "Jerusalem Post" commented on the visit of the UAE Foreign Minister to Damascus, and asked: Does the UAE's openness to Syria indicate a major transformation in the region? It said that "the UAE and other countries made quiet initiatives to Damascus for years, and there is consensus emerging between the UAE, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and its partners, that the time has come to bring Syria and its regime out of isolation.
"The visit is widely seen as an indication of regional efforts to end the diplomatic isolation of President Assad," France 24 said.
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