The U.S|Syria’s foes in Lebanon accused Damascus of being behind the bombing, allegations Syria has repeatedly denied|and Libya that helped bring some degree of credibility back to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, was also set to have separate talks with Syrian Foreign Minister Waleed Mouallem|However, according to protocol, the White House would have to announce his appointment officially only after it is submitted to the U.S|officials have refused to confirm that Robert Stephen Ford, who currently serves as Deputy Ambassador to Iraq and is recognized as an expert on the Arab world, is the nominee|Ambassador to Jordan (pictured above) who speaks fluent Arabic, will discuss with Assad a range of regional issues, according to Crowley, including how Syria views „the situation with respect to Middle East peace.“ Syria insists that Israel must agree to withdrawal from the disputed Golan Heights before any peace negotiations between the two countries can be renewed|Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, has vehemently rejected the notion of a withdrawal from the territory seized by the Jewish state during a week-long war in 1967|The U.S|Ambassador to Syria in five years}