Syria's Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara received separately on Monday new ambassadors to Damascus and accepted their credentials.
Within this framework, al-Shara received the new American ambassador to Syria Margaret Scobey and accepted her credentials. The Syrian minister, welcomed Ms. Scobey and wished her success in her mission in away that will "improve the bilateral relations between Syria and the USA," SANA reported.
Al-Shara also stressed the importance of "establishing positive dialogue between the two countries in away that will lead to better understanding for the benefit of the two countries."
Margaret Scobey was confirmed as the U.S. Ambassador to Syria on December 9, 2003 and was sworn in on December 22, 2003.
Ms. Scobey served as Minister Counselor at the United States Embassy, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from September 11, 2001 through November 2003. Prior to assuming her duties in Riyadh, Ms. Scobey was the Director of Arabian Peninsula Affairs in the Near East Bureau of the Department of State.
She began her career in the Foreign Service in 1981 and has focused primarily on the Middle East. She served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Sanaa, Republic of Yemen, and as chief of the political sections in the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait, and the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem. Early assignments included Lima, Peru and Peshawar, Pakistan.
In the Department of State, Ms. Scobey has been staff assistant to the Assistant Secretary for Near East and South Asian Affairs, watch officer in the Operations Center, political-military officer of Israel and Arab-Israeli Affairs, and deputy director of the Secretariat Staff. (Albawaba.com)
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