( CNN ) -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has fired Vice Premier Qadri Jamil `` due to his absence from office without notice , '' state television reported Tuesday . Jamil had carried out `` unauthorized meetings abroad without coordinating with the government , '' the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency said . A senior State Department official said that U.S . Ambassador to Syria Robert Ford met Saturday with Jamil in Geneva , Switzerland . `` We meet lots of Syrians of all political backgrounds , '' the official said . `` We 're not going to give a list , but we do regularly meet Syrians with direct contacts with the regime in Damascus . '' He added , `` We are clear : There is no military solution for either side . There needs to be a political negotiation for a new , transitional governing body chosen by mutual consent with full executive powers . '' Jamil represents the Popular Front for Change and Liberation , which is part of the `` internal opposition '' formed by the government of Bashar al-Assad as part of a series of superficial measures intended to mollify its critics over the last two years . The announcement came on the same day the Syrian Arab News Agency reported that Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem met with U.N . Envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi and discussed efforts to hold an international conference on Syria in Geneva . `` Minister al-Moallem affirmed that Syria will participate in the conference on the basis of the Syrian people 's exclusive right to decide upon their political future and choosing their leadership , rejecting any form of foreign interference , and having the dialogue in Geneva be between Syrians and led by Syria , '' SANA reported . CNN 's Roba Alhenawi contributed to this report .
Vice Premier Qadri Jamil met with the U.S. ambassador to Syria on Saturday , official says . He 's accused of having `` unauthorized meetings abroad '' without government coordination . Jamil represents the Popular Front for Change and Liberation .