Faisal Mekdad
His Excellency Faisal Mekdad | |
|---|---|
فيصل المقداد | |
.jpg) Mekdad in 2017 | |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates | |
| Assumed office 22 November 2020 | |
| President | Bashar al-Assad |
| Prime Minister | Hussein Arnous |
| Preceded by | Walid Muallem |
| Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 1 August 2006 – 22 November 2020 | |
| President | Bashar al-Assad |
| Preceded by | Walid Muallem |
| Succeeded by | Bashar Jaafari |
| 13th Permanent Representative of Syria to the United Nations | |
| In office 2003 – 31 July 2006 | |
| Preceded by | Mikhail Wehbe |
| Succeeded by | Bashar Jaafari |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 5 February 1954 Charles University in Prague |
| Profession | Politician, Diplomat |
Faisal Mekdad (
Life and education
Faisal Mekdad was born in the village of
He was active in the Syrian student movement and student leadership at Damascus University, where he won the first prize for his intellectual research on the history of the Asian student movement that was organized at all levels of Syrian universities.[5]
Career
After graduating from Charles University, Mekdad became a diplomat in the Syrian Foreign Ministry. In 1995, he became a member of the Permanent Syrian Delegation to the UN where he represented Syria in numerous conferences. In 1996, he was appointed as the Deputy to the Permanent Representative of Syria to the United Nations, under Mikhail Wehbe.[3]
In 2003, Mekdad became the Permanent Representative of Syria to the United Nations, a position he held until 2006, when he was appointed as Deputy Foreign Minister.[3] Holds the Order of Civil Merit from the Spanish King Juan Carlos.
On 22 November 2020, Mekdad became the Minister of Foreign Affairs, following the death of Walid Muallem.[6]
Syrian civil war
Mekdad has denied accusations of his government's alleged crackdown on protesters after the start of the Syrian civil war. He has held interviews with Western and Arab Media outlets about the uprising, where he has spoken in support of Bashar al-Assad.[4]
He has promoted the government's claim that his government is fighting armed terrorist insurgents, and when asked by a BBC reporter whether he believes his government is winning the war in 2013, he responded saying "We shall win it, we are winning it, yes."[7] Mekdad was a part of the delegation representing the Syrian government during the Geneva II Conference on Syria. The other members with him were Bashar Jaafari, Omran al-Zoubi, Bouthaina Shaaban, Walid Muallem, and Luna Shabal.[8]
In January 2021, the European Union added Mekdad to its sanction list, due to his role during the civil war.[9] The United Kingdom followed two months later, saying he "shares responsibility for the Syrian regime’s violent repression against the civilian population".[10]
Personal life
Faisal Mekdad is married and has one son and two daughters.]
Honours
Foreign distinctions
- Spain: Collar of the Order of Civil Merit[citation needed]
References
- ^ السيرة الذاتية للدكتور فيصل المقداد وزير الخارجية والمغتربين (in Arabic)
- ^ "Syrians pressed on Hariri inquiry". BBC. 26 August 2005. Retrieved 10 December 2010.
- ^ a b c d "صحيفة الثورة". thawra.alwehda.gov.sy.
- ^ a b "Faisal al-Mekdad". Archived from the original on 2014-04-07.
- ^ نبذة عن السيرة الذاتية للدكتور فيصل مقداد نائب وزير الخارجية Archived 2011-08-14 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Syria Appoints Veteran Diplomat Faisal Mekdad as Foreign Minister". Voice of America. Reuters. 22 November 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- ^ "Syria minister Faisal Mekdad says 'we are winning the war'". BBC.
- ^ "وفد النظام السوري إلى "جنيف 2" برئاسة وليد المعلم". Archived from the original on 2014-04-07. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
- ^ "SYRIA: New minister of Foreign Affairs added to the sanction list". European External Action Service. 16 January 2021.
- ^ "New UK sanctions targeting Assad regime for repressing the Syrian people". GOV.UK. 2021-03-15. Retrieved 2022-09-14.
- ^ "Father of Assad spokesman kidnapped". BBC. 18 May 2013.