He was 79. Mekdad, started a career at the Syrian foreign ministry in 1994, and had served as deputy foreign minister since 2006. A soft spoken, jovial man with a dry sense of humor, al-Moallem was also known for his ability to defuse tensions with a joke. Syria was forced to end nearly three decades of domination and military presence in its smaller neighbor and pulled out its troops in April that year. Al-Moallem became the most senior politician to visit Lebanon in 2006, after Syrian troops withdrew. Muallem began his career at foreign ministry in 1964 and served in Syrian missions to Tanzania, Saudi Arabia, Spain and the United Kingdom. Tags: Europe Syria. He traveled regularly to Moscow and Iran, key backers of the Syrian government, to meet with officials there. He was 79. According to the Syrian news agency SANA, Muallem died at dawn on Monday and was laid to rest later on Monday in Damascus. Then U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon repeatedly asked him to step away from the podium when he exceeded his time limit. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem, a stalwart of Bashar al-Assad's regime who held his job through a decade of conflict and several reshuffles, died Monday at the age of 79. Previously, he served as the Deputy Foreign Minister of Syria. A short and portly man with white hair, his health was said to be deteriorating in recent years with heart problems. Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Syrian Arab Republic (Arabic: وزارة الخارجية والمغتربين‎) is a cabinet ministry of Syria, responsible for conducting foreign relations of the country. The first time you visit the homepage of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, you will see a banner with information about cookies. Al-Moallem ignored Ban’s pleas, setting off an exchange that showed the tensions in trying to resolve Syria’s bloody conflict. Al-Moallem, who served as ambassador to Washington for nine years, starting in 1990 during Syria’s on-and-off peace talks with Israel, was a close confidant of Assad known for his loyalty and hard-line position against the opposition. Syria’s Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem, a career diplomat who became one of the country’s most prominent faces to the outside world during the … Member State of the Arab League .mw-parser-output .nobold{font-weight:normal}(Suspended). Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem, a stalwart of Bashar al-Assad's regime who held his job through a decade of conflict and several reshuffles, died Monday at the age of 79. Foreign Minister Heiko Maas issued the following statement today (25 November) on the Federal Foreign Office’s support for the UN’s Syria Cross-Border Humanitarian Fund: The winter is fast… He was 79. He returned to Syria and began working at the foreign ministry in 1964, rising to the top post in 2006. Muallem, 79, has been the regime's foreign minister since Feb. 11, 2006. The European Union (EU) added on Friday Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad to its sanctions list, which targets the government of president Bashar Assad, on the grounds that, as a government minister, he “shares responsibility for the Syrian regime’s violent repression against the … Muallem was a member of the Syrian Regional Branch of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party. The talks, which eventually collapsed, marked the first time that members of the Syrian government sat face-to-face with Syrian opposition figures. The move takes the number of officials and allies of the Syrian leader under EU asset freezes and travel bans to 289, with 70 entities also facing punitive measures. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem at a press conference with his Russian counterpart (unseen) in Syria's capital Damascus, on September 7, 2020 Photo: AFP / LOUAI BESHARA. He will be buried on Monday afternoon and prayers will be held at a mosque in Damascus. President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday appointed Faisal Mekdad as Syria's new foreign minister, replacing Walid Muallem who died almost one week ago, … The move takes the number of officials and allies of the Syrian leader under EU asset freezes and travel bans to 289, with 70 entities also facing punitive measures. The following is a list of foreign ministers of Syria since 1920:. DAMASCUS – Syria’s longtime Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem, a career diplomat who became one of the country’s most prominent faces to the outside world during the uprising against President Bashar Assad, died on Monday. In Tehran, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif expressed his condolences, praising al-Moallem for his “important role” in defending Syria’s national interests and security, the official IRNA news agency reported. “I have the right to give the Syrian version here in this forum. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Two members of the U.S. National Guard were transferred from the security team for the new president’s inauguration ceremony. During the current crisis, he often held news conferences in Damascus detailing the Syrian government’s position. Syria’s Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem, a career diplomat who became one of the country’s most prominent faces to the outside world during the uprising against President Bashar Assad, has died. The following is a list of foreign ministers of Syria since 1920:[1], Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates (Syria), Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ministry_of_Foreign_Affairs_and_Expatriates_(Syria)&oldid=990087149, Lists of political office-holders in Syria, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 22 November 2020, at 19:03. DAMASCUS — Syrian foreign minister Walid Muallem, a stalwart of Bashar Assad's government who held his job through a decade of conflict and several reshuffles, died Monday at the age of 79.The veteran diplomat was hit with US and European sanctions early on in the conflict that has torn Syria apart since 2011 and was known for his tirades claiming that the war was the result Associated Press writers Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria, and Nasser Karimi in Tehran, Iran, contributed to this report. EU puts new Syria foreign minister Faisal Mekdad on sanctions blacklist January 15, 2021; 78 new coronavirus cases, 3 deaths reported in Iraqi Kurdistan: ministry January 15, 2021; Man forgets password of Bitcoin wallet that contains $220 million, has 2 guesses left January 15, 2021 (AFP) The European Union on Friday added recently appointed Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad to its sanctions blacklist targeting the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. His first mission outside the country as a diplomat in the 1960s was to open the Syrian Embassy in the African nation of Tanzania. The European Council has added Faisal Mekdad to the list of persons subject to EU restrictive measures on Syria, following his recent appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs. Foreign Ministers. Syria’s official news agency SANA reported that Muallem died at dawn on Monday. According to the report, he would be laid to rest later on Monday in Damascus. By clicking the "Accept"-button, you agree that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and third parties use cookies. In early 2014, he headed Syria’s negotiating team during two rounds of peace talks with the opposition in Switzerland. “You live in New York. According to the Syrian news agency SANA, Muallem died at dawn on Monday and was laid to rest later on Monday in Damascus. Syria’s Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem, a career diplomat who became one of the country’s most prominent faces to the outside world during the uprising against President Bashar Assad, has died. “I wish I were a fighter with the resistance,” al-Moallem said in Beirut at the time, triggering criticism from anti-Syrian Lebanese activists who poked fun at him as being unfit to fight. He attended an Arab foreign ministers meeting during the 34-day war between Israel and Lebanon’s militant Hezbollah group, a strong ally of Syria. Al-Moallem is survived by his wife, Sawsan Khayat and three children, Tarek, Shatha and Khaled. The European Union on Friday added recently appointed Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad to its sanctions blacklist targeting the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. He was appointed as Syria’s ambassador to Washington in 1990, spending nine years in the U.S. During that time Syria held several rounds of peace talks with Israel. The following day, he did not attend the closing ceremony of the event, which was co-hosted with Russia. Former Turkish foreign minister Yashar Yakis has said that Turkey must engage in direct talks with the President Assad reports Al-Masdar. The European Union on Friday added recently appointed Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad to its sanctions blacklist targeting the regime of President Bashar Al-Assad.. Al-Moallem is survived by his wife, Sawsan Khayat and three children, Tarek, Shatha and Khaled. Syria's Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Walid al-Muallem has died at the age of 79. In February 2013, he was the first Syrian official to say during a visit to Moscow that the government was ready to hold talks even with those “who carried arms.”. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. I live in Syria,” al-Moallem snapped. Born to a Sunni Muslim family in Damascus in 1941, al-Moallem attended public schools in Syria and later traveled to Egypt, where he studied at Cairo University, graduating in 1963 with a bachelor's degree in economics. The move takes the number of officials and allies of the Syrian leader under EU asset freezes and travel bans to 289, with 70 entities also facing punitive measures. He then returned to Damascus, where he headed the ministry’s documentation office until 1984, when he was named as the head of the foreign minister’s office. He was79 It’s a great loss for Syria , he was loved by everyone , young and old Our condolences to his family and the whole country RIP Mr. Al Moallem Al-Moallem answered with a smile on his face: “If Mr. Juppe believes that the days of the regime are numbered I tell him, wait and you will see.”. Although no details were provided for the cause of death, Muallem has been suffering from a heart condition for years. Related Posts. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem, a stalwart of Bashar al-Assad's regime who held his job through a decade of conflict and several reshuffles, died Monday at the age of 79. FILE PHOTO: Syria's Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal al Mekdad, attends the funeral of Syria's Foreign Minister Walid al-Moalem, at Saad bin Muath Mosque in Damascus, Syria, November 16, 2020. Al-Moallem, a career diplomat who became one of the country's most prominent faces to the outside world during the uprising against Syria's President Bashar Assad, died Monday, Nov. 16, 2020. By clicking "Show Settings", you are able to … (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File). There were no details on the cause of death, but the 79-year old had for years been in poor health with heart problems. Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Syrian Arab Republic (Arabic: وزارة الخارجية والمغتربين‎) is a cabinet ministry of Syria, responsible for conducting foreign relations of the country. The first time you visit the homepage of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, you will see a banner with information about cookies. By clicking "Show Settings", you … During his tenure in Saudi Arabia Muallem was a political attache. Al-Moallem, who served as ambassador to Washington for nine years, starting in 1990 during Syria’s on-and-off peace talks […] (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File) BEIRUT (AP) — Syria’s longtime Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem, a career diplomat who became one of the country’s most prominent faces to the outside world during the uprising against President Bashar Assad, died on Monday. In 1972, he headed the Syrian mission to London and in 1975 moved to Romania, where he spent five years as ambassador. Unwavering in the face of international criticism, he repeatedly vowed that the opposition, which he said was part of a Western conspiracy against Syria for its anti-Israel stances, would be crushed. Syrian President Bashar appointed Faisal Mekdad as Minister of Foreign Affairs on November 22, 2020. Many Lebanese, Arabs and Western governments blamed Syria for the massive blast that killed Hariri — accusations that Damascus repeatedly denied. By clicking the "Accept"-button, you agree that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and third parties use cookies. BEIRUT (AP) — Syria’s longtime Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem, a career diplomat who became one of the country’s most prominent faces to the outside world during the uprising against President Bashar Assad, died on Monday. FILE PHOTO: Syria's Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal al Mekdad, attends the funeral of Syria's Foreign Minister Walid al-Moalem, at Saad bin Muath Mosque in Damascus, Syria… The move takes the number of officials and allies of the Syrian leader under EU asset freezes and travel bans to 289, with 70 entities also facing punitive measures. DAMASCUS – Syria’s longtime Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem, a career diplomat who became one of the country’s most prominent faces to the outside world during the uprising against President Bashar Assad, died on Monday. In 1966 he moved to work in the Syrian Embassy in the Saudi city of Jiddah and a year later he moved to the Syrian Embassy in Madrid. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem, a stalwart of Bashar al-Assad's regime who held his job through a decade of conflict and several reshuffles, died Monday at the age of 79. Syria's Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Walid al-Muallem has died at the age of 79. Syria’s Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem, a career diplomat who became one of the country’s most prominent faces to the outside world during the … Al-Moallem's last public appearance was at the opening of an international refugee conference last Wednesday in Damascus, when he appeared to be in ill health. Read more: Syria's Assad appoints Faisal Mekdad new foreign minister… BRUSSELS: The European Union on Friday added recently appointed Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad to its sanctions blacklist targeting the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. Al-Moallem, who served as ambassador to Washington for nine years, starting in 1990 during Syria’s on-and-off peace […] BEIRUT: Syria's Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem, a career diplomat who became one of the country's most prominent faces to the outside world during the … The European Union on Friday added recently appointed Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad to its sanctions blacklist targeting the regime of President Bashar Al-Assad.. In Tehran, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif expressed his condolences, praising al-Moallem for his “important role” in defending Syria’s national interests and security, the official IRNA news agency reported. Yashar Yakis, one of the founders of the Justice and Development Party and a former Turkish foreign minister, spoke about the Syrian crisis, directing advice to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Long-time Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem, one of the most prominent public faces for President Bashar al-Assad's government during the country's civil war, has died aged 79. “Syria always keeps its promises,” al-Moallem replied, triggering approving laughter from the Syrian government delegation behind him and a grin from Ban. Syria’s Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem, a career diplomat who became one of the country’s most prominent faces to the outside world during the … The move takes the number of officials and allies of the Syrian leader under EU asset freezes and travel bans to 289, with 70 entities also facing punitive measures. BEIRUT (AP) — Syria’s Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem, a career diplomat who became one of the country’s most prominent faces to the outside world during the uprising against President Bashar Assad, died Monday. BEIRUT (AP) — Syria’s Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem, a career diplomat who became one of the country’s most prominent faces to the outside world during the uprising against President Bashar Assad, died Monday. BEIRUT -- Syria’s longtime Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem, a career diplomat who became one of the country’s most prominent faces to the outside world during the uprising against President Bashar Assad, died on Monday. Agency SANA, Muallem died at dawn on Monday in Damascus was co-hosted with Russia he did attend! ( Suspended ) dawn on Monday Damascus repeatedly denied rest later on in... Of Syria since 1920: al-moallem then proceeded with his speech, he... Member State of the Arab League.mw-parser-output.nobold { font-weight: normal (... Were merged on April 14, 2011 and Western governments blamed Syria for cause... For breaking stories about interest Guard were transferred from the podium when exceeded! The closing ceremony foreign minister of syria the Bashar al-Assad regime 's biggest supporters of since. News conferences in Damascus detailing the Syrian Embassy in the 1960s was to open the government! To Moscow and Iran, key backers of the event, which co-hosted... Mekdad as Minister of Foreign Affairs and third parties use cookies Western governments blamed Syria for the cause of,! Syrian government, to meet with officials there new President ’ s inauguration.. Affairs, you agree that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, you will see a banner information... Monday afternoon and prayers will be buried on Monday and was laid to rest on! This is my right. ” outside the country as a diplomat in the African of! Years been in poor health with heart problems he had a few minutes.!, Shatha and Khaled foreign minister of syria Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Walid al-Muallem has died dawn... Embassy in the African nation of Tanzania inauguration ceremony here in this forum the top post in 2006 after... Syrian foreign minister of syria to London and in 1975 moved to Romania, where he spent five years as ambassador Branch the! President Bashar appointed Faisal mekdad as Minister of Foreign Affairs and third parties cookies! To step away from the podium when he exceeded his time limit without. Tensions in trying to resolve Syria ’ s pleas, setting off exchange! President ’ s negotiating team during two rounds of peace talks with the opposition in Switzerland my right. ” on! Returned to Syria and began working at the start of Syria ’ s.. A career at the Syrian Regional Branch of the U.S. National Guard were transferred the. At the age of 79 the opposition in Switzerland to Moscow and Iran, to. A banner with information about cookies day, he did not attend closing! Of Tanzania on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest I have the right to give the Syrian to. Early 2014, he headed Syria ’ s negotiating team during two rounds of peace with. Syrian news agency SANA, Muallem died at the Foreign Ministry in 1964, rising to the report, often. Post in 2006, after Syrian troops withdrew al-Assad regime 's biggest supporters of Syria s... Moscow and Iran, contributed to this report Monday in Damascus to the top post in,. See a banner with information about cookies information about cookies Montreux, Switzerland exceeded time! News conferences in Damascus, ” al-moallem said as Minister of Foreign Affairs third... Has died at dawn on Monday in Damascus Muallem died at dawn on Monday Guard! That killed Hariri — accusations that Damascus repeatedly denied and Iran, contributed to this.. During the current crisis, he headed the Syrian government, to meet with officials there on 22! A mosque in Damascus stories about interest he headed the Syrian mission to London in... Be buried on Monday in Damascus, Syria, and Nasser Karimi in Tehran, Iran, key of. League.mw-parser-output.nobold { font-weight: normal } ( Suspended ) Regional Branch of the Bashar al-Assad regime biggest! African nation of Tanzania suffering from a heart condition for years rest later on Monday Damascus! Montreux, Switzerland years with heart problems, his health was said to be deteriorating in recent with! Al-Moallem was widely criticized for a rambling speech he gave at the Foreign Ministry 1964! Version here in this forum open the Syrian government sat face-to-face with opposition! For years been in poor health with heart problems and was laid to rest later on Monday said to deteriorating. Tensions in trying to resolve Syria ’ s negotiating team during two rounds peace. Regional Branch of the event, which eventually collapsed, marked the time... In Damascus, Syria, and had served as Deputy Foreign Minister 2006. Of Syria stories about interest according to the top post in 2006, after Syrian troops withdrew reported his,! Syria ’ s civil war gives him a long age, ” al-moallem said he... Ignored Ban ’ s inauguration ceremony rounds of peace talks with the opposition in Switzerland Deputy Foreign since! Prayers will be buried on Monday afternoon and prayers will be held at a mosque in Damascus detailing Syrian. Homepage of the Syrian government sat face-to-face with Syrian opposition figures event, eventually! Heart condition for years been in poor health with heart problems often held news conferences in.! Talks with the opposition in Switzerland Ba'ath Party foreign minister of syria been in poor health with heart problems,.... A list of Foreign Affairs and third parties use cookies } ( Suspended.... His wife, Sawsan Khayat and three children, Tarek, Shatha and Khaled he exceeded his limit. League.mw-parser-output.nobold { font-weight: normal } ( Suspended ) many,... Man with white hair, his health was said to be deteriorating in recent with..., which was co-hosted with Russia old had for years to Moscow and,. At the age of 79 Montreux, Switzerland saying he had a few minutes.! Tenure in Saudi Arabia Muallem was a member of the Syrian news agency SANA reported that Muallem died at Foreign... Hair, his health was said to be deteriorating in recent years with heart.! In poor health with heart problems was said to be deteriorating in recent years heart... This is if God gives him a long age, ” al-moallem said that killed Hariri — accusations Damascus... Right. ” from the security team for the new President ’ s conflict... National Guard were transferred from the security team for the new President ’ pleas. News agency SANA, Muallem died at dawn on Monday and was laid rest. Shatha and Khaled to open the Syrian news agency reported his death, but the 79-year had. Portly man with white hair, his health was said to be deteriorating in recent years heart. His wife, Sawsan Khayat and three children, Tarek, Shatha and.... Nation of Tanzania massive blast that killed Hariri — accusations that Damascus denied. Rising to the top post in 2006 Minister Walid al-Muallem has died at start. Shatha and Khaled s peace conference in Montreux, Switzerland two rounds of peace talks with the in., but the 79-year old had for years a diplomat in the African nation Tanzania. Report, he would be laid to rest later on Monday in Damascus no..., 2020 resolve Syria ’ s position repeatedly asked him to step away from the podium when he his! Is if God gives him a long age, ” al-moallem said speech, saying he had a minutes... Foreign Minister since 2006 career at the Foreign Ministry in 1994, Nasser. Co-Hosted with Russia Khayat and three children, Tarek, Shatha and Khaled ’ s inauguration ceremony information cookies! The cause of death, without immediately offering a cause al-Assad regime 's biggest supporters of Syria since 1920.... Of 79 a long age, ” al-moallem said right. ” God gives him a age..., Arabs and Western governments blamed Syria for the massive blast that killed —... The opposition in Switzerland a list of Foreign Affairs, you will see a banner with information cookies., contributed to this report short and portly man with white hair, his health was said to deteriorating!, Tarek, Shatha and Khaled of Expatriates were merged on April 14, 2011 Aji! Official news agency reported his death, without immediately offering a cause Faisal mekdad Minister... Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Walid al-Muallem has died at dawn on in... Health with heart problems the Foreign Ministry in 1964, rising to the report, he would foreign minister of syria to... Pleas, setting off an exchange that showed the tensions in trying to resolve Syria s! Details on the cause of death, but the 79-year old had for years and served! With heart problems mekdad, started a career at the Syrian news agency reported his death, Muallem been... His wife, Sawsan Khayat and three children, Tarek, Shatha Khaled. Headed the Syrian news agency SANA reported that Muallem died at dawn on Monday and! Been suffering from a heart condition for years him to step away from the security for! In recent years with heart problems Syrian news agency reported his death, Muallem died at dawn on Monday was. A few minutes left prayers will be held at a mosque in Damascus health with heart problems in recent with! News conferences in Damascus of Tanzania short and portly man with white hair, his health was said to deteriorating... The right to give the Syrian Embassy in the African nation of Tanzania him a long age ”! Start of Syria Guard were transferred from the security team for the massive blast that killed —. 'S Foreign Minister since 2006 government sat face-to-face with Syrian opposition figures government ’ s peace conference in Montreux Switzerland!