Faisal Mekdad

Faisal Mekdad (Arabic: فيصل المقداد‎; born 1954) is the Syrian Foreign Minister and former Permanent Envoy to the United Nations.[1]

Faisal Mekdad
فيصل المقداد
Faisal Mekdad in 2017
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Assumed office
22 November 2020
PresidentBashar al-Assad
Preceded byWalid Muallem
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office
1 August 2006 – 22 November 2020
PresidentBashar al-Assad
Preceded byWalid Muallem
Succeeded byBashar Jaafari
Permanent Representative of Syria to the United Nations
In office
2003 – 31 July 2006
Preceded byMikhail Wehbe
Succeeded byBashar Jaafari
Personal details
Born1954 (age 66–67)
Ghasm, Syria
NationalitySyrian
Children3
Alma materDamascus University
Charles University in Prague
ProfessionPolitician

Life and education

Faisal Mekdad was born in the village of Ghasm in Daraa Governorate in 1954. He graduated in 1978 from Damascus University with a degree in English. He later got his PhD in English Literature from Charles University in Prague in 1993.[2] While at Charles University, he was a part of the International Union of Students.[3]

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 United Nations where he represented Syria in numerous conferences. He was appointed as the Deputy to the Permanent Representative of Syria to the United Nations, under Mikhail Wehbe.[2]

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.[2] In 2006, he was appointed as the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.

On 22 November 2020, Mekdad became the Minister of Foreign Affairs, following the death of Walid Muallem.[4]

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.[3] 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, he responded saying "We shall win it, we are winning it, yes."[5] 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.[6]

In January 2021, the European Union added Mekdad to its sanction list, due to his role during the civil war.[7]

Personal life

Faisal Mekdad is married with one son and two daughters.[2] Mekdad's father was kidnapped by gunmen on 18 May 2013 in his village of Ghasm.[8]

References
  1. "Syrians pressed on Hariri inquiry". BBC. 26 August 2005. Retrieved 10 December 2010.
  2. "صحيفة الثورة". thawra.alwehda.gov.sy.
  3. "Faisal al-Mekdad". Archived from the original on 2014-04-07.
  4. "Syria Appoints Veteran Diplomat Faisal Mekdad as Foreign Minister". Voice of America. Reuters. 22 November 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  5. "Syria minister Faisal Mekdad says 'we are winning the war'". BBC.
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-04-07. Retrieved 2014-04-02.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. "SYRIA: New minister of Foreign Affairs added to the sanction list". European External Action Service. 16 January 2021.
  8. "Father of Assad spokesman kidnapped". 18 May 2013 – via www.bbc.com.
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