Faisal Mekdad Appointed New Syrian Foreign Minister, Presidential Office Says
SMA News – Syria
Syria’s deputy foreign minister Faisal Mekdad has been promoted to the post of the country’s foreign minister, the presidential office announced on Sunday.
“President Assad has issued three decrees (322-323-324) on 11/22/2020 designating Dr. Faisal Mekdad as Minister of Foreign Affairs,” a statement reads.
The 66-year-old career diplomat will take up the office after his predecessor, Walid Muallem died at a Damascus hospital at the age of 79.
The Syrian envoy to the United Nations, Bashar Jaafari, has been named deputy foreign minister and will be replaced in his UN role by Bassam Sabbagh, the envoy to the UN chemicals weapons watchdog.
The country’s long-time Foreign Minister, Walid Muallem, died on 16 November at the age of 79. He was appointed to the top diplomatic post in 2006 and had served as Deputy Prime Minister since 2012.
