Faisal Mekdad facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Faisal Mekdad
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فيصل المقداد
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Mekdad in 2017
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| Vice President of Syria | |
| In office 23 September 2024 – 8 December 2024 Serving with Najah al-Attar
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| President | Bashar al-Assad |
| Preceded by | Farouk al-Sharaa |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates | |
| In office 22 November 2020 – 23 September 2024 |
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| President | Bashar al-Assad |
| Prime Minister | Hussein Arnous |
| Preceded by | Walid Muallem |
| Succeeded by | Bassam al-Sabbagh |
| Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 1 August 2006 – 22 November 2020 |
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| President | Bashar al-Assad |
| Preceded by | Walid Muallem |
| Succeeded by | Bashar Jaafari |
| 13th Permanent Representative of Syria to the United Nations | |
| In office 18 September 2003 – 31 July 2006 |
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| President | Bashar al-Assad |
| Preceded by | Mikhail Wehbe |
| Succeeded by | Bashar Jaafari |
| Member of the Central Command of the Ba'ath Party | |
| In office 4 May 2024 – 8 December 2024 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 5 February 1954 Ghasm, Daraa Governorate, Syria |
| Political party | Ba'ath Party |
| Children | 3 |
| Residence | Damascus |
| Alma mater | Damascus University (BA) Charles University in Prague (PhD) |
| Profession | Politician, Diplomat |
Faisal Mekdad (Arabic: فيصل المقداد; born on February 5, 1954) is a Syrian diplomat and politician. He served as the Vice President of Syria from September to December 2024. He was the last person to hold this important job under President Bashar al-Assad's government. Before that, from 2020 to 2024, he was the Foreign Minister of Syria. He also worked as Syria's main representative to the United Nations from 2003 to 2006.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Faisal Mekdad was born in 1954 in a village called Ghasm, located in the Daraa Governorate in Syria. He studied at Damascus University and earned a degree in English in 1978. Later, in 1993, he received his PhD in English Literature from Charles University in Prague. While he was a student, he was active in student groups, including the International Union of Students and the Revolutionary Youth Union. He even won an award for his research on the history of student movements in Asia.
Career in Diplomacy
After finishing his studies, Dr. Mekdad began working for the Syrian Foreign Ministry. This is the part of the government that handles relationships with other countries.
In 1994, he started working in the diplomatic service, which means he represented Syria in other countries and at international meetings. He worked in the department that deals with international organizations and conferences.
A year later, in 1995, he joined Syria's team at the United Nations. The United Nations is a big organization where countries work together on global issues. He worked on various committees there.
In 1996, he became the Deputy to Syria's main representative at the United Nations. Then, in 2003, he became the Permanent Representative himself. This meant he was Syria's top diplomat at the UN. He held this position until 2006, when he was appointed Deputy Foreign Minister. He even received an award called the Order of Civil Merit from the King of Spain, Juan Carlos I.
On November 22, 2020, Faisal Mekdad became the Minister of Foreign Affairs. In this role, he was in charge of Syria's foreign policy. He worked on improving Syria's relationships with Turkey and other Arab countries, helping Syria rejoin the Arab League.
On September 23, 2024, he was appointed as Vice President for foreign and information policies. He officially took the oath of office on October 10, 2024.
Role During the Syrian Civil War
During the Syrian civil war, Faisal Mekdad played a key role as a government official. He spoke to international news outlets, explaining the Syrian government's position. He supported the government's view that they were fighting against armed groups. In 2013, when asked if the government was winning the war, he said, "We shall win it, we are winning it, yes." He was also part of the Syrian government's team at the Geneva II Conference on Syria, which was a peace conference aimed at resolving the conflict.
Because of his role during the civil war, the European Union and the United Kingdom added him to their sanction lists in 2021.
Personal Life
Faisal Mekdad is married and has three children: one son and two daughters. His father was kidnapped in his home village of Ghasm in 2013.
See also
In Spanish: Faisal Mekdad para niños
