Muhammad Mustafa Mero facts for kids

Muhammad Mustafa Mero (born 1941, died 22 December 2020) was an important Syrian politician. He served as the Prime Minister of Syria from March 2000 to September 2003.

Early Life and Learning

Muhammad Mustafa Mero was born in 1941. His family lived in a rural area near Damascus, in a place called Al Tall.

He went to Damascus University to study. Later, he earned a special degree called a PhD. He studied Arabic language and literature at the University of Moscow.

Political Journey

Mero became a member of the Ba'ath Party in 1966. This was an important political group in Syria. He also worked with the Arab Teachers' Union. There, he was in charge of cultural affairs and publications.

Serving as Governor

Mero served as a governor in different parts of Syria.

• From 1980 to 1986, he was the governor of Daraa province.
• Then, from 1986 to 1993, he was the governor of Al Hasakah province.
• In 1993, he became the governor of Aleppo province. He stayed in this role until 2000.

Even though there were some tensions between Syria and Turkey at that time, Mero was known for having good relationships with the Turkish government. He played a key role in talks between the two countries. By June 2000, he was a leading figure in the Ba'ath party.

Becoming Prime Minister

On 7 March 2000, Muhammad Mustafa Mero was chosen to be the Prime Minister of Syria. He took over from Mahmoud Zuabi. This happened shortly before the death of President Hafez al-Assad.

Mero's new government was announced on 13 March 2000. Their main goals were to improve the economy and fight against corruption. After President Assad passed away in 2000, Mero was part of a special group of nine people. This group helped manage the country during the change to a new president.

Working with the New President

The new president, Bashar Assad, kept Mero as Prime Minister. Mero also gained a higher position within the ruling Ba'ath Party.

In August 2001, Mero led a group of ministers and business people to Iraq. This was a big event because he was the first Syrian prime minister to visit Iraq since the Gulf War.

In December 2001, Mero was asked to form a new government. This was done to help speed up economic changes. Many new ministers who supported reforms were given important jobs related to the economy.

During his time as prime minister, Syria's relationship with Turkey also got better. In July 2003, Mero was the first Syrian prime minister to visit Turkey in 17 years. While there, he signed three agreements about health, oil, natural gas, and customs.

Resignation and Retirement

Mero stepped down as Prime Minister in September 2003. It was reported that this was because the economic reforms were not moving fast enough. Mohammed Naji Al Otari, who was the parliament speaker, became the new prime minister.

Mero continued his political work as a member of the Ba'ath Party's central committee. His term ended in June 2005, and he then retired from politics.

Later Life and Passing

Muhammad Mustafa Mero passed away on 22 December 2020. He was 79 years old. He died from COVID-19 in Al-Tall, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Syria.

See also

• Second Mustafa Mero government