Syria Appoints Veteran Diplomat Faisal Mekdad as FM
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Syria named veteran diplomat Faisal Mekdad as foreign minister to replace Walid Muallem, who died last week, state media reported.
Mekdad, 66, had been deputy foreign minister since 2006. He has also held a string of diplomatic posts, including envoy to the United Nations.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad also appointed Bashar al-Jaafari, currently ambassador to the United Nations, as deputy foreign minister.
Muallem died last Monday at the age of 79, after suffering years of heart problems.
