CAIRO / AMMAN Syria’s high diplomat and longtime international minister, Walid al-Moalem, a staunch defender of Syrian President Bashar al Assad’s bloody violence towards peaceable protesters that sparked a decade – previous battle, died Monday, the federal government mentioned.
There have been no particulars on the reason for demise, however the 79-year-old had been ill for years with coronary heart issues. A supply near the Syrian authorities mentioned it was extensively anticipated that his deputy, veteran diplomat Faisal Mekdad, would substitute him as international minister.
Moalem, who was first appointed international minister in 2006 and in addition deputy prime minister, held a variety of high diplomatic posts, together with envoy to america, and was concerned in failed negotiations with Israel within the Nineties over a peace settlement.
“He was identified for his honorable patriotic views,” the federal government mentioned in a press release, including that he died at daybreak and could be buried in Damascus later Monday.
The veteran diplomat noticed his nation tip additional in direction of Iran and Russia, which has helped strengthen Assad’s rule and allowed the authoritarian chief to regain a lot of the territory he as soon as misplaced to rebels.
Moalem, from a Sunni household from Damascus, publicly defended Moscow and the rising army position of Shia Muslim Iran, backed by its proxy in Syria, which many Syrian opponents of Assad branded as an occupation and the blame for fueling sectarian tensions in a nations with Sunni majority. .
“I’m able to be considered one of Hassan Nasrallah’s troopers,” Moalem mentioned in August 2006, referring to the chief of the Iranian-backed Lebanese militia Hezbollah, which lately has despatched 1000’s of its members to battle collectively. with Assad’s forces.
Syria broke out in civil conflict almost a decade in the past after Assad in 2011 started cracking down on protesters calling for an finish to his household’s rule.
Moalem accused america and others within the West of rushing up his nation’s unrest and branded rebels as “terrorists” in a battle that has killed a whole lot of 1000’s and led to the emigration of hundreds of thousands of refugees.
The veteran diplomat’s newest assertion attacked the Caesar Act – the harshest US sanctions but towards Damascus, which got here into power in June final 12 months, saying they had been meant to starve Syrians. He promised that his nation would get monetary assist from Iran and Russia to melt its blows.
Washington says the objective of the brand new sanctions is to carry Damascus accountable for conflict crimes and deter it from additional pursuing the conflict. The sanctions exempt humanitarian support.
