The Syrian regime has lost one of its pillars.
The head of diplomacy Walid Mouallem, in office since 2006, died Monday at the age of 79 years.
Targeted by American and European sanctions after the start of the conflict in Syria in 2011, the slow-talking diplomat has repeatedly accused the West of devising "plots" against his country, to explain a complex war and devastating which killed more than 380,000 people.
He remained in post throughout the war despite the changes.
No information on his successor
Without specifying the causes of his death, the government announced the death of the minister, whose state of health had been deteriorating for some time.
In 2014, he had undergone open heart surgery at the American Hospital in Beirut.
Prime Minister Hussein Arnous praised the career of a "seasoned diplomat" who "defended his homeland in international and regional arenas".
No information has filtered out on his successor.
The funeral took place in the afternoon in Damascus, where he was born, in the presence of several ministers and officials, including the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fayçal Al-Mokdad, according to the official Sana agency.
The last public appearance of Walid Mouallem dated back to last Wednesday, on the occasion of a conference organized in Damascus on the return of millions of refugees who fled the fighting.
Looking weak, the stout-looking diplomat must have been supported by two men to enter the room.
Russia greets "sincere friend"
Russia, unwavering support of the Assad regime, hailed an "experienced diplomat" and deplored the loss of "a very reliable partner and a sincere friend".
Walid Mouallem "understood the importance of Syrian-Russian relations," assured Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov.
The head of Iranian diplomacy, Mohammad Javad Zarif, whose country is also an ally of the Syrian regime, recalled that Walid Mouallem had "played an important role in the service and defense of national interests and the security of his country" .
Lebanese President Michel Aoun and the Sultanate of Oman also offered their condolences to the Syrian authorities.
A graduate in economics, Walid Mouallem began in 1964 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he then rose through the ranks to become a pillar of the regime.
Throughout the war, triggered by the brutal repression of pro-democracy protests, he had regularly reminded us that Bashar al-Assad would remain in his post.
He was also one of the first Syrian officials to qualify opponents of the regime as "terrorists".
Governments have followed one another without him losing his portfolio.
In 2012, he was also appointed Deputy Prime Minister.
Washington sanctions
Always speaking in a calm tone, in a monotonous voice, this juggernaut of diplomacy tirelessly hammered the same rhetoric vis-à-vis Westerners, accusing them of having provoked conflict and of supporting "terrorists".
At a press conference, he had accustomed reporters to his sarcasm and harsh remarks.
Asked in September 2019 about the head of US diplomacy, Mike Pompeo, he replied: "Who is Pompeo? I do not know him."
A few months after the start of the war, Washington had adopted sanctions against him, accusing him of repeating "the catchphrase of the international conspiracy" and of trying "to cover up the horrible acts of the regime".
Walid Mouallem had been ambassador to Washington from 1990 to 1999, according to Sana.
At the time, he had participated in talks between Syria and Israel, which were never successful.
His prolific career as a young diplomat led him notably to Saudi Arabia, Spain and England.
During the war, his official visits were limited mainly to the Allied countries, Russia and Iran in the lead.
Married with three children, he is the author of four history books, notably on Syria and the Palestinian cause.
With AFP
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