President Al-Assad grants late Walid Al-Muallem the Syrian Order of Merit of the excellent class at a memorial service

President Bashar Al-Assad granted the Late Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Walid Al-Muallem the Syrian Order of Merit of the excellent class, at a memorial service held for the late Al-Muallem on the occasion of the  passage of forty days since his death.

At the memorial service held on Tuesday  evening at Dar Al-Assad for Culture and Arts in Damascus,  President Bashar Al-Assad was represented by the Minister of Presidential Affairs Mansour Azzam, who presented the medal at the end of the memorial service to the late Al-Muallem family.

Minister Azzam , in a brief speech  spoke about the virtues of the late minister , who was distinguished by patriotism, sophistication, diplomatic intelligence and steadfastness in the political and diplomatic work arenas. He was loyal to his country and  defended it to his last breath.

In his turn,  member of the Central Command of the Baath Arab Socialist Party, head of the Preparation, Culture and Information Office, Dr. Mahdi Dakhlallah stressed in his speech the importance of consolidating the noble and patriotic values that Al-Muallem enjoyed which reflect the attachment of the people of Syria to their land, their identity and their steadfastness in defending it.   History will add to its memory an honorable record of one of the great men of Syria, Dr. Dakhlallah added, noting the distinguished diplomatic role of Al-Muallem who was a combination of a  solid, flexible, serious, difficult, easy and stubborn figure.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Dr. Faisal Al-Miqdad, said in the ministry’s speech: Our country today lacks a national figure characterized by respect, affection and experience. Al-Muallem was a negotiator and very intelligent and with a  great memory, along with his gentleness and his ability to plant a smile on the face of everyone he knew.

Al-Miqdad added: We are walking with confidence, firmness, and support from friends and all peace-loving countries in the world  due to what was established by President Bashar Al-Assad, and what was  implemented by the late Walid Al-Muallem.

For his part, the former Foreign Minister of Lebanon, Adnan Mansour, spoke on behalf of the late minister’s   friends, saying: “During my close acquaintance with Al-Muallem, I found in him a brother and a man who loved unity and Arabism and who defended Syria and the issues of his nation and its rights in all international forums”. He pointed to Al-Muallem’s sophistication, high responsibility, steadfastness and firmness of stances, calmness, refined style, and keenness on the unity of Syria, land and people.  Al-Muallem was able to foil what the  plotters contrived against Syria.  So,  the Syrian diplomacy remained a milestone reflecting a nonnegotiable principled approach. He recalled previous speeches of Al-Muallem which confirms the inevitability of the victory of Syria and defeat of aggression , which is derived from the steadfastness of its leader, army and people.

For his part, Vatican Ambassador, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in Damascus, Cardinal Mario Zinari, said in a speech during the ceremony: Minister Al-Moallem was a diplomat and a man of government capable of defending the cause of his homeland, especially during the years of war that Syria was exposed to, recalling his position during the Geneva conference on peace talks in 2014 when the chairperson interrupted him because of the allotted time, and Al-Muallem answered him: “I came here from far to support my country” and continued his speech until the end.

Cardinal Zinari added that the late minister was an example of a sincere diplomat for his country, expressing his hope that Syria would regain its important role regionally and internationally and continue the reconstruction process. He called on all the displaced to return to their country and asked for   efforts to be redoubled  by the international community to help bring peace to Syria through diplomacy and through dialogue.

Al-Muallem’s Daughter Shatha delivered  the speech of the family of the late minister in which she spoke about the affectionate paternal side of the Minister Al-Moallem who used to seize moments despite his great concerns and responsibilities to follow up on the conditions of his family. She added: “In the difficult times that passed through our country, the smile never left  his face. He planted in us the love of the homeland and humility. Syria occupied the largest space in his heart and conscience”, thanking all Syrians and the leadership and government who supported the family with their good feelings.

During the memorial service, a documentary film about the life of the late Muallem, his national positions in international forums, testimonies of colleagues at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, and a number of ambassadors working in Damascus were screened.

Inas Abdulkareem