Ambassador Nazem Al-Qudsi (1900-1998) was appointed by President Shukri Al-Quatli as Syria’s first ambassador to the United States. He presented his credentials to President Franklin Roosevelt on March 19, 1945. Qudsi was a politician from Aleppo who became a Member of Parliament, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prime Minister and President of the Republic.
Ambassador Fayez Al-Khury (1893 – 1959) was appointed by President Quatly as Ambassador to the United States in 1947, a post he held until 1952. He also served as Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Damascus, Ambassador to Great Britain, Member of Parliament and Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Ambassador Farid Zayn Al-Din was appointed by President Adib Al-Shishakli Ambassador to the United States and non-resident Ambassador to Mexico in 1952. In August 1957, a diplomatic crisis developed between Damascus and Washington over a failed coup planned by the CIA. As a result, Syria asked US Ambassador James S. Moose to leave Damascus and Farid Zain Al-Din was recalled back to Syria.
Ambassador Omar Abu Risheh (1908-1990) was appointed by President Nazim Al-Qudsi Ambassador to the United States in December 1961. He presented his credentials to President John F. Kennedy, and held his post in Washington until 1964. Prior to that President Gamal Abdul Nasser had appointed Abu Risheh Ambassador to Argentina and then to Austria. In 1964 President Amin Al-Hafez appointed Abu Risheh Ambassador to New Delhi. Abu Risheh was a gifted diplomat, however, his reputation as a poet surpassed his reputation as a diplomat in Syria and the entire region.
Ambassador Sabah Kabbani (1928-) was appointed by President Hafez Al-Asad as the first ambassador of Syria to the United States after diplomatic relations between the two countries were severed in June 1967. He presented his credentials to President Richard Nixon in 1974. Qabbani was the founder of the Syrian TV and its first director. Prior to his posting in Washington he was Syria’s envoy to Indonesia.
Ambassador Rafic Joueijati (1922-2003) was appointed by President Hafez Al-Assad Aambassador to the United States in July 1981. He presented his credentials to President Ronald Reagan, and held his post in Washington until August 1986. He was known to be a man of profound learning and great interest in culture. Upon his return to Syria, he taught at the University of Damascus, as well as at Oxford and Cambridge in England and the School of Oriental Studies in Munich, Germany.
Ambassador Walid Al-Moallem (1941-) was appointed by President Hafez Al-Asad Ambassador to the United States in June 1990. He presented his credentials to President George Bush Sr. He served in the United States until October 2000. Prior to his position in Washington, Ambasador Moallem was Syria’s Ambassador to Romania. In 2004, Ambassador Moallem became Deputy Foreign Minister and in 2006, became Syria’s Foreign Minister.
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19th Century