Adnan Omran () (born 1934) is a

Syrian Syrians () are the majority inhabitants of Syria, indigenous to the Levant, most of whom have Arabic, especially its Levantine and Mesopotamian dialects, as a mother tongue. The cultural and linguistic heritage of the Syrian people is a blend ...

diplomat and politician who served as information minister from 2000 to 2003.

Early life and education

Omran was born in 1934. He holds a bachelor's degree in public law, which he received from Syrian University in

Damascus Damascus ( , ; ) is the capital and List of largest cities in the Levant region by population, largest city of Syria. It is the oldest capital in the world and, according to some, the fourth Holiest sites in Islam, holiest city in Islam. Kno ...

in 1956. Then he obtained a diploma in Syrian private law. He also received a diploma in diplomatic studies and international law from

Columbia University Columbia University in the City of New York, commonly referred to as Columbia University, is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Churc ...

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

in 1964.

Career

After graduation, Omran began to serve as a member of the permanent mission of Syria to

the United Nations The United Nations (UN) is the global intergovernmental organization established by the signing of the UN Charter on 26 June 1945 with the stated purpose of maintaining international peace and security, to develop friendly relations among ...

in 1964. Two years later he was named as first secretary of the Syrian Embassy in

Moscow Moscow is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Russia by population, largest city of Russia, standing on the Moskva (river), Moskva River in Central Russia. It has a population estimated at over 13 million residents with ...

. His tenure ended in 1968, and he served as counsel general of the Syrian Arab Republic in

Berlin Berlin ( ; ) is the Capital of Germany, capital and largest city of Germany, by both area and List of cities in Germany by population, population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the List of cities in the European Union by population withi ...

until 1970. Next he was appointed director of the international organisations department and special offices at the Syrian foreign ministry. He served there until 1974. Then he was named as Syrian ambassador to

the United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

and then, to

Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. It borders Norway to the west and north, and Finland to the east. At , Sweden is the largest Nordic count ...

from 1974 to 1980. Omran began to assume political positions in 1980. His first political post was assistant secretary general for political affairs, which he held until 1996. He represented Syria and the League of Arab States at various international conferences and also, committees of the United Nations. He also held the post of the Arab League assistant secretary general during this period. In 1996, Omran was appointed deputy foreign minister and served in this post until 1998. He was a member of the

Ba'ath Party The Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party ( ' ), also known simply as Bath Party (), was a political party founded in Syria by Michel Aflaq, Salah al-Din al-Bitar, and associates of Zaki al-Arsuzi. The party espoused Ba'athism, which is an ideology ...

's central committee in 2000. He was appointed minister of information on 14 March 2000 to the cabinet headed by Prime Minister

Muhammad Mustafa Mero Muhammad Mustafa Mero (; 1941 – 22 December 2020) was a Syrian politician who served as Prime Minister of Syria from 7 March 2000 to 10 September 2003. Early life and education Mero was born into a Sunni rural family in al-Tall in the outskir ...

under

Hafez al-Assad Hafez al-Assad (6 October 193010 June 2000) was a Syrian politician and military officer who was the president of Syria from 1971 until Death and state funeral of Hafez al-Assad, his death in 2000. He was previously the Prime Minister of Syria ...

. Omran replaced Mohammad Salman as information minister. Omran's appointment raised hopes that Syrian media would be given more liberty. However, on 29 January 2001, Omran argued that the term

civil society Civil society can be understood as the "third sector" of society, distinct from government and business, and including the family and the private sphere.Bashar al-Assad Bashar al-Assad (born 11September 1965) is a Syrian politician, military officer and former dictator Sources characterising Assad as a dictator: who served as the president of Syria from 2000 until fall of the Assad regime, his government ...

when he became the president. In September 2003, Mero resigned from office, and Mohammad Naji Al Otari formed a new cabinet. Omran was replaced by Ahmad Hassan as information minister on 10 September 2003. Omran was named as a member of the Committee of Patrons of the Anglo-Arab Organisation in January 2003. As of 2008 he was secretary general of the Arab Parliament.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Omran, Adnan 20th-century diplomats 21st-century Syrian politicians 1934 births Ambassadors of Syria to Sweden Ambassadors of Syria to the United Kingdom Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syria Region politicians Damascus University alumni Columbia University alumni Living people Ministers of information of Syria