Adnan Omran

Adnan Omran (Arabic: عدنان عمران) (born 1934) is a Syrian diplomat and politician who served as information minister from 2000 to 2003.

For the Syrian general, see Adnan Omran (officer).

Adnan Omran
Minister of Information
In office
14 March 2000 – 10 September 2003
President
Prime MinisterMohammad Mustafa Mero
Preceded byMohammad Salman
Succeeded byAhmad Hassan
Personal details
Born1934 (age 88–89)
Political partySyrian Regional Branch of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party
Alma mater

Early life and education

Omran was born in 1934.[1] He holds a bachelor's degree in public law, which he received from Syrian University in Damascus in 1956.[1] Then he obtained a diploma in Syrian private law. He also received a diploma in diplomatic studies and international law from Columbia University in New York City in 1964.[1]

Career

After graduation, Omran began to serve as a member of the permanent mission of Syria to the United Nations in 1964.[1] Two years later he was named as first secretary of the Syrian Embassy in Moscow.[1][2] His tenure ended in 1968, and he served as counsel general of the Syrian Arab Republic in Berlin until 1970. Next he was appointed director of the international organisations department and special offices at the Syrian foreign ministry.[1] He served there until 1974. Then he was named as Syrian ambassador to the United Kingdom and then, to Sweden from 1974 to 1980.[1][2]

Omran began to assume political positions in 1980. His first political post was assistant secretary general for political affairs, which he held until 1996.[1][2] 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.[3][4] In 1996, Omran was appointed deputy foreign minister and served in this post until 1998.[1] He was a member of the Ba'ath Party's central committee in 2000.[5]

He was appointed minister of information on 14 March 2000 to the cabinet headed by Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa Mero under Hafez Assad.[6][7] Omran replaced Mohammad Salman as information minister. Omran's appointment raised hopes that Syrian media would be given more liberty.[8] However, on 29 January 2001, Omran argued that the term civil society was developed by the US and that its meaning was modified by the opposition groups in Syria in an attempt to form political parties.[9] He continued to serve as information minister after the first cabinet reshuffle by Bashar al-Assad when he became the president.[3][10] In September 2003, Mero resigned from office, and Mohammad Naji Al Otari formed a new cabinet.[11] Omran was replaced by Ahmad Hassan as information minister on 10 September 2003.[11]

Omran was named as a member of the Committee of Patrons of the Anglo-Arab Organisation in January 2003.[1] As of 2008 he was secretary general of the Arab Parliament.[2]

References
  1. "His Excellency Mr Adnan Omran". Anglo-Arab Organisation. Archived from the original on 4 November 2010. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
  2. Chris Abbott; Sophie Marsden (20 March 2009). "From within and without: Sustainable security in the Middle East and North Africa" (Report). reliefweb. Oxford Research Group. p. 9.
  3. Gary C. Gambill (March 2000). "Bashar Reshuffles Syrian Government". Middle East Intelligence Bulletin. 2 (3).
  4. Richard Owen (1996). The Times Guide to World Organisations: Their Role and Reach in the New World Order. London: Times Books. p. 26. ISBN 978-0-7230-0789-0.
  5. Bruce Maddy-Weitzman, ed. (2002). Middle East Contemporary Survey. Vol. 24. Tel Aviv: The Moshe Dayan Center. p. 558. ISBN 978-965-224-054-5.
  6. "The Government". Reuters. March 2000. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
  7. "New Syrian government the beginning of a new phase, but no change in mainlines". Arabic News. 15 March 2000. Archived from the original on 12 October 2008. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
  8. The Middle East and North Africa 2003 (49th ed.). London; New York: Europa Publications. 2003. p. 1019. ISBN 978-1-85743-132-2.
  9. Gary C. Gambill (February 2001). "Dark Days Ahead for Syria's Liberal Reformers". Middle East Intelligence. 3 (2 Bulletin).
  10. "New Syrian Government Formed; Veteran Guards Retain Defence and Foreign Portfolios". Albawaba. 14 December 2001. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  11. "Syria's PM appoints new cabinet". BBC. 18 September 2003. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
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