Sami Khiyami
Encyclopedia
Sami Khiyami is a Syrian
diplomat, currently Syrian ambassador
to London
.
, Lebanon
, and Lyon
, France
. An electronics
expert by training, he has held a number of professional roles, including senior advisor to the Syria
n banking industry and a member of the board of Syrian Arab Airlines
. He speaks Arabic, English, French, and German.
was attempting to dissuade Hezbollah from continuing to launch rocket attacks on Israel
, the latter being part of the claimed justification for Israel
's July air strikes on Lebanon
.
Khiyami has also argued that the international community, when gauging its response to the Middle East
conflict, should examine the totality of the conflict's victims.
Khiyami is seen as collaborating closely with Ghayth Armanazi
of the Syrian Media Centre, London, and the British Syrian Society.
On April 28, 2011, Khiyami's invitation to Prince Williams' wedding was formally withdrawn due to Syria's violent response to protesters
. Labour
MPs said that his presence would have been "bordering on grotesque".
Demographics of Syria
Syrians today are an overall indigenous Levantine people. While modern-day Syrians are commonly described as Arabs by virtue of their modern-day language and bonds to Arab culture and history...
diplomat, currently Syrian ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Background
Khiyami studied at university in BeirutBeirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
, Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
, and Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. An electronics
Electronics
Electronics is the branch of science, engineering and technology that deals with electrical circuits involving active electrical components such as vacuum tubes, transistors, diodes and integrated circuits, and associated passive interconnection technologies...
expert by training, he has held a number of professional roles, including senior advisor to the Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
n banking industry and a member of the board of Syrian Arab Airlines
Syrian Arab Airlines
Syrian Arab Airlines , operating as Syrian Air , is the flag carrier airline of Syria. It operates scheduled international services to over 40 destinations in Asia, Europe and North Africa, as well as domestic services. Its main base is Damascus International Airport. Syrian Air has a fleet of...
. He speaks Arabic, English, French, and German.
Issues
In July 2006 Khiyami announced to the London media that SyriaSyria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
was attempting to dissuade Hezbollah from continuing to launch rocket attacks on Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, the latter being part of the claimed justification for Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
's July air strikes on Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
.
Khiyami has also argued that the international community, when gauging its response to the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
conflict, should examine the totality of the conflict's victims.
Khiyami is seen as collaborating closely with Ghayth Armanazi
Ghayth Armanazi
Ghayth Armanazi is a Syrian media specialist and former diplomat based in London, England.-Background:He was Head of the London Mission of the Arab League from 1992-2000...
of the Syrian Media Centre, London, and the British Syrian Society.
On April 28, 2011, Khiyami's invitation to Prince Williams' wedding was formally withdrawn due to Syria's violent response to protesters
2011 Syrian uprising
The 2011 Syrian uprising is an ongoing internal conflict occurring in Syria. Protests started on 26 January 2011, and escalated into an uprising by 15 March 2011...
. Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
MPs said that his presence would have been "bordering on grotesque".
External links
- Syrian Embassy web page
- The last three months of Bush
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/world_have_your_say/4399230.stm