Faris El-Khouri was a Syrian legal expert and politician.

Was born to a Syrian-Christian family.

Started his political career in 1914 as member of the first parliament established in the Ottoman Empire

Ottoman Empire

The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...

 by the Young Turks

Young Turks

The Young Turks , from French: Les Jeunes Turcs) were a coalition of various groups favouring reformation of the administration of the Ottoman Empire. The movement was against the absolute monarchy of the Ottoman Sultan and favoured a re-installation of the short-lived Kanûn-ı Esâsî constitution...

. During the French mandate of Syria, was active for independence.

Represented Syria at various United Nations

United Nations

The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...

 organs.

In 1947 served as Syrian representative on the General Assembly of the UN and expressed opposition to the plan to partition Palestine into a Jewish and an Arab state.

Served as Prime Minister of Syria from October 1944 to October 1945 and again from November 1954 to February 1955.

Also served as president of the Security Council for August 1947 and June 1948.

Served as member of the International Law Commission

International Law Commission

The International Law Commission was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948 for the "promotion of the progressive development of international law and its codification."It holds an annual session at the United Nations Office at Geneva....

from 1949 to 1961.

For further reading

• Thomas J. Hamilton, "Assembly Votes Palestine Partition; Margin is 33 to 13; Arabs Walk Out; Aranha Hails Work as Session Ends" New York Times, November 30, 1947.