Muhammad Mustafa Mero
Encyclopedia
Muhammad Mustafa Mero (born Al-Tall
, 1941) is a former Prime Minister of Syria who held the post between 2000 and 2003.
and humanitarian sciences. He joined the Arab Teachers' Union becoming its secretary general for cultural affairs and publications. His earliest official appointment was in 1980 as mayor of Daraa, a small city on Syria's southern borders with Jordan
. In 1986 Mero was appointed as mayor of al-Hasakah
in northeast Syria, where he served for seven years. He was promoted to become governor of Aleppo Governorate
, which borders Turkey
to the north and holds Syria's second-biggest city Aleppo
. Despite regional tensions between Syria and Turkey at the time, he was said to have enjoyed good relations with the Turkish government and was integral in dealings between the two governments.
, Mero was appointed as prime minister. His cabinet was announced on 13 March 2000, and was tasked with tackling economic reforms and combatting corruption. After the death of President Hafez al-Assad
, he was retained by the new president, Bashar al-Assad
, and was promoted within the ranks of the ruling Baath Party
. Mero headed a ministerial and commercial delegation to neighboring Iraq
in August 2001, becoming the first Syrian prime minister to visit the country since the Gulf War
. In December 2001, in an effort to stimulate economic reform, Mero was charged with forming a new cabinet
, which saw extensive reorganization with several "pro-reform" ministers appointed to strategic portfolios related to the economy. His premiership also oversaw improving ties with Turkey
. In July 2003, Mero became the first Syrian prime minister to visit Turkey in 17 years, where he signed three agreements on health, oil and natural gas, and customs matters. Mero resigned his post in early September 2003, reportedly due to the stagnation of the process of economic reform.
Al-Tall
Al-Tall was a Palestinian village 14 km northeast of Acre in the British Mandate District of Acre. Depopulated as a result of military assault and capture during the 1947-1948 Civil War in Mandatory Palestine as part of Operation Operation Ben-Ami by the Carmeli Brigade of the Israel Defense...
, 1941) is a former Prime Minister of Syria who held the post between 2000 and 2003.
Early life, education and career
Mero attended Damascus University and attained a Ph.D. in Arabic literatureArabic literature
Arabic literature is the writing produced, both prose and poetry, by writers in the Arabic language. The Arabic word used for literature is adab which is derived from a meaning of etiquette, and implies politeness, culture and enrichment....
and humanitarian sciences. He joined the Arab Teachers' Union becoming its secretary general for cultural affairs and publications. His earliest official appointment was in 1980 as mayor of Daraa, a small city on Syria's southern borders with Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
. In 1986 Mero was appointed as mayor of al-Hasakah
Al-Hasakah
Al-Hasakah...
in northeast Syria, where he served for seven years. He was promoted to become governor of Aleppo Governorate
Aleppo Governorate
Aleppo Governorate is one of the fourteen governorates of Syria. It is the most populous governorate in Syria with a population of more than 4,744,000 , almost 23% of the total population of Syria. The governorate is the fifth in area with an area of 18,482 km², about 10% of the total area of...
, which borders Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
to the north and holds Syria's second-biggest city Aleppo
Aleppo
Aleppo is the largest city in Syria and the capital of Aleppo Governorate, the most populous Syrian governorate. With an official population of 2,301,570 , expanding to over 2.5 million in the metropolitan area, it is also one of the largest cities in the Levant...
. Despite regional tensions between Syria and Turkey at the time, he was said to have enjoyed good relations with the Turkish government and was integral in dealings between the two governments.
Prime minister
In March 2000, shortly before the death of President Hafez al-AssadHafez al-Assad
Hafez ibn 'Ali ibn Sulayman al-Assad or more commonly Hafez al-Assad was the President of Syria for three decades. Assad's rule consolidated the power of the central government after decades of coups and counter-coups, such as Operation Wappen in 1957 conducted by the Eisenhower administration and...
, Mero was appointed as prime minister. His cabinet was announced on 13 March 2000, and was tasked with tackling economic reforms and combatting corruption. After the death of President Hafez al-Assad
Hafez al-Assad
Hafez ibn 'Ali ibn Sulayman al-Assad or more commonly Hafez al-Assad was the President of Syria for three decades. Assad's rule consolidated the power of the central government after decades of coups and counter-coups, such as Operation Wappen in 1957 conducted by the Eisenhower administration and...
, he was retained by the new president, Bashar al-Assad
Bashar al-Assad
Bashar al-Assad is the President of Syria and Regional Secretary of the Ba'ath Party. His father Hafez al-Assad ruled Syria for 29 years until his death in 2000. Al-Assad was elected in 2000, re-elected in 2007, unopposed each time.- Early Life :...
, and was promoted within the ranks of the ruling Baath Party
Baath Party
The Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party was a political party mixing Arab nationalist and Arab socialist interests, opposed to Western imperialism, and calling for the renaissance or resurrection and unification of the Arab world into a single state. Ba'ath is also spelled Ba'th or Baath and means...
. Mero headed a ministerial and commercial delegation to neighboring Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
in August 2001, becoming the first Syrian prime minister to visit the country since the Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
. In December 2001, in an effort to stimulate economic reform, Mero was charged with forming a new cabinet
Cabinet of Syria (2001-2003)
This was the first Syrian cabinet formed during the presidency of Bashar al-Assad. It was announced on 13 December 2001, by Prime Minister Muhammad Mustafa Mero...
, which saw extensive reorganization with several "pro-reform" ministers appointed to strategic portfolios related to the economy. His premiership also oversaw improving ties with Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. In July 2003, Mero became the first Syrian prime minister to visit Turkey in 17 years, where he signed three agreements on health, oil and natural gas, and customs matters. Mero resigned his post in early September 2003, reportedly due to the stagnation of the process of economic reform.