Preceded by Mouafak Nassar Name Sami Khiyami Profession Politician | Spouse(s) Yamna Farhan Nationality Syrian | |
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Education American University of Beirut | ||
Sami Khiyami is a Syrian diplomat, currently Syrian ambassador to London.
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Background
Khiyami studied at university in Beirut, Lebanon, and Lyon, France. An electronics expert by training, he has held a number of professional roles, including senior advisor to the Syrian banking industry and a member of the board of Syrian Arab Airlines. He speaks Arabic, English, French, and German.
Issues
In July 2006 Khiyami announced to the London media that Syria 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On April 28, 2011, Khiyami's invitation to Prince William's wedding was formally withdrawn due to Syria's violent response to protesters. Labour MPs said that his presence would have been "bordering on grotesque".