Sabah Qabbani
Encyclopedia
Sabah Qabbani (born June 5, 1928) was appointed ambassador of Syria
to the United States
by President Hafez Al-Asad in 1974. The post had been vacant since 1967 when diplomatic relations between Syria
and the United States
were severed following the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. Ties between the two countries were restored following President Richard Nixon
's tour of the Middle East. Qabbani was the founder of the Syrian Television and its first director. Prior to his posting in Washington
he was Syria’s envoy to Indonesia
and Syria's consul in New York.
in Paris. . After returning to Syria, he joined the Ministry of Culture and became director of the Syrian Radio programs in 1952. He helped promote Arab stars such as Abdel Halim Hafez
and Doreid Lahham. Then on July 23, 1960, Qabbani became the director of Syrian Television during the Egyptian-Syrian union. In 1962, Qabbani joined the Ministry of Foreign affairs and became Syria's consul in New York. After returning to Syria in 1966, he became director of press and media at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He remained at his post until becoming Syria's envoy to Indonesia in 1968. In 1973, Qabbani returned to Syria and became director of the European and US desks at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was later appointed ambassador to the United States
from 1974 until 1980.
, Syria
. He was raised in Mi'thnah Al-Shahm, one of the neighborhoods of old Damascus. Sabah Qabbani's father, Tawfiq Qabbani was a prominent merchant and a member of the National Bloc
during the Syrian Mandate years.
In 1956, he was married to Maha Naamani, the niece of Said al-Ghazzi
, former Prime Minister of Syria. He is the brother of the Arab poet Nizar Qabbani
. Qabbani's great uncle, Abu Khalil Qabbani
, was one of the leading innovators in Arab
dramatic literature.
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....
to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by President Hafez Al-Asad in 1974. The post had been vacant since 1967 when diplomatic relations between 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....
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
were severed following the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. Ties between the two countries were restored following President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
's tour of the Middle East. Qabbani was the founder of the Syrian Television and its first director. Prior to his posting in Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
he was Syria’s envoy to Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
and Syria's consul in New York.
Background
Qabbani received a degree in law from Damascus University in 1952 and a PhD in International Law from SorbonneSorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
in Paris. . After returning to Syria, he joined the Ministry of Culture and became director of the Syrian Radio programs in 1952. He helped promote Arab stars such as Abdel Halim Hafez
Abdel Halim Hafez
Abdel Halim Ali Shabana commonly known as Abdel Halim Hafez , is among the most popular Egyptian and Arab singers and performers. In addition to singing, Halim was also an actor, conductor, business man, music teacher and movie producer...
and Doreid Lahham. Then on July 23, 1960, Qabbani became the director of Syrian Television during the Egyptian-Syrian union. In 1962, Qabbani joined the Ministry of Foreign affairs and became Syria's consul in New York. After returning to Syria in 1966, he became director of press and media at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He remained at his post until becoming Syria's envoy to Indonesia in 1968. In 1973, Qabbani returned to Syria and became director of the European and US desks at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was later appointed ambassador to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
from 1974 until 1980.
Early Life
Qabbani was born in DamascusDamascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
, 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....
. He was raised in Mi'thnah Al-Shahm, one of the neighborhoods of old Damascus. Sabah Qabbani's father, Tawfiq Qabbani was a prominent merchant and a member of the National Bloc
National Bloc
The National Bloc was a Nablus-based party established in 1935 in the British Mandate for Palestine by Abd al-Latif Salah. Salah generally took an anti-Husayni stance.- References :...
during the Syrian Mandate years.
In 1956, he was married to Maha Naamani, the niece of Said al-Ghazzi
Said al-Ghazzi
Said al-Ghazzi is a Syrian lawyer, politician and two time prime minister of Syria. Al-Ghazzi was well known in Syrian politics as an independent liberal which made him a favorite to all in times of crisis.-Career:...
, former Prime Minister of Syria. He is the brother of the Arab poet Nizar Qabbani
Nizar Qabbani
Nizar Tawfiq Qabbani was a Syrian diplomat, poet and publisher. His poetic style combines simplicity and elegance in exploring themes of love, eroticism, feminism, religion, and Arab nationalism...
. Qabbani's great uncle, Abu Khalil Qabbani
Abu Khalil Qabbani
Abu Khalil Qabbani was a Syrian playwright and composer. He is considered the founder of the short musical play in Arabic theatre. His play Abu al-Hassan al-Mughaffal caused a wave of protest as a result of his mockery of Caliph Harun al-Rashid, and ended with a decree by the Ottoman government...
, was one of the leading innovators in Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
dramatic literature.