List of ambassadors of Spain to Syria

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Ambassador of Spain to Syria
Coat of arms of Spain
Incumbent
Francisco Javier Puga Llopis
(chargé d'affaires a.i.)
since August 2024
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Secretariat of State for Foreign Affairs
StyleThe Most Excellent
ResidenceBeirut (since 2012)
NominatorThe Foreign Minister
AppointerThe Monarch
Term lengthAt the government's pleasure
Inaugural holderRamón Sáenz de Heredia
Formation1956
WebsiteMission of Spain to Syria

The ambassador of Spain to Syria is the official representative of the Kingdom of Spain to the Syrian Arab Republic. The embassy is not operational and diplomatic and consular affairs are handled by a chargé d'affaires based in Beirut.

Spain began to show interest in the Middle East —not counting Jerusalem— in the mid-19th century. Agreements with the Ottoman Empire allowed the establishment of consulates in several provinces of the empire, among them, the Consulate-General for Syria and Palestine, located in Beirut, with Antonio Bernal de O'Reilly as its first consul.[1] Spain also had a Vice-Consulate in Damascus.[2] Precisely, during this time the consul had to intervene due to the 1860 civil conflict in Mount Lebanon and Damascus; at this time, a Spanish convent in Damascus was looted and the religious were murdered, and Spain claimed a compensation.[1]

Almost a century later, on 3 April 1948, Spain, under the dictatorship of Francisco Franco, established diplomatic relations with the First Syrian Republic.[3] In May 1949, Joaquín Castillo y Caballero, 6th Marquess of Castro de Torres, was appointed Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, resident in Beirut.[4] In 1956, Ramón Sáenz de Heredia y de Manzanos, who had been minister to Siria since 1954,[5] was granted the rank of ambassador, elevating the diplomatic relations to the highest level.[6] Briefly, between 1958 and 1962, during the United Arab Republic, the embassy was merged with that in Cairo, and the diplomatic representation in Damascus was downgraded to Consulate-General.

As a result of the Syrian civil war, tensions began between the two governments. In February 2012, Spanish ambassador in Damascus was recalled[7] and, the following month, the embassy was closed indefinitely.[8] In May 2012, diplomatic relations were definetly halted after Spain expelled the Syrian ambassador and four other diplomats.[9] Following the collapse of the regime of Bashar al-Assad, Spain appointed an special envoy to Syria to support the chargé d'affaires[10] and raised the Spanish flag at the Embassy after 12 years.[11]

List of ambassadors

[edit]
Ambassador Term Nominated by Appointed by Accredited to
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
- Joaquín Castillo Caballero[a]
Marquess of Castro de Torres 		1 May 1949[12]
–
20 March 1953
(3 years, 323 days) 		Alberto Martín-Artajo Francisco Franco Husni al-Za'im
- Pelayo García-Olay Alvarez 30 March 1953[13]
–
30 July 1954
(1 year, 122 days) 		Fawzi Selu
- Ramón Sáenz de Heredia 30 July 1954[5]
–
4 March 1956
(1 year, 218 days) 		Hashim al-Atassi
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
1 Ramón Sáenz de Heredia 4 March 1956[6]
–
8 June 1956
(96 days) 		Alberto Martín-Artaj Francisco Franco Shukri al-Quwatli
2 Juan José Pradera Ortega [es] 8 June 1956[14]
–
22 February 1958
(1 year, 259 days)
Embassy in Damascus merged with the Embassy in Cairo. Diplomatic mission downgraded to Consulate-General.
3 Miguel María de Lojendio Irure [es] 16 March 1962[15]
–
6 April 1964
(2 years, 21 days) 		Fernando María Castiella Francisco Franco Nazim al-Qudsi
4 Juan José Rovira y Sánchez Herrero 17 April 1964[16]
–
13 November 1969
(5 years, 210 days) 		Amin al-Hafiz
5 Nuño Aguirre de Cárcer [es] 7 February 1970[17]
–
21 August 1972
(2 years, 196 days) 		Gregorio López-Bravo Nureddin al-Atassi
6 Gabriel Mañueco de Lecea [es] 21 August 1972[18]
–
20 April 1976
(3 years, 243 days) 		Hafez al-Assad
7 José Joaquín Zavala y Alcíbar-Jáuregui 20 April 1976[19]
–
8 June 1978
(2 years, 49 days) 		The Count of Motrico Juan Carlos I
8 Félix Guillermo Fernández-Shaw Baldasano [es] 28 August 1978[20]
–
21 March 1983
(4 years, 205 days) 		The Marquess of Oreja
9 Felipe de la Morena y Calvet 18 April 1983[21]
–
26 February 1987
(3 years, 314 days) 		Fernando Morán
10 Jesús Carlos Riosalido Gambotti 23 March 1987[22]
–
1 August 1990
(3 years, 131 days) 		Francisco Fernández Ordóñez
11 Gil Armangué Ríus 1 August 1990[23]
–
20 August 1993
(3 years, 19 days)
12 Manuel Gómez de Valenzuela 31 August 1993[24]
–
15 January 1998
(4 years, 137 days) 		Javier Solana
13 Javier Navarro Izquierdo 15 January 1998[25]
–
17 November 2001
(3 years, 306 days) 		Abel Matutes
14 Manuel Cacho Quesada 8 December 2001[26]
–
14 May 2005
(3 years, 157 days) 		Josep Piqué Bashar al-Assad
15 Juan Ramón Serrat [es] 25 June 2005[27]
–
21 August 2010
(5 years, 57 days) 		Miguel Ángel Moratinos
16 Julio Albi de la Cuesta [es] 21 August 2010[28]
–
21 December 2012[b]
(2 years, 122 days)
Chargé d'affaires, resident in Beirut.
- Santiago Jiménez Martín September 2012
–
August 2015
(2 years, 334 days) 		-
- Juan Criado Clemente August 2015
–
August 2019
(4 years, 0 days) 		-
- José Antonio Ruiz de Casas August 2019[29]
–
August 2021
(2 years, 0 days) 		-
- Mariana de Jesús Figueroa Sánchez August 2021[30]
–
August 2024
(3 years, 0 days) 		-
- Francisco Javier Puga Llopis August 2024[31]
–
14 May 2005
(1 year, 75 days) 		-

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Resident in Beirut, Lebanon.
  2. ^ Recalled since February 2012.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Martín Asuero, Pablo (2005). "Representantes españoles en el Imperio Otomano, entre la diplomacia, la crónica y la literatura (1864-1886)" [Spanish representatives in the Ottoman Empire, between diplomacy, chronicle and literature (1864-1886)] (PDF). Arbor: ciencia, pensamiento y cultura (in Spanish) (711–712): 775–776. doi:10.3989/arbor. eISSN 1988-303X. ISSN 0210-1963. Antonio Bernal de O'Reilly, es nombrado Cónsul General en Siria y Palestina en 1863. El consulado español en Siria estaba situado en Beirut y durante su estancia atendía también a los asuntos en Palestina [...] [Antonio Bernal de O'Reilly was appointed Consul General to Syria and Palestine in 1863. The Spanish consulate in Syria was located in Beirut, and during his stay he also attended to affairs in Palestine [...]]
  2. ^ Martín Asuero, Pablo (2005). "Representantes españoles en el Imperio Otomano, entre la diplomacia, la crónica y la literatura (1864-1886)" [Spanish representatives in the Ottoman Empire, between diplomacy, chronicle and literature (1864-1886)] (PDF). Arbor: ciencia, pensamiento y cultura (in Spanish) (711–712): 778. doi:10.3989/arbor. eISSN 1988-303X. ISSN 0210-1963. El 4 de noviembre de 1865 Adolfo de Mentaberry es nombrado vicecónsul en Damasco de donde pasará a Estambul en 1867. [On November 4, 1865, Adolfo Mentaberry is appointed Vice-Consul in Damascus and later in Istanbul in 1867.]
  3. ^ Amsélem, Alberto J. Lleonart y (1978). España y ONU: 1948-49 (in Spanish). Editorial CSIC - CSIC Press. ISBN 978-84-00-06069-5.
  4. ^ Ministry of Foreign Affairs (May 1, 1949). "Decreto de 22 de abril de 1949 por el que se nombra Enviado Extraordinario y Ministro Plenipotenciario de España cerca de S. E. el Presidente de la República de Siria a don Joaquín Castillo y Caballero" [Decree of April 22, 1949, appointing Mr. Joaquín Castillo y Caballero as Extraordinary Envoy and Minister Plenipotentiary of Spain to H.E. the President of the Republic of Syria.] (PDF). Official State Gazette (in Spanish). Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  5. ^ a b Ministry of Foreign Affairs (July 30, 1954). "Decreto de 20 de julio de 1954 por el que se nombra Enviado Extraordinario y Ministro Plenipotenciario de España cerca de Su Excelencia el Presidente de Siria a don Ramón Sáenz de Heredia y de Manzanos, Ministro Plenipotenciario de tercera clase" (PDF). Official State Gazette. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  6. ^ a b Ministry of Foreign Affairs (March 4, 1956). "Decreto de 17 de febrero de 1956 por el que se designa Embajador de España cerca de Su Excelencia el Presidente de Siria al Ministro Plenipotenciario don Ramón Sáenz de Heredia y de Manzanos" (PDF). Official State Gazette. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  7. ^ EFE (February 7, 2012). "España llama a consultas a su embajador en Siria ante el agravamiento de la situación en el país". RTVE.es (in Spanish). Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  8. ^ González, Miguel (March 6, 2012). "Madrid shuts its embassy in Damascus". EL PAÍS English. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  9. ^ Reuters (May 9, 2012). "Spain to expel Syrian ambassador - foreign ministry". www.reuters.com. Retrieved October 13, 2025. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  10. ^ AGENCIAS, RTVE es / (December 23, 2024). "España refuerza su embajada en Siria con un enviado especial para el Gobierno de transición". RTVE.es (in Spanish). Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  11. ^ "Spain raises flag at Damascus embassy after 12-year closure". France 24. January 16, 2025. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  12. ^ Ministry of Foreign Affairs (May 1, 1949). "Decreto de 22 de abril de 1949 por el que se nombra Enviado Extraordinario y Ministro Plenipotenciario de España cerca de Su Excelencia el Presidente de la República de Siria a don Joaquín Castillo y Caballero" (PDF). Official State Gazette. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  13. ^ Ministry of Foreign Affairs (March 30, 1953). "Decreto de 20 de marzo de 1953 por el que se nombra Enviado, Extraordinario y Ministro Plenipotenciario de España cerca de Su Excelencia el Presidente de Siria a don Pelayo García-Olay y Alvarez" (PDF). Official State Gazette. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  14. ^ Ministry of Foreign Affairs (June 8, 1956). "Decreto de 8 de junio de 1956 por el que se nombra Embajador de España cerca de Su Excelencia el Presidente de Siria a don Juan José Pradera Ortega" (PDF). Official State Gazette. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  15. ^ Ministry of Foreign Affairs (March 16, 1962). "Decreto 195/1962, de 8 de marzo, por el que se designa Embajador de España cerca de Su Excelencia el Presidente de República de Siria a don Manuel María de Lojendio Irure" (PDF). Official State Gazette. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  16. ^ Ministry of Foreign Affairs (April 17, 1964). "Decreto 969/1964, de 18 de marzo, por el que se designa Embajador de España en Damasco a don Juan José Rovira y Sánchez Herrero" (PDF). Official State Gazette. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  17. ^ Ministry of Foreign Affairs (February 7, 1970). "Decreto 248/1970, de 6 de febrero, por el que se designa Embajador de España en Siria a don Nuño Aguirre de Cárcer y López de Sagredo" (PDF). Official State Gazette. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  18. ^ Ministry of Foreign Affairs (August 21, 1972). "Decreto 2189/1972, de 18 de agosto, por el que se designa Embajador de España en Siria a don Gabriel Mañueco de Lecea" (PDF). Official State Gazette. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  19. ^ Ministry of Foreign Affairs (April 20, 1976). "Decreto 817/1976, de 2 de abril, por el que se designa Embajador de España en Damasco a don José Joaquín Zavala y Alcíbar-Jáuregui" (PDF). Official State Gazette. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  20. ^ Ministry of Foreign Affairs (August 28, 1978). "Real Decreto 2009/1978, de 25 de agosto, por el que se designa Embajador de España en la República de Chipre a don Félix Guillermo Fernández-Shaw Baldasano, con residencia en Damasco" (PDF). Official State Gazette. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  21. ^ Ministry of Foreign Affairs (April 18, 1983). "Real Decreto 807/1983, de 13 de abril, por el que se designa Embajador de España en la República Arabe Siria a don Felipe de la Morena Calvet" (PDF). Official State Gazette. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  22. ^ Ministry of Foreign Affairs (March 23, 1987). "Real Decreto 407/1987, de 18 de marzo, por el que se designa Embajador de España en la República Arabe Siria a don Jesús Carlos Riosalido Gambotti" (PDF). Official State Gazette. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  23. ^ Ministry of Foreign Affairs (August 1, 1990). "Real Decreto 1008/1990, de 30 de julio, por el que se designa Embajador de España en la República Arabe Siria a don Gil Armangué Rius" (PDF). Official State Gazette. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  24. ^ Ministry of Foreign Affairs (August 31, 1993). "Real Decreto 1439/1993, de 27 de agosto, por el que se designa a don Manuel Gómez de Valenzuela Embajador de España en la República Arabe Siria" (PDF). Official State Gazette. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  25. ^ Ministry of Foreign Affairs (January 15, 1998). "Real Decreto 12/1998, de 9 de enero, por el que se designa a don Javier Navarro Izquierdo Embajador de España en la República Árabe Siria". Official State Gazette. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  26. ^ Ministry of Foreign Affairs (December 8, 2001). "Real Decreto 1382/2001, de 7 de diciembre, por el que se designa embajador de España en la República Árabe Siria a don Manuel Cacho Quesada". Official State Gazette. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  27. ^ Ministry of Foreign Affairs (June 25, 2005). "Real Decreto 765/2005, de 24 de junio, por el que se designa Embajador de España en la República Árabe Siria a don Juan Serrat Cuenca-Romero". Official State Gazette. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  28. ^ Ministry of Foreign Affairs (August 21, 2010). "Real Decreto 1079/2010, de 20 de agosto, por el que se designa Embajador de España en la República Árabe Siria a don Julio Albi de la Cuesta". Official State Gazette. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  29. ^ Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation (April 15, 2019). "Resolución de 10 de abril de 2019, de la Subsecretaría, por la que se resuelve la convocatoria de libre designación, efectuada por Resolución de 12 de febrero de 2019, en la Carrera Diplomática". Official State Gazette. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  30. ^ Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation (April 22, 2021). "Resolución de 19 de abril de 2021, de la Subsecretaría, por la que se resuelve la convocatoria de libre designación, efectuada por Resolución de 10 de febrero de 2021, en la Carrera Diplomática". Official State Gazette. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  31. ^ Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation (April 20, 2024). "Resolución de 18 de abril de 2024, de la Subsecretaría, por la que se resuelve la convocatoria de libre designación en la Carrera Diplomática, efectuada por Resolución de 9 de febrero de 2024". Official State Gazette. Retrieved October 12, 2025.