A Syrian document reveals the employment of military officers in the diplomatic corps of the former regime.
The website "Zaman Al-Wasl" revealed an official document issued by the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on April 4, 2022, showing a systematic policy followed by the previous regime of attaching military officers to diplomatic missions, raising questions about the credibility of external representation and diplomatic qualification standards at that time.
The document was signed by the former ambassador "Imad Mustafa" as the director of the Diplomatic Institute, addressed to the Ministry of Defense, requesting permission for four officers from military units involved in Syrian events to join the "Diplomatic Qualification Course" in preparation for their appointment in the diplomatic corps.
According to the document, the four officers belong to military formations involved in suppressing the popular uprising since 2011, notably the "Special Missions Division 25" and the "8th Armored Division," raising suspicions about using diplomacy as a cover to recycle controversial security elements at the international level.
Among the mentioned names, "Mohammed Firas Nioulati" stands out, currently serving in the Syrian mission to the United Nations in New York, after being a member of the "Special Missions Division 25" led by Suheil al-Hassan, a unit accused of committing serious violations in Idlib and Aleppo.
The list also includes the name "Osama Mohammed Mansour" from the 8th Armored Division, who participated in military operations in Damascus and Daraa.
Meanwhile, "Fayez Shaban Shahin" from the General Administration of the Ministry of Defense, with a military affiliation in security agencies involved in violations, raises questions about the selection criteria for diplomats under the previous regime.
The fourth name is "Eyad Mukhlis Abu Hamoud," also belonging to the 8th Armored Division, which played a role in military operations in the outskirts of Daraa and Homs.
In this context, a report by "Zaman Al-Wasl" called for an urgent international scrutiny of the backgrounds of Syrian diplomatic corps employees, especially those appointed since the beginning of the revolution, reviewing their files to determine the extent of their involvement in human rights violations or war crimes, requiring their accountability according to international law.
