Hassan al-Alawi is an ambassador for Iraq in Damascus

News reports said that the Syrian foreign ministry notified the Iraqi authorities its consent to increase the degree of diplomatic representation to the "ambassadorial" level from what was until recently "Charge de affairs" level.

It is known that the Iraqi authorities had notified the Syrian authorities of nominating Hassan al-Alawi to be its first accredited ambassador in Damascus.

Hassan al-Alawi is a well-known writer, worked for long in the press and had several posts including the press secretary for the former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein before he had disputed with him after which he chose Damascus as an optional exile until the change made in Iraq with the introduction of the American occupation. He returned back to Baghdad and was chosen for this post.