Ghassan Salameh is an academic and diplomat specializing in political science, law, and international relations.
He earned his law degree from Saint Joseph University in Beirut before moving to Paris, where he completed advanced studies in law, political science, and literature, earning three PhDs in these fields.
Salameh has taught at various Lebanese, French, and American universities, with a focus on international relations and political theories.
He served as Lebanon’s Minister of Culture under Prime Minister Rafic Hariri’s government. During this time, he played a key role in organizing the Arab Summit held in Beirut, where Arab leaders endorsed the Arab Peace Initiative. He also oversaw the organization of the Francophonie Summit in Lebanon.
Salameh worked as a political advisor for the United Nations mission in Iraq, contributing significantly to the establishment of the Iraqi Interim Governing Council after the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime. He survived the bombing that targeted the UN headquarters in Iraq, which resulted in the deaths of many people, including the UN Special Representative to Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres appointed Salameh as the UN Special Envoy to Libya, succeeding German diplomat Martin Kobler.
Salameh is also the author of several influential books and articles in both French and Arabic, covering political and intellectual transformations in the Arab world. His notable works include: “Towards a New Arab Covenant: A Study in Constitutional Legitimacy,” “America and the World: The Temptation of Power and Its Limits,” and “Saudi Foreign Policy Since 1945: A Study in International Relations.”
