Jean Wadih Makaron (; born 7 June 1956) is a Lebanese career diplomat, jurist and academic who served as

Lebanon Lebanon ( , ar, لُبْنَان, translit=lubnān, ), officially the Republic of Lebanon () or the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is located between Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus li ...

Ambassador An ambassador is an official envoy, especially a high-ranking diplomat who represents a state and is usually accredited to another sovereign state or to an international organization as the resident representative of their own government or sov ...

from 2007 to 2020 in the

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and

Armenia Armenia (), , group=pron officially the Republic of Armenia,, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of Western Asia.The UNbr>classification of world regions places Armenia in Western Asia; the CIA World Factbook , , and ''Ox ...

. He served in several diplomatic missions including

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

United Kingdom of Great Britain United may refer to: Places * United, Pennsylvania, an unincorporated community * United, West Virginia, an unincorporated community Arts and entertainment Films * United (2003 film), ''United'' (2003 film), a Norwegian film * United (2011 film) ...

;

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

USA The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

;

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, Hellenic Republic;

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;

Kuwait City Kuwait City ( ar, مدينة الكويت) is the capital and largest city of Kuwait. Located at the heart of the country on the south shore of Kuwait Bay on the Persian Gulf, it is the political, cultural and economical centre of the emirate, ...

, State of Kuwait.

Early life and education

Makaron was born in

Rayak Rayaq - Haouch Hala ( ar, رياق), also romanized Rayak, is a Lebanese town in the Beqaa Governorate near the city of Zahlé. In the early 20th century and up to 1975 and the outbreak of the civil war, it was Lebanon's most important railway ...

in the

Beqaa Governorate Beqaa ( ') is a governorate in Lebanon. Districts Since 2014, Beqaa Governorate contains three districts: * West Beqaa * Rashaya * Zahle A law was passed in 2003 to separate Baalbek District and Hermel District from Beqaa Governorate to form a ...

on 7 June 1956, the youngest of three children. Born in a prominent Catholic Melkite family, his father Wadih Makaron was

mukhtar A mukhtar ( ar, مختار, mukhtār, chosen one; el, μουχτάρης) is a village chief in the Levant: "an old institution that goes back to the time of the Ottoman rule". According to Amir S. Cheshin, Bill Hutman and Avi Melamed, the muk ...

from 1964 until 1996. He completed his university education at the

Lebanese University The Lebanese University (LU) (, ) is the only public university in Beirut, Lebanon. It is ranked #701–750 worldwide in terms of education. The creation of the Lebanese University was an idea first mentioned in the speech of the former Minist ...

where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in

Law Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. It has been vario ...

History History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the History of writing#Inventions of writing, invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbr ...

and

Political science Political science is the scientific study of politics. It is a social science dealing with systems of governance and power, and the analysis of political activities, political thought, political behavior, and associated constitutions and la ...

in 1982 and obtained a master's degree in Public law. From 1987 to 1992, Makaron was a lecturer at the

, during which time he also received a doctorate in Public Law.

Diplomatic career

Makaron began his diplomatic career as an attaché the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1992 before being deployed on foreign mission to the Lebanese Embassy in London. He was chosen as the

general consul A consul is an official representative of the government of one Sovereign state, state in the territory of another, normally acting to assist and protect the citizens of the consul's own country, as well as to facilitate trade and friendship be ...

of Lebanon to

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from 1999 to 2001. He notably worked on creating the Lebanese American Foundation, which has been formed to establish th
House of Lebanon
in the Los Angeles area, a non-profit organization focused on connecting the Lebanese Community in Southern California. He was appointed

of Lebanon to

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

in 2006 and served in this capacity until 2007 when he was appointed Ambassador Plenipotentiary and Extraordinary of Lebanon to the Republic of Cuba. In 2013 Makaron was appointed ambassador to the

Republic of Armenia A republic () is a "state in which power rests with the people or their representatives; specifically a state without a monarchy" and also a "government, or system of government, of such a state." Previously, especially in the 17th and 18th c ...

, where he strengthened ties between Lebanon and Armenia and promoted economic and political cooperation in various projects within Lebanon most notably with the launching of the

Middle East Airlines Middle East Airlines – Air Liban S.A.L. ( ar, طيران الشرق الأوسط ـ الخطوط الجوية اللبنانية ''Ṭayyarān al-Sharq al-Awsaṭ – al-Khuṭūṭ al-jawiyyah al-lubnāniyyah''), more commonly known as Middle ...

flight connecting Beirut and Yerevan, while also deepening bilateral cooperation in the domain of justice between the Ministry of Justice of Armenia and Lebanon. He also launched the Ambassadors without Borders Organisation. In 2019 Makaron was appointed as the chargé affairs to Lebanese embassy in the state of Kuwait where he played a significant role in developing Lebanese-Kuwaiti relations. He also contributed to the establishment of a Lebanese Economic Council in Kuwait, which contributes to strengthening economic, investment and trade relations between the Lebanese business community in Kuwait and the Kuwaiti business community and government bodies. Makaron has also been a delegate of Lebanon in many conferences within the United Nations.

Personal life

Makaron married lawyer Graziella Saliba in June 1995. They have two children named Sandrine and Robin.

Decorations

In June 2018, at the building of the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants in Beirut, the Royal House of Ghassan honored Makaron
HRH Prince Gharios El Chemor
bestowed upon the Ambassador the rank of Knight Commander of the Order of Saint Michael Archangel. The president of the Royal House of Ghassan in Lebanon Sheikh Dr Elie Gharios was present in the meeting.

External activities

Member of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), London since 1998.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Makaron, Jean Lebanese diplomats 1956 births Living people