Salim Yasin


Salim Said Yasin is a Syrian economist and former deputy prime minister for economic affairs.

Early life and education

Yasin was born in Lattakia on 10 October 1937. He received a bachelor's degree from Damascus University in 1960. He obtained a master's degree in economics from the University of Colorado in 1963, and a PhD in 1965.

Career

After graduation, Yasin began to work as director of the Lattakia petroleum installation in 1960 and served there for one year. From 1961 to 1965 he worked as a civil servant. Then he served as assistant professor of economics at the University of Aleppo from 1966 to 1970. He was appointed vice dean of the faculty of commerce of the same university and his tenure lasted from 1967 to 1969. He served as acting president of Aleppo University from 1969 to 1970. Then he became associate professor of economics and president of the University of Lattakia where he served from 1971 to 1978. He was appointed transport minister and then minister of planning. Next he was named minister of economy and foreign trade and held the post from 1981 to 1985.
Yasin was appointed deputy prime minister in 1985. Since Abdel Rauf Al Kassem resigned, a new government was formed on 2 November 1987, and Mahmoud Zuabi was appointed prime minister. Yasin retained his post together with other two deputy prime ministers, namely Mustafa Tlass and Mahmoud Qaddour. Yasin was in office until March 2000 and replaced by Khalid Raad. Then Yasin returned to teaching post at Damascus University. Following the death of Hafez Assad he was made a member of the Baath Party's regional command in June 2000.

Controversy

In June 2000, Yasin was arrested and imprisoned on charges of embezzlement for which former prime minister Mahmoud Zuabi was also accused. His family assets were also frozen by the government. Then he was freed in November 2000. However, on 8 December 2001, he and former transport minister Mufid Abdul Karim were sentenced to ten years in prison and fined for $240 million.