Our National Anthem

Country Profile

• Population: 17.8 million (UN, 2003)
• Capital: Damascus
• Area: 185,180 sq km (71,498 sq miles)
• Major language: Arabic
• Major religion: Islam
• Life expectancy: 70 years (men), 73 years (women) (UN)
• Monetary unit: 1 Syrian pound = 100 piastres
• Main exports: Oil, gas
• GNI per capita: US $1,130 (World Bank, 2002)
• Internet domain: .sy
• International dialling code: +963

Syria’s president is Bashar Assad, the son of Hafez Assad, who died in 2000 after 30 years as dictator. The younger Mr Assad is a British-trained ophthalmologist and his succession at first raised hopes for liberalisation. But political restrictions continue and economic reform moves at a snail’s pace.

Syria, with a 35,000-strong occupying army, dominates Lebanese politics. But the two countries' relationship is quietly antagonistic and in September 2004 the UN Security Council asked Syria to withdraw its troops.

Links

Economist
http://www.economist.com/countries/
BBC Website
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/country_profiles/default.stm
CIA Website
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/

Several good Journalists have reported recently on the role that Syria may be playing in the resistance in Iraq. They do not directly assert that the Syrian government has a hand in organizign the resistance, but the suggestion that it is not doing enough to clamp down on the movement of people and money across the border is strong. Iraq's foreign minister recently rebuked the Syrian government, suggesting that relations between the two country's would deteriorate rapidly if something was not done.

Although Syria has had disputes in the past with Israel, their role in the Israel-Palestine conflict has been diminishing as of late. Recently Syria has not been involved in any major conflicts.

As this is the case, the president and prime minister of Syria will not have a large role in said disputes, but we strongly express our support for Palestine and stand behind them; helping out when our help is needed.

"Actually, for me as a Syrian, I don't mind the peace talks at all. If Israel is ready to return back our land and allow the 300 000 Palestinian refugees to go back home, then we will respect Israel. But, unfortunately, it sounds no good to Sharon. I want to remind some American friends that Israel, and not Syria, who attacked USS LIBRETY in 1967, when Israel occupied our land."
Yousef, Syria

"Syria has turned down an Israeli invitation to President Bashar al-Assad to hold peace talks in Jerusalem."
                                  Tuesday, 20 January, 2004

Timeline of Major Events in Recent History:
 Syria has had several rounds of talks with Israel, but the two continue to disagree, especially over water and Syria’s unofficial support of Hizbullah, a guerrilla group. Hafez Assad and the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, were never close, but Bashar pledged his support for Mr Arafat at the Arab summit in March 2001. In October 2003 Israel attacked Syrian territory for the first time in 30 years, and a year later it seemed to have assassinated a Hamas leader in Damascus. Syria responded tepidly to both events.

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