Syria Comment
| Economic News (April 4 2006) | |
Syria Comment  |
On the economic front, the new issue of The Syria Report has come out. As usual it is excellent and well worth the small price. |
| full article | source | read more | 6 reads | |
| "New Year, Old Problems for Kurds in Syria," by Denselow and Taa'i | |
|
Syria Comment |
James Denselow and Abdallah Taa'i have written an article for "Syria Comment" about the recent Nawruz demonstration of the Kurds in Syria and its suppression. BBC writes about the ongoing violence in Turkey which has cost 12 Kurds their lives in recent days. |
| full article | source | read more | 8 reads | |
| Secularists and Islamists demand that Khaddam Apologize | |
|
Syria Comment |
The formation of the National Liberation Front between Khaddam and Bayanouni continues to send shock waves through both the secular and Islamist camps. Both are angry that Khaddam has not apologized for his years of serving the state under Hafiz. |
| full article | source | read more | 10 reads | |
| International banks join boycott of Syria | |
|
Syria Comment |
A European friend writes to say that most international banks are joining the Swiss and US to cut off dealings with the Commercial Bank of Syria. This raises pressure on Syria considerably. |
| full article | source | read more | 10 reads | |
| News Round UP (March 31, 2006) | |
|
Syria Comment |
A new law in Congress against Damascus From Mideastwire.com Bahia Mardini reported in Elaph, a pan-Arab website, on March 30 that: “The Syrian opposition denied, yesterday, media reports and interpretations concerning the statements made by Assistant Secretary of State David Welch in which he confirmed that no communication has been made between the American Administration and the former Syrian vice-President, Abed al-Halim Khaddam, but that Khaddam may have something to say that [the US] wants to hear. The [Syrian] Opposition said that America’s goal on this subject is not to dialogue with Khaddam but ‘to merely listen to the information he has against the Syrian regime’. Khaddam also revealed a new law that the Congress is studying called ‘Syria’s freedom’. |
| full article | source | read more | 9 reads | |
| Syria Rescinds Ban on Religious Lessons in Mosques | |
|
Syria Comment |
Ibrahim Hamidi - the man in Sham - just published an article in al-Hayat explaining that Syrian authorities have set aside the recent decision of the Director of Awqaf in Damascus خالد المعتم Khalid al-Ma`tim, which forbid teaching religion lessons in the mosques and required them to close in between prayer times. |
| full article | source | read more | 8 reads | |
| Asad Interview with Charlie Rose (Aired March 27, 2006) | |
|
Syria Comment |
The full transcript of President Asad's interview with Charlie Rose, which was shown Monday on PBS is now up at SANA. |
| full article | source | read more | 11 reads | |
| New Evidence in Hariri Murder | |
|
Syria Comment | Asharq al-Awsat reports that a new phone call transcript has been given to the UN Hariri investigation team by British intelligence. The phone call was held between a high-ranking Lebanese official and his Syrian counterpart in which the former confirmed to the latter that the assassination had taken place and Al-Hariri had in fact been killed." |
| full article | source | read more | 16 reads | |
| Is a Grand Alliance Forming against Asad? | |
|
Syria Comment | Khaddam planned defection since 2003, Bayanouni reports. |
| full article | source | read more | 12 reads | |
| Can Lebanon fight Syria? | |
|
Syria Comment | Arab foreign ministers to discuss resolution supporting Syria at Khartoum |
| full article | source | read more | 15 reads | |
| What is the Government's Religion Policy? | |
|
Syria Comment |
Is the Syrian Government trying to provoke sectarianism? by an Anonymous Syrian, living in Syria March 20, 2006 One of the central policies of the Baath Party from its inception has been to build “true” national consciousness and to treat all Syrians, regardless of their religious background, as equals. |
| full article | source | read more | 11 reads | |
| The Siddiq Saga continues... (by t_desco) | |
|
Syria Comment |
Zouheir Siddik nie s’être jamais rétracté sur son témoignageZouheir Siddik, un des « témoins-clés » dans l’affaire de l’attentat contre Rafic Hariri, a nié hier s’être « jamais rétracté sur le témoignage » qu’il avait fourni à la commission d’enquête internationale en charge de ce dossier. |
| full article | source | read more | 11 reads | |
| The Silent Treatment | |
|
Syria Comment |
Harvard to remove official seal from anti-AIPAC 'working paper' Harvard University has decided to remove its logo from a study that denounces the pro-Israel lobby's impact on American foreign policy, in order to distance itself from the study's conclusions. The university also appended a more strongly worded disclaimer to the study, stating that it reflects the views of its authors only. |
| full article | source | read more | 11 reads | |
| "The Israeli Lobby," discussed in Haaretz | |
|
Syria Comment |
Sasa at Syria News Wire asks: "Has Khaddam lost his mind - Khaddam accuses Palestinian MP of spying for Israel." Khaddam is accusing Israeli MP, Azme Bashara of having spied on Syria. Sami Moubayed explains why the appointment of Najah al-Attar as Syria's first woman Vice President, may or may not be important. |
| full article | source | read more | 12 reads | |
| Did the Anti-US demonstration Really turn Anti-Regime? A Second Witness | |
|
Syria Comment |
A second observer of the demonstration outside of the Communist Party in Damascus gives us a different point of view of what happened. |
| full article | source | read more | 10 reads | |
| Authorities Forbid Syrians from Meeting US Officials or US-Based Opposition | |
|
Syria Comment |
Radio Sawa is reporting that Syrian authorities have banned meetings by unauthorized Syrians with American officials. |
| full article | source | read more | 14 reads | |
| "Was Syria right to hail Hamas' victory?" by Ibrahim Hamidi | |
|
Syria Comment |
Ibrahim Hamidi has written an interesting think piece in which he imagines what the world will be like for Damascus now that "Syria is surrounded by Islamic regimes or groups that have used elections to gain power." Was Syria right to hail Hamas' victory? By Ibrahim Hamidi Commentary by Monday, March 20, 2006 Syria might be heralding it as a victory, but Hamas' success in the recent Palestinian legislative elections holds out a number of long-term challenges to the Baath regime with regards to Syrian domestic politics. |
| full article | source | read more | 13 reads | |
| Damascus Declaration Leaders Confused by MB - Khaddam Front | |
|
Syria Comment | Hassan Abdal Azim, a founding member of and spokesperson for the Damascus Declaration, the umbrella organization for the internal Syrian opposition, has distanced his organization from the new Khaddam-Bayanouni alliance which was formed in Brussels a few days ago. They announced the formation of a transitional government. |
| full article | source | read more | 12 reads | |
| Anti-US Demonstration Turns Anti-Regime | |
|
Syria Comment |
This report of a demonstration in down town Damascus was sent to me by a friend, who didn't want his name used. He included good photos, but I cannot upload them, alas. A Glimpse Beneath the Surface: An Anti-US Gathering Displays an Anti-Regime Flavor A peaceful anti-American protest organized by the Syrian Communist Party turned messy on Saturday, February 18, as the crowd turned against government forces and shouted against the Bath Party. |
| full article | source | read more | 12 reads | |
| Ghadry's RPS Critical of New Opposition Front | |
|
Syria Comment |
Farid Ghadry's Reform Party of Syria is critical of the new opposition front that was formed in Brussels between the Muslim Brother leader Sadraddin al-Bayanouni and ex-vice president Abdul Halim Khaddam. |
| full article | source | read more | 10 reads | |
| Asad Interview on Sky News: Iraq, Reform, Security | |
|
Syria Comment |
Talks On Assissination Plot: Assad interviewed by Sky News in Aleppo. Full 15 minute Video Assad Interview Updated: 09:14, Friday March 17, 2006 Syria's President Bashar al Assad has assured Sky News he will co-operate with the UN's investigation into the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri. Mr Hariri died in a bomb blast in Beirut a year ago, and many have blamed Damascus and the Syrian president. But, in an exclusive interview with Sky's James Rubin, Mr Assad said the UN team would be visiting Syria soon. He said: "We will support any investigation surrounding this crime. |
| full article | source | read more | 13 reads | |
| Abizaid: "Syrians have moved against the foreign fighters" | |
|
Syria Comment |
General John Abizaid, chief of US Control Command in the Middle East, has said: "We know that the Syrians have moved against the foreign fighters. " Why? Because of Syrian self interest: "because the foreign fighters represent a threat to Syria." Syria does not want continued instability in Iraq. |
| full article | source | read more | 13 reads | |
| The Bayanouni - Khaddam Link-up: Is the Opposition Real Now? | |
|
Syria Comment | A flurry of articles covering the different aspects of the Khaddam - Bayanouni meeting in Brussels have surfaced. They are claiming to have formed a transitional government. From one point of view, this is smart politics on Bayanouni's part. He will reassure the military, Baath Party and some Alawites that the Muslim Brothers are not out for revenge. He is trying to send the message that what happened in Iraq will not happen in Syria. It gives some credibility to his willingness to cast a broad net. On the other hand, his new alliance will alienate many loyalists within the MB ranks and within the ranks of his leftist allies. Politics is not easy. |
| full article | source | read more | 14 reads | |
| The Bayanouni - Khaddam Link-up: Is the Opposition Real Now? | |
|
Syria Comment | A flurry of articles covering the different aspects of the Khaddam - Bayanouni meeting in Brussels have surfaced. They are claiming to have formed a transitional government. From one point of view, this is smart politics on Bayanouni's part. He will reassure the military, Baath Party and some Alawites that the Muslim Brothers are not out for revenge. He is trying to send the message that what happened in Iraq will not happen in Syria. It gives some credibility to his willingness to cast a broad net. On the other hand, his new alliance will alienate many loyalists within the MB ranks and within the ranks of his leftist allies. Politics is not easy. |
| full article | source | read more | 11 reads | |
| The Bayanouni - Khaddam Link-up: Is the Opposition Real Now? | |
|
Syria Comment |
 |
| full article | source | read more | 17 reads | |
| Khaddam interviewed by Elaph on March 15, 2006 | |
|
Syria Comment | |
| full article | source | read more | 14 reads | |
| The full Brammertz report is now available in English: | |
|
Syria Comment |
Writen by t_desco Full Brammertz report to the UN: Third report of the IIIC established pursuant to Security Council resolutions 1595, 1636 and 1644 Part One: The Daily Star |
| full article | source | read more | 16 reads | |
| TheThird UN report on Hariri: by Brammertz | |
|
Syria Comment |
The Syrian government claimed to be pleased with the most recent Hariri report crafted by the new Belgian investigator Brammertz.Syria's Deputy Foreign Minister and Ambassador to the UN Faisal Mekdad commended Brammertz's high professionalism. "This report takes the investigation in Hariri's murder into a new level," he said. "We hope it will lead to the truth behind Hariri's death and the series of explosions that followed since the false witnesses have now been exposed," he added. |
| full article | source | read more | 13 reads | |
| Mussawi of Hizbullah interviewed by Massoud Derhally | |
|
Syria Comment |
Massoud Derhally, writing in Arabian Business, interviews Nawaf Al-Mussawi, Hezbollah’s chief of international relations. It is worth quoting in full. |
| full article | source | read more | 13 reads | |
| News Round UP (March 14, 2006) | |
|
Syria Comment |
Syria president agrees to meet UN investigator and be interviewed in Hariri probe. Lebanese judges and the UN have agreed on the form of the International court to be established to rule on the Hariri assassination case. |
| full article | source | read more | 16 reads | |
