Planet.Syriamirror.net - Syria Comment

Economic News (April 4 2006)

Tue, 4 Apr 2006 03:58:20 +0300

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.

"New Year, Old Problems for Kurds in Syria," by Denselow and Taa'i

Mon, 3 Apr 2006 08:45:19 +0300

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.

Secularists and Islamists demand that Khaddam Apologize

Mon, 3 Apr 2006 01:05:18 +0300

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.

International banks join boycott of Syria

Sat, 1 Apr 2006 10:45:17 +0300

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.

News Round UP (March 31, 2006)

Fri, 31 Mar 2006 20:23:16 +0200

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’.

Syria Rescinds Ban on Religious Lessons in Mosques

Thu, 30 Mar 2006 17:52:03 +0200

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.

Asad Interview with Charlie Rose (Aired March 27, 2006)

Wed, 29 Mar 2006 18:32:04 +0200

The full transcript of President Asad's interview with Charlie Rose, which was shown Monday on PBS is now up at SANA.

New Evidence in Hariri Murder

Tue, 28 Mar 2006 17:18:02 +0200

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."

Is a Grand Alliance Forming against Asad?

Mon, 27 Mar 2006 06:00:01 +0200

Khaddam planned defection since 2003, Bayanouni reports.

Can Lebanon fight Syria?

Mon, 27 Mar 2006 05:15:02 +0200

Arab foreign ministers to discuss resolution supporting Syria at Khartoum

What is the Government's Religion Policy?

Sat, 25 Mar 2006 21:40:45 +0200

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.

The Siddiq Saga continues... (by t_desco)

Fri, 24 Mar 2006 17:30:02 +0200

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.

The Silent Treatment

Fri, 24 Mar 2006 07:45:02 +0200

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.

"The Israeli Lobby," discussed in Haaretz

Thu, 23 Mar 2006 16:20:02 +0200

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.

Did the Anti-US demonstration Really turn Anti-Regime? A Second Witness

Tue, 21 Mar 2006 22:36:06 +0200

A second observer of the demonstration outside of the Communist Party in Damascus gives us a different point of view of what happened.