Archive: syria
19th February 2010
As the US prepares to send an ambassador to Syria for the first time in five years, elements on the American right are fighting a limp rearguard action against engagement with the Damascus regime.
Syria expert Joshua Landis discusses this on his blog and argues that sanctions have failed miserably… Read more
27th January 2010
Syria has launched a new initiative to "create more space for civil society to work", according to Rami Khouri in the Lebanese Daily Star.
He discusses a conference in Damascus last weekend on “the emerging role of civil society in development”, which was addressed by First Lady Asma al-Assad and… Read more
9th December 2009
Following the unlamented closure of the government-run Syria Times last year, a new English-language daily is being launched in Damascus today.
It's called Baladna English and it's produced by the United Group, already publishes the Arabic-language Baladna.
So far, there's nothing on its website … Read more
4th December 2009
The explosion in Damascus yesterday that wrecked the back and side of an Iranian bus, killed at least three people, started a fire and smashed windows in a building nearby was caused by the bursting of an over-inflated tyre – at least, according to the Syrian interior minister who attended the… Read more
12th October 2009
After years of delay, the text of the EU’s association agreementwith Syria has been finalised and will be signed on October 26. The move is seen partly as a reward to the Damascus regime for progress so far and also as a way of encouraging further changes in its behaviour.
The last few months have… Read more
22nd August 2009
Endemic corruption is a problem that Arabs grumble about endlessly, though it rarely gets analysed in much detail. All credit, then, to the Syria Comment blog for tackling this touchy subjecthead-on.
"Though Syria is no exception," it says, "one cannot but be struck by how widespread bribery is at… Read more
24th July 2009
Moqtada al-Sadr, the rabble-rousing Iraqi cleric, visited President Assad in Damascus earlier this week to discuss “brotherly and friendly relations and mutual interests”.
The Syrian president underlined “the importance of strengthening national unity among the Iraqi people, and Syria's care for… Read more
17th July 2009
The Obama administration seems to be dusting off old Clinton-era plans for peace between Israel and Syria, looking at the stumbling blocks last time around and checking for new ways to overcome them. Fred Hoff, an adviser to George Mitchell’s Middle East team, has been in Israel this week exploring… Read more
10th July 2009
No idea why I like this picture, but I do. Definitely, I do.
Posted by Brian Whitaker, 10 July 2009
ARAB ART ONLINE: Susan Hefuna: Al Sabr Gamil (Patience is Beautiful) 2007. Ink stained on wood 140 x 170 cm. More information | Click to enlarge
