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The '''Syrian Arab Republic''' is a country in
Southwest Asia, bordering (from south to north) on
Lebanon,
Israel,
Jordan,
Iraq and
Turkey. The border with Israel is subject to dispute, pending the resolution of outstanding conflicts over possession of the
Golan Heights.
== Name ==
The name '''Syria''' comes from the
ancient Greek name for the land of
Aram at the eastern end of the
Mediterranean Sea between
Egypt and
Arabia to the south and
Cilicia to the north, stretching inland to include
Mesopotamia, and having an uncertain border to the northeast that
Pliny the Elder describes as including from west to east
Commagene,
Sophene, and Adiabene, "formerly known as
Assyria" (
N.H. 5.66). By Pliny's time, however, this larger Syria had been divided into a number of smaller regions: "
Palestine" (formerly known as Israel, now the states of Israel and 'Jordan') in the extreme southwest,
Phoenicia along the coast, with Damascena to the inland side of Phoenicia,
Coele-Syria (or "Hollow Syria") north of the
Eleutheris river, and Mesopotamia.
== History ==
''Main article:
History of Syria''
Syria has been the cradle of some of the world's oldest civilizations, and has been part of the
Hittite,
Assyrian,
Babylonian,
Israeli Egyptian,
Persian,
Greek and
Phoenician empires, before becoming part of the (Eastern)
Roman Empire.
Having been a cradle of
Christianity, with the expansion of
Islam in the Middle East in the
7th century, Syria became one of the centres of the new religion. After invasions by the
Seljuk Turks and the
Crusades, Syria came under Arab control until
1516, when it was conquered by the
Ottomans.
Following the breakup of the Ottoman Empire during
World War I, Syria was administered by
France as a
League of Nations Mandated Territory - the French had proclaimed themselves protectors of the region as early as the
18th century. The country was liberated from the
Vichy government, and independence was declared in
1944, although foreign troops remained until
1946. Syria was a charter member of the
United Nations.
In the
1967 Arab-Israeli War, Syria lost the
Golan Heights to
Israel. Since 1976, Syrian troops have been stationed in
Lebanon[1], ostensibly in a peacekeeping capacity (See:
History of Lebanon.) In recent years, Syria and Israel have held occasional peace talks over the return of the Golan Heights.
Long regarded as a state sponsor of terrorism by the
United States of America and other Western countries - Syria recently became the target of limited American sanctions drafted by members of Congress on both sides of the aisle and signed into law by US President
George W. Bush in
2004.
On September 2nd 2004 the
UN Security Council adopted
UN Security Council Resolution 1559, authored by France and the US in an uncommon show of cooperation. Echoing the
Taif Agreement the resolution "calls upon all remaining foreign forces to withdraw from Lebanon" and "reiterating [the UN's] strong support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence of Lebanon", in implied reference to Syria the power broker in Lebanon
[2].
== Politics ==
''Main article:
Politics of Syria''
While nominally a democratic republic, Syria has been led by a authoritarian regime since a
1963 coup by the
Baath Party. This party holds a two-thirds majority in the Syrian parliament (which has 250 seats), while the remainder is occupied by independent representatives. The country has been under a
state of emergency laws since 1963. Syria has occupied most of the neighbouring
Lebanese Republic since 1975.
The head of state is president
Bashar al-Assad, the son of president
Hafez al-Assad, who led the country from 1971 until his death in 2000. They are of the small
Alawite sect of Shiite Islam. The president appoints a council of ministers and a prime minister, who together form the executive branch of the Syrian government.
== Provinces ==
''Main article:
Provinces of Syria''
Syria has fourteen provinces, or ''muhafazat'':
*
Al Hasakah
*
Al Ladhiqiyah
*
Al Qunaytirah
*
Ar Raqqah
*
As Suwayda
*
Dara
*
Dayr az Zawr
*
Dimashq
*
Halab
*
Hamah
*
Hims
*
Idlib
*
Rif Dimashq
*
Tartus
== Geography ==
''Main article:
Geography of Syria''
Syria consists mostly of arid plateau, although there is a small strip with plain along the coast line with the
Mediterranean. The
Euphrates, Syria's most important river, crosses the country in the east. It is considered to be one of the fifteen states that comprise the so-called "
Cradle of Humanity."
Major cities include the capital
Damascus in the southwest,
Aleppo in the north, and
Homs. Most of the other important cities are located along the coast line. (See also
List of cities in Syria.)
The climate in Syria is dry and hot, although winters are mild. Because of the country's elevation, snowfall does also occur occasionally during winter.
== Economy ==
''Main article:
Economy of Syria''
Syria's predominantly statist economy has been growing, on average, more slowly than its 2.4% annual population growth rate, causing a persistent decline in per capita
GDP. Recent legislation allows private banks to operate in Syria, although a private banking sector will take years and further government cooperation to develop. External factors such as the international
war on terrorism, the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the war between the US-led coalition and
Iraq probably will drive real annual GDP growth levels back below their 3.5% spike in 2002. A long-run economic constraint is the pressure on water supplies caused by rapid population growth, industrial expansion, and increased water pollution.
== Demographics ==
''Main article:
Demographics of Syria''
Most of the Syrian population (80%) is of
Arabic speaking (mainly Hejazi) ethnicity, but there are sizeable Aramean/Aramaic (9.3%),
Kurdish and
Armenian minorities and a tiny Israelite minority. This is also reflected in the languages spoken;
Arabic is the official language, but
Kurdish,
Turkish, and
Armenian are spoken by the minorities.
Aramaic is still used within the
Syrian Orthodox Church adherant Arameans. In addition,
Circassian is also spoken.
Most Arabs in Syria are
Muslim.
Sunni Muslims make up about 74% of the population, with other Muslim sects (mainly
Druze and
Alawite) comprising 16%. The remainder are mostly
Christian, although there is a small
Jewish community.
== Culture ==
''Main article:
Culture of Syria''
*
Music of Syria
== Miscellaneous topics ==
*
Communications in Syria
*
Transportation in Syria
*
Military of Syria
*
Foreign relations of Syria
*
Famous people from Syria
== External links ==
*
http://www.ezsy.com
*
http://www.syriagate.com
*
http://www.syrialive.com
*
http://www.syriaonline.com
*
Syria : On the net .
*
In rare move, Gulf ministers urge Syria to withdraw troops from Lebanon CNews, September 13, 2004
*
Syria feels squeeze over Lebanon Kim Ghattas, BBC, September 5, 2004
*
UN Press Release SC/8181 UN, September 2, 2004 (UNSCR 1559)
*
Maronite archbishops slam corruption, Syrian role Daily Star, September 2, 2004
*
Trading in Syria
*
Syria: The power in Lebanon BBC, 16 April, 2001
*
Syria's oil production in terminal decline report by US Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration.
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Arab League
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Image:ArabLeague-Flag.png
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Algeria |
Bahrain |
Comoros |
Djibouti |
Egypt |
Iraq |
Jordan |
Kuwait |
Lebanon |
Mauritania |
Morocco |
Oman |
Palestinian Territories |
Qatar |
Saudi Arabia |
Somalia |
Sudan |
Syria |
Tunisia |
United Arab Emirates |
Yemen
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Countries and Territories in the
Middle East
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Bahrain |
Cyprus |
Egypt |
Gaza Strip |
Iran |
Iraq |
Israel |
Jordan |
Kuwait |
Lebanon |
Oman |
Qatar |
Saudi Arabia |
Syria |
Turkey |
United Arab Emirates |
West Bank |
Yemen
|}
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cy:Syria
da:Syrien
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