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Syria is located in Middle East and is bordered by Lebanon, the Mediterranean Sea and Cyprus to the west, Israel to the southwest, Jordan to the south, Iraq to the east, and Turkey to the north. Syria was formerly part of the Ottoman Empire, then the French Mandate of Syria, before gaining independence in 1946. The capital, Damascus, was the seat of several empires in antiquity, specifically the Umayyad Caliphate and the Mamluk Sultanate. Today, Syria is lead by President Bashar al-Assad and governed by the Baath Party, which has been in power since 1963. Recently, Syria has been criticized by the United States, European Union and Israel for their support of Hamas and Hezbollah. These political tensions, along with economic policies adopted in the 1960s, have left Syria largely excluded from the global economy. The government has tried, in recent years, to correct this by initiating negotiations for regional free trade agreements and filing a request to beginning the accession process into the World Trade Organization.
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Fast Facts
- Official name: Syrian Arab Republic U.S. Department of State: Background Note: Syria
- Capital: Damascus U.S. Department of State: Background Note: Syria
- Government: Presidential Republic U.S. Department of State: Background Note: Syria
- President: Bashar al-Assad China View: President Urges Israel To Show...
- Population: 19,747,586 (2008 estimate) MSN Encarta: Syria
- Currency: Syrian Pound (SYP) Go Currency: Syrian Pound
- Official Language: Arabic U.S. Department of State: Background Note: Syria
- Country code: +963
- Climate: Dry and hot
- Major cities: Aleppo, Homs, Latakia, HamaInfoplease.com: Syria: History, Geography, Government, and Culture
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Syria News
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Saudi Arabia appoints new ambassador to Syria
By ALBERT AJI AP A Saudi diplomat said Monday that the kingdom has appointed a new ambassador to Syria, the strongest sign yet of the solidifying ...eTaiwan News (July 06, 2009) -
Syria Increases Minimum Sentence for Honor Killing
Women's rights groups in Syria are acknowledging the new law as a small step in the right direction, while maintaining that it does little to discourage ...Ms. Magazine (July 06, 2009) -
Israel calls for peace talks with Syria
JERUSALEM, July 6 (UPI) -- Syria's President Bashar Assad won't receive the Golan Heights on a silver platter if he continues ties with Iran and Hezbollah, ...United Press International (July 06, 2009) -
Obama Will Send Envoy to Syria, Officials Say
By MARK LANDLER WASHINGTON — President Obama has decided to send an ambassador to Syria after a four-year hiatus, two senior administration officials said ...New York Times (June 23, 2009)
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The Mahalo Top 7
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BBC Country Profile: Syria
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U.S. Department of State: Background Note: Syria
Facts about the land, people, history, government, political conditions, economy, foreign relations of Syria.state.gov -
Foreign & Commonwealth Office: Country Profiles: Syria
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CIA World Factbook: Syria
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Official Tourism: Ministry of Tourism
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Portals to the World: Syria
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Wikipedia: Syria
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BBC Country Profile: Syria
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Syria Maps and Geography
- Arab.net: Syria - Topography
- Wikipedia: Geography of Syria
- Syria Gate: Syrian Landscape
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Syria on Twitter Powered by Twitter
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July 2008, The trafficked 17 girls were from Indonesia, Turkey, Egypt, Syria, India, Iraq, Morocco & Philippines & used as servants TIP09
@justiceandcare | July 06, 2009 08:47 PM -
Currently sweating in sweltering Switzerland - obviously this will be nothing compared to sultry Syria to which I am holiday bound
@joannagalbraith | July 06, 2009 08:44 PM -
Lebanese Daily: Hizbullah Leader Secretly Visits Syria To Discuss Guarantees - http://tinyurl.com/ngpoeo
@MEMRIReports | July 06, 2009 08:28 PM -
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Syria on Amazon | View All
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Lonely Planet Syria & Lebanon (Lonely Planet Syria and Lebanon) (Multi Country Guide) - $22.99
Discover all of Syria's myriad charms - explore magnificent Crusader castles and ancient ruins, treasure hunt in labyrinthine souqs and people-watch in Damascene coffeehouses - with this excellent guide. 52 detailed maps, plus a fu...
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The Truth about Syria - $24.95
With its mix of competing religious and ethnic groups, radical ideologies, and political repression, Syria is a 72,000-square-mile time bomb waiting to go off. Middle East expert Barry Rubin looks at the critical issues that have made this ...
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Syria: A Historical And Architectural Guide - $19.95
revised & updated edition With a wealth of historical splendors matched by few other countries, Syria has remained almost undiscovered by mass tourism. As a result, little has been spoiled, much is unknown, and there is much to discov...
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WAR AND POWER: THE RISE OF SYRIA, 1984
Experience the American Journey through our country's visual heritage in this historical recording provided by the National Archives of the United States.EXAMINES THE RISE OF SYRIA TO A NEW DOMINANCE IN THE MIDDLE EAST.This historical recor...
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