SYRIA. Syrian Arab Republic
A country in Western Asia, in the Middle East, on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. Area - 185.18 thousand km² (Golan Heights - about 1370 km², occupied by Israel since 1967). Capital - Damascus (about 4 million, including suburbs), largest cities: Aleppo, Homs, Latakia, Hama, Qamishli. Administrative-territorial division - 14 governorates or provinces (muhafaz). Population - approximately 17.8 million (2005), Arabs - 88%, also includes Kurds (about 6.5%), Armenians (3%), Turkmen (0.5%), Circassians and Chechens, a small number of nomadic Roma, Turks, Iranians, Assyrians, Arameans.
Official language - Arabic. Religion: Muslims make up 85% of the population (of which 82% are Sunnis, 13% are Alawites, the rest mainly Druze and Ismailis), Christians of various denominations - about 9%, others adhere to different religions. Currency - Syrian pound = 100 piastres.
Has diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation (established with the USSR on July 21, 1944)
National holiday - April 17 - Evacuation Day (1946)
Syria is a presidential republic. The constitution, approved by a nationwide referendum on March 12, 1973, is in effect. The head of state is the president, elected by popular referendum for a term of 7 years; since 1971 - H. Assad, since July 2000 - B. Assad. The highest legislative body is the unicameral People's Council. It consists of 250 deputies, with a term of office of 4 years. The current composition was elected in March 2003. Chairman - M. Al-Abash. The Council of Ministers is the highest executive authority. The current composition was formed in September 2003. Chairman - M. N. Otri.
The Arab Socialist Resurrection Party (ASRP or Ba'ath) has been the ruling party since 1963, founded in 1947 as the Arab Resurrection Party, and received its current name in 1954. General Secretary - B. Assad. Other parties in the country include: Arab Socialist Union (ASU), Democratic Socialist Unionist Party (DSUP), Socialist Unionist Party (SUP), Arab Socialists Movement (ASM), as well as several communist groups.
The General Federation of Trade Unions (GFTU) unites several sectoral trade unions. There is also a General Federation of Peasants (GFP).
The ASRP, ASU, SUP, DSUP, ASM, GFTU, GFP, as well as communists are part of the Progressive National Front (PNF), chaired by B. Assad. It holds 167 out of 250 seats in parliament (including 135 from ASRP). The government is a coalition.
Syria is one of the oldest states, having experienced the influence of many great civilizations. From 1516 until World War I, it was part of the Ottoman Empire. From 1920, it was a mandate territory of France. On September 27, 1941, Syria was proclaimed an independent republic, but actually gained independence only after April 17, 1946, when foreign troops were withdrawn from its territory. On March 8, 1963, the Arab Socialist Resurrection Party came to power. Since the late 1970s, the party has been led by H. Assad. Major industrial enterprises, banks, and insurance companies were nationalized in Syria, and agrarian reform was carried out. In March 1972, the Progressive National Front was established. The main program document of the PNF - the Charter - calls for the unification of all forces in the country, focusing on implementing socio-economic transformations.
Since 2000, the country has adopted a course for reforms, with the emergence of private banks, universities, and the announcement of free currency exchange. The 10th Congress of the ASRP held in June 2005 confirmed the course for continuing reforms in all areas, including the creation of a socially oriented market economy, the adoption of a more democratic party law, and changes to the state of emergency law.
As a result of the Arab-Israeli War of 1967, Israel captured some areas of Syrian territory, including the Golan Heights, part of which (including the city of Quneitra) was liberated during the Arab-Israeli War in October 1973.
Syria plays one of the key roles in the Arab world. It actively participates in the UN, the League of Arab States, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Non-Aligned Movement, and other international organizations, advocating for disarmament, unblocking regional conflicts through political means, and opposing attempts at dictation towards developing countries. The Syrian leadership advocates for a comprehensive Middle Eastern settlement based on UN Security Council resolutions 242 and 338 within the framework of the "land for peace" formula based on the principles of the Madrid Peace Conference (1991) and the Arab Peace Initiative, approved at the 2002 Beirut Arab League summit, for the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from all Arab territories occupied in 1967. Syria resolutely condemns international terrorism while demanding a distinction between terrorism and the struggle against foreign occupation.
In October 1980, at the initiative of the Syrian leadership, a Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between the USSR and the SAR was signed.
In Syria's economy, the state sector retains a leading role, accounting for about 50% of national income, approximately 75% of the value of industrial production, and 70% of the main production assets. The government fully controls the financial sector, energy, rail, and air transport. At the same time, in recent years, the SAR leadership has taken steps to liberalize the economy and activate the private sector, which accounts for 25% of the value of industrial production and holds dominant positions in agriculture, retail trade, services, road transport, and housing construction. Foreign capital is attracted for the economic development of the country.
Annual GDP growth is approximately 2.2%. The GDP volume in 2004 was about 21.6 billion dollars, with a GDP growth of 2.3% in 2004 (2003 - 2.7), and an inflation rate of 2%. Annual income per capita is approximately 1200 dollars. The issue of external debt has been largely resolved. Syria's debt to Russia was about 13 billion dollars. The issue of Syria's debts to the former USSR was settled in 2005.
Industry creates the main part of the national income. The most developed sectors are oil and gas extraction (in 2004, about 28 million tons of oil and 5.8 billion m³ of gas were produced), oil refining, electricity generation, food production, pharmaceuticals, textiles, building materials production, chemicals (fertilizers, plastics), and electrical engineering. With the participation of the USSR, over 40 economic facilities were built in Syria, an oil extraction industry was created, irrigation systems, railroads, and high-voltage power lines. The Euphrates hydroelectric complex, built with the assistance of the USSR, generates about 20% of the electricity produced in the country.
In agriculture, nearly 50% of the economically active population is engaged, contributing about 30% of national income. Crop production accounts for 65%, while livestock accounts for 35% of agricultural production. Alongside private land ownership, the country has created 4,500 cooperatives of a supply and marketing type, and there are several state farms. The main agricultural crops are cotton, wheat, barley, sugar beets, olives, grapes, apples, citrus fruits, and pistachios.
Animal husbandry is extensive in nature.
The main mode of transport is road transport (almost 80% of freight and passenger traffic). The length of paved roads is 28,000 km, and railroads - 1,500 km. Damascus and Aleppo have international airports. The national airline is "Syrian Arab Airlines." Sea ports: Latakia, Tartus, Baniyas.
The export volume in 2004 was 6.4 billion dollars (2003 - 4.9 billion dollars). Oil and petroleum products account for about 40% of export value, textile and leather goods - about 30%, chemical products - over 10%. The import volume in 2004 was 5.1 billion dollars (2003 - 4.6 billion dollars). The main imports are machinery and equipment, food, timber, and metals. Main trading partners: EU countries, Japan, Iran. Trade with Eastern European countries, the USA, and China is developing. Russia's share in Syria's total trade turnover is about 4%
(2004 - 311 million dollars (293.8 million - export, 17.2 million - import).
More than a dozen newspapers are published in the country. The most popular are: "At-Tishrin," "Al-Baath," "As-Saura." There is a government Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA). The government operates the General Directorate of Broadcasting and Television and the government commercial service - Syrian Television.
