Syria or Syrian Arab Republic- a state in the Middle East, in the eastern Mediterranean, bordered by Lebanon and Israel in the southwest, Jordan in the south, Iraq in the east and Turkey in the north. It is washed by the Mediterranean Sea in the west. The area is 185.2 thousand km².
The Ansaria mountain range divides the country into a wet western part and an arid eastern part.
The fertile coastal plain is located in northwestern Syria and stretches 130 km from north to south, along the Mediterranean coast from the Turkish to the Lebanese border. Almost all of the country's agriculture is concentrated here.
Most of the Syrian territory is located on an arid plateau, dotted with the mountain ranges of Dajable al-Ruwaq, Jabal Abu Rujmain and Jabal Bishri. The average height of the plateau above sea level ranges from 200 to 700 meters. To the north of the mountains is the Hamad Desert, to the south is Homs.
In the east, Syria is crossed by the Euphrates River. In 1973, a dam was built in the upper reaches of the river, which caused the formation of a reservoir called Lake Assad.
Climate
Climate in Syria subtropical Mediterranean on the coast and dry continental in the interior. The average temperature in January is from +4..+6°C in the eastern regions to +12°C on the coast, in July - from +33°C to +26°C, respectively. At the end of summer, a hot easterly wind, "khamsin", blows in Syria, sometimes developing into sandstorms.
The best time to travel around the country is in the spring, from March to May, or in the fall, from September to November, when weather conditions are most favorable. The beach season lasts here from May to November.
Last changes: 05/09/2013Population
The population of Syria is 22,198,110 people (2009). The majority of the population is concentrated along the banks of the Euphrates and on the Mediterranean coast. Average life expectancy is 70 years.
Arabs (including about 400 thousand Palestinian refugees) make up more than 80% of Syria's population.
The largest national minority, the Kurds, make up 10% of the population. Most Kurds live in the north of the country, many still use the Kurdish language. There are also Kurdish communities in all major cities.
3% of the population of Syria are Assyrians, mostly Christians, also living in the north and northeast of the country.
In addition, up to 400 thousand Circassians (Adygs) and about 200 thousand Armenians live in Syria, as well as about 900 thousand Turks live on the border with Turkey in the cities of Aleppo (Aleppo), Latakia and in the capital.
Religion
90% of the population of Syria are Muslims, 10% are Christians.
Of the Muslims, 75% are Sunnis, the remaining 25% are Alawites and Ismailis, as well as Shiites, the number of which has been constantly increasing since 2003 due to the flow of refugees from Iraq.
Among Christians, half are Syrian Orthodox, 18% are Catholics (mainly members of the Syrian Catholic and Melkite Catholic churches). There are significant communities of the Armenian Apostolic and Russian Orthodox churches.
About 100-200 Syrian Jews also live in Damascus and Lattakia, the remnants of a 40,000-strong community that almost completely fled to Israel, the United States and South American countries as a result of the 1947 pogroms that began after the announcement of the UN plan for the division of Palestine.
Language
The official and most common language is Arabic. In the northern regions of the country, Kurdish is often used. The most common languages also include Armenian, Adyghe (Circassian) and Turkmen. In certain areas there are various dialects of Aramaic.
Among foreign languages, the most popular are French and English.
Last changes: 05/09/2013Currency
Currency of Syria- Syrian pound (SYP or S£), often called the Syrian lira. Has denominations: 1, 2, 5, 10, 25 (coins) and 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000 (banknotes).
It is almost impossible to pay in foreign currency anywhere. You can exchange it in hotels, exchange offices and banks, where the rate is usually the most favorable. There is no commission for exchanging cash. Private currency exchange is officially prohibited, but in fact is widespread. It is almost impossible to exchange pounds back.
Banks are usually open from 8:30 to 13:00-14:00 from Saturday to Thursday, on Thursdays banks are open only in the morning. Exchange offices are open from 8:30 to 19:00-20:00 on the same days.
Credit cards are accepted by a fairly limited number of establishments: they can be used to purchase air tickets, pay in large stores, in some offices of car rental companies and large hotels. It is almost impossible to get cash from a credit card in Syria.
Traveler's checks are accepted only at the office of the Commercial Bank of Syria, and a commission is charged for cashing them.
Last changes: 05/09/2013Communications
Calling code: 963
Internet domain: .sy
Tourist police - 222-00-00, police - 112, ambulance - 110
Telephone city codes
Damascus - 11, Aleppo - 21, Latakia - 41, Hama - 33, Homs - 31
How to call
To call from Russia to Syria, you need to dial: 8 - dial tone - 10 - 963 - area code - subscriber number.
To call from Syria to Russia, you need to dial: 00 - 7 - area code - subscriber number.
Landline communications
Payphones are located in all public places and operate using both cards and coins. You can call abroad from hotels (through operators) and from specialized call centers (calls from most hotels are usually 25% more expensive).
mobile connection
Mobile communications in Syria are GSM 900/1800 standard.
Internet
The Internet in Syria is subject to censorship; access to some sites, for example, Facebook.com or Youtube.com, is prohibited.
Shopping
Shops are open from Saturday to Thursday from 9:30 to 14:00 and from 16:30 to 21:00. Many private shops operate according to their own schedule. Many purchases can be made in the markets, the best of which are in Damascus and Aleppo. In this case, of course, it is recommended to bargain.
In Syria, many valuable local handicrafts made of mother-of-pearl, wood, fabric, leather and silver are sold. Local souvenirs: spices, silver and gold jewelry, wood products, silk scarves, national costumes, olive oil, sheep skins and sweets.
Unlike other countries, duty free stores in Syria are located everywhere, not just at the airport. Any product purchased in "duty free" must be taken out of the country and used only outside its borders. The item in the store is usually packaged, labeled with the buyer's name, and delivered to the airport in time for the flight's departure, where it is handed over to the buyer.
Last changes: 05/09/2013Sea and beaches
There are numerous beaches along the coast of Latakia. The swimming season in the local shallow, and therefore well-warmed, waters lasts from May to November. The beaches are sandy, comfortable, and well suited for families with children: there are practically no big waves here.
Last changes: 05/09/2013Story
The history of Syrian civilization dates back to at least the fourth millennium BC. Archaeologists have proven that Syria was the cradle of most of the ancient civilizations of the world. Already in 2400-2500 BC. e. the huge Semitic Empire, centered in Ebla, extended from the Red Sea to Transcaucasia.
Syria has come under the rule of the Egyptians, Canaanites, Aramaes, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Armenians, Romans, Nabataeans, Byzantines, Arabs and Crusaders throughout its history before eventually falling under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. Syria occupies an important place in the history of Christianity - according to the Bible, Paul converted to the Christian faith in Antioch, where the first church was founded.
Islam took hold in Syria in 636, when Damascus became the capital of the Arab Caliphate under the Umayyads. At this time, the Caliphate was already a powerful state, stretching from the Iberian Peninsula to Central Asia. Damascus became the cultural and economic center of the entire Arab world, already in the 8th century being one of the largest cities in the world. In 750, the Umayyads were overthrown by the Abbasid dynasty, after which the capital of the Caliphate moved to Baghdad.
In the middle of the 13th century, Damascus became the provincial center of the Mamluk Empire. In 1400 Syria was attacked by the Tatar-Mongols. Tamerlane defeated the Mamluk detachments, destroyed Damascus and took all its wealth to Samarkand.
In 1517, Syria came under the rule of the Ottoman Empire for several centuries. Shortly after defeat in World War I, the Ottoman Empire collapsed.
In 1920, the Syrian Arab Kingdom was founded with its center in Damascus. Faisal of the Hashemite dynasty, who later became the king of Iraq, was declared king. But Syria's independence did not last long. Within a few months, the French army occupied Syria, defeating Syrian troops on July 23 at the Battle of Maysalun Pass. In 1922, the League of Nations decided to divide the former Syrian Dominion of Turkey between Great Britain and France. Great Britain received Jordan and Palestine, and France received the modern territory of Syria and Lebanon (the so-called “League of Nations Mandate”).
In 1936, a treaty was signed between Syria and France providing for Syrian independence, but in 1939 France refused to ratify it. In 1940, France itself was occupied by German troops, and Syria came under the control of the Vichy Regime (governor General Denz). Nazi Germany, having provoked the rebellion of Prime Minister Geilani in British Iraq, sent units of its air force to Syria. In June - July 1941, with the support of British troops, units of the Free French (later renamed Fighting France) led by generals De Gaulle and Catroux entered Syria during a bloody conflict with Denz's troops. General De Gaulle in his memoirs directly indicated that the events in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon were directly related to German plans to invade the USSR (as well as Greece, Yugoslavia and Crete), since they had the task of diverting the Allied armed forces to secondary theaters of military operations .
On September 27, 1941, France granted independence to Syria, leaving its troops on its territory until the end of World War II. On January 26, 1945, Syria declared war on Germany and Japan. In April 1946, French troops were evacuated from Syria.
The president of independent Syria was Shukri al-Quwatli, who fought for the country's independence under the Ottoman Empire. In 1947, a parliament began to operate in Syria. The main political forces were the pro-presidential National Socialist Party of Syria (currently active only in Lebanon), the Arab Socialist Renaissance Party and the Communist Party of Syria, which was then underground.
In 1948, the Syrian army took a limited part in the Arab-Israeli war started by an alliance of Arab states.
On March 15, 1956, an agreement on collective security against possible Israeli aggression was concluded between Syria, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
On February 22, 1958, in the wake of the popularity of the pan-Arab movement, Syria and Egypt united into one state - the United Arab Republic with its center in Cairo. The president of the new state was the Egyptian leader Gamal Abdel Nasser, but Syrians also held many important positions. However, Nasser soon dissolved all Syrian political parties. In Syria, large-scale nationalization of agriculture began, and then industry and the banking sector. On September 28, 1961, a coup d'etat took place in Damascus under the leadership of a group of officers, Syria again declared independence. Nasser decided not to resist the separatists, so the UAR lasted only 3 and a half years.
After Syria left the confederation, the country was led by liberal Nazim Al-Qudsi. He returned many nationalized enterprises to their former owners. On March 28, 1962, a coup took place in the country again under the leadership of the same group of army officers. Al-Qudsi and his prime minister were arrested. After 5 days, supporters of the previous regime overthrew the interim government, and Al-Qudsi again became the president of the country.
On March 8, 1963, a military coup took place in Syria again, as a result of which the Arab Socialist Renaissance Party (PASV), which is sometimes called “Baath” (Ar. “revival”), came to power.
In 1964, a new constitution was adopted, in which the leading role of PASV was enshrined. The country was led by Amin Hafez, who began radical socialist reforms. In particular, the nationalization of the main sectors of the economy was carried out again.
On February 23, 1966, Syria was shocked by the fifth coup in 4 years led by Salah Jedid and Hafez al-Assad. Amin Hafez was overthrown, but the PASV remained in power, and Syria's socialist path of development remained largely unchanged.
In November 1970, as a result of the “corrective movement” in the PASV, led by H. al-Assad, Saleh Jedid’s group was removed from power. Thus, Syria became the main ally of the Soviet Union in the Middle East. The USSR provided Syria with assistance in modernizing its economy and armed forces.
In 1967, during the Six Day War, the Golan Heights were occupied by Israel. In the 1973 Yom Kippur War, Syria unsuccessfully attempted to recapture them. By decision of the UN Security Council at the end of the 1973 war, a buffer zone was created separating Israel and Syria. The Golan Heights are currently controlled by Israel, but Syria is demanding their return.
In 1976, at the request of the Lebanese government, Syrian troops entered this country in order to stop the civil war. The war ended in 1990, when a government was established in Lebanon that maintained friendly relations with Syria. Syrian troops left Lebanon only in 2005 after the assassination of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Syria supported Iran in the Iran-Iraq War of 1980-1988.
After the death of Hafez al-Assad on June 10, 2000, his son Bashar al-Assad became president.
According to some reports, during the Israeli-Lebanese war in 2006, Syria supplied weapons to Hezbollah. This, in particular, is related to Syria’s still strained relations with some Western countries.
Last changes: 05/09/2013Golan Heights
The territory of the Golan Heights makes up the Syrian province of Quneitra with its center in the city of the same name. Israeli troops captured the Golan Heights in 1967, and the region was under the control of the Israel Defense Forces until 1981. In 1974, the UN Emergency Force was introduced into the region. A demarcation line was drawn directly along the eastern border of Quneitra province and a demilitarized zone was created. The UN Disengagement Observer Force is based in the area.
In 1981, the Israeli Knesset passed the Golan Heights Law, which unilaterally declared Israeli sovereignty over this territory. The annexation was declared invalid by the UN Security Council Resolution of December 17, 1981 and condemned by the UN General Assembly in 2008.
The city of Katzrin became the center of the Israeli Golan. The majority of the non-Jewish population in the Golan are Druze who retain Syrian citizenship (they are given the right to obtain Israeli citizenship). In Syria they enjoy some privileges, in particular, they are guaranteed free higher education.
In 2005, the population of the Golan Heights was approximately 40 thousand people, including 20 thousand Druze, 19 thousand Jews and about 2 thousand Alawites. The largest settlement in the area is the Druze village of Majdal Shams (8,800 people). Initially, only UNDOF personnel had the right to free movement between Syria and Israel. But in 1988, Israeli authorities allowed Druze pilgrims to cross into Syria so that they could visit the Temple of Abel, located in the neighboring province of Dara. Also, since 1967, Druze brides who decide to marry a Syrian are allowed to cross over to the Syrian side, and they already lose the right to return.
Syria and Israel are de jure in a state of war, since a peace treaty between these countries has not yet been signed.
In August 2007, Israel began a phased reduction in its military presence in the Golan for the first time since 1967.
Last changes: 05/09/2013The name Syria comes from the ancient Greek name for the colonies of Assyria, derived from the Semitic word "Sirion". The area on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea south of Cilicia, between Egypt and Mesopotamia, including Commagene, Sophene and Adiabene, is described by Pliny the Elder as “former Assyria.” By the time Pliny completed his major work, Natural History, the region had been divided by the Roman Empire into several provinces: Judea (later Palestine, modern Israel, Palestine and part of Jordan), Phenicia (modern Lebanon), Mesopotamia and Hola. Syria.
Last changes: 05/09/2013Entry into Syria will be denied to Israeli citizens and travelers with any evidence of visiting Israel (including passport stamps that are placed in tourists' passports when crossing the land borders of Egypt (Jordan) and Israel). If you have an Israeli stamp in your passport, you will need to get a new passport or choose another country to travel to.
The best time to travel around the country is in the spring, from March to May, or in the fall, from September to November, when weather conditions are most favorable. The beach season lasts here from May to November.
Hospitality is one of the most important Syrian traditions. Such an invitation should not be refused so as not to offend the host - in most cases such invitations are made with all the heart. It is considered impolite to refuse an offer of coffee.
Women traveling alone may receive too much attention from Syrian men. However, this attention is usually limited to glances or weak attempts to engage in conversation.
Syrians, like all Arabs, eat with their right hand. It is considered appropriate to take food from a dish with your hand or pick up sauce from a plate with a flatbread. It is not customary to eat while standing or on the go, or to look into the face of a person eating. Bread is usually broken by hand. You should also take food, money and things with your right hand.
When shaking hands, you should not look into the eyes of your interlocutor, and you should not keep your other hand in your pocket or vigorously wave it in the air (especially with a cigarette). You cannot walk around those praying in front. Shoes should be removed when entering mosques and houses.
Photographing government institutions, palaces, military and transport facilities is prohibited. In Christian churches, you must ask permission before filming (usually there should be no objections). But there’s no point in even asking in mosques: you can’t take pictures there. You should also not take photographs of local women without permission. Documents (or better yet, photocopies of them) should always be carried with you.
In addition, while in Syria, do not forget about the hot climate and active sun: you need to use sunscreen, drink more fluids and protect your eyes with sunglasses.
Local tap water is usually chlorinated and is relatively safe to drink, but it is still better to drink bottled water.
The Koran prohibits the consumption of alcohol, but in Syria this issue is practically not raised. Alcoholic drinks can be purchased at any store, restaurant or bar, but you should not drink them in front of everyone. Restrictions on the sale of alcohol are introduced during Ramadan.
Since the fall of 2009, there has been a ban on smoking in public places in Syria. Smokers caught with a cigarette or pipe in cafes, bars and restaurants now face a fine of 2,000 Syrian pounds ($46). The ban also applies to hookah smoking. Owners of establishments on whose premises violators are caught will also be fined, and in some cases even prosecuted. In addition, a number of restrictions on advertising of tobacco products have been introduced.
The country, although socialist, is Muslim, so you need to dress accordingly. Clothes should be modest. In Damascus and in cities near the coast they still turn a blind eye to this, but in conservative cities in the center of the country, and even more so in the outback, they treat inappropriate outfits with obvious hostility. And in Hama they may even throw stones at you. No tight clothing! Women should cover their arms and legs. Men will have to give up shorts and sleeveless T-shirts.
It is best to avoid political conversations with “locals” to avoid possible problems. Problems may arise, first of all, among the “locals” - since there are many plainclothes police officers and informants (snitches) around.
In any major city in Syria there is a Tourist information center, where you can get all kinds of information and free maps of the country and its individual parts. In Damascus, Tourist information is located opposite the Russian Cultural Center, on 29 May Street, the main street of the city. In Aleppo, you will find the Tourist information center near the Central Bank, on the edge of Alrais platz.
Last changes: 05/09/2013How to get to Syria
Attention! Currently, almost all international air and rail communications with Syria have been suspended due to the protracted civil war in that country.
By plane
There are direct regular flights between Russia and Syria. Moscow and Damascus are connected by regular flights of Aeroflot (on Thursdays and Sundays from Sheremetyevo-2) and Syrian Airlines (on Tuesdays and Saturdays from Vnukovo). Flight time is about 3.5 hours.
Many European airlines also fly to Syria.
Flights to Damascus from Almaty, Kyiv and Minsk are operated by Turkish Airlines.
By train
Weekly trains run from Aleppo to Istanbul (Turkey), from Damascus to Baghdad (Iraq) and Tehran (Iran) via Aleppo, as well as to Amman (Jordan). Fares to Istanbul and Tehran range from $45 to $70 one way in a premium category carriage. The cost of travel to Jordan is about $5.
At the same time, going to Amman by train can only be recommended to fans of rail travel who have a significant amount of free time. We are talking about an ancient narrow-gauge line (Hijaz Railway), built by the Turks. The average speed of the train is 30 km/h, so the distance between the two capitals (300 km) is covered all daylight hours with a transfer in the border town of Daraa (trains depart from Damascus at 8 am and arrive at their destination at 10 pm).
The Daraa - Amman train departs once a week on Saturdays at 18.00. The cost of travel by train is slightly lower than by bus (train - $5, bus - about $7-8), and the time spent on the bus is half as much. However, it is best to travel to cities such as Istanbul and Tehran by train.
By bus
Damascus and Aleppo have good bus connections with neighboring countries.
From Aleppo there are buses to Turkish Hatay (Antakya) and Istanbul, as well as to Beirut, Cairo and Baghdad. From Damascus you can get by bus and minibus to Beirut, Jordanian Amman with Irbid and Iraqi Baghdad. The cost of travel on border transport from Damascus is: Beirut (up to 20 times a day) - $8-10 by minibus and $4-5 by bus, Amman (10-15 times a day) - $10 by minibus and $8 by bus.
In addition, there are minibuses from Damascus and Aleppo to major cities of neighboring countries: Tripoli (Lebanon), Irbid (Jordan), Antakya (Turkey) and many others.
Airport tax when departing from Syrian airports - 32 USD (1500 SYP). Since the summer of 2009, some airlines began to include this tax in the price of an air ticket.
When leaving (land and sea borders) from Syria, a fee of 12 USD (550 SYP) is charged.
Last changes: 03/14/2017Vice President
Vice President
Prime Minister
Farouk Sharaa
Najah al-Attar
Imad Khamis
Syria(Arabic: سوريا), full name - Syrian Arab Republic(Arab. الجمهورية العربية السورية , al-Jumhuriyya al-Arabiya al-Suriyya) - a state in the Middle East, bordered by and in the southwest, with in the south, with in the east and with in the north. It is washed by the Mediterranean Sea in the west.
The modern statehood of Syria dates back a little over 70 years, but civilization arose here back in the 4th millennium BC. e. The capital is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. In addition, it is also the oldest of all modern capitals in the world.
Syria's population is 18.5 million (2015). Almost 93% of Syrians are Muslims, and 6% of the country’s residents adhere to different branches of Christianity. The official language is Arabic.
From 1963 to the present, the republic has been under the rule of the Syrian Baath Party and its allies. Since 2011, there has been a civil war in Syria between supporters of the official government (“Baath” and Bashar al-Assad), the armed opposition, the Kurds, isolated by IS from the rest of Syria, and since 2014, by IS and a large number of other Islamist groups.
Etymology
Name " Syria" comes from the ancient Greek name for the colonies of Assyria, formed from the Semitic word "Sirion". The area on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea south of Cilicia, between Egypt and Mesopotamia, including the Armenian regions of Commagene, Sophene and the Assyrian region of Adiabene, is described by Pliny the Elder as “former Assyria.” By the time Pliny completed his major work, Natural History, the region had been divided by the Roman Empire into several provinces: Judea (later - modern, PNA and part), Phenicia (modern), Mesopotamia and Coelesyria (i.e. " Hollow Syria").
Story
Ancient Syria
The history of Syrian civilization dates back at least to the 4th millennium BC. e.
Eblaite language is the oldest known Semitic language. The Ebla Library, discovered in 1975, contains more than 17 thousand clay tablets dedicated to crafts, agriculture and art. Among the leading crafts of Ebla are the processing of wood, ivory, and pearls. Other famous cities of the era include Marie and Dura-Europos.
Roman theater in Bosra
In the 23rd century BC. e. Ebla was conquered by Akkad, and the capital was completely destroyed. Then the Canaanite tribes invaded the territory of Syria, forming many small states. During the period between the invasion of the Canaanite tribes and the conquest of Syria in 64 BC. e. During the Roman Empire, its territory was successively ruled by the Hyksos, Hittites, Egyptians, Armenians, Arameans, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, ancient Macedonians, the Hellenistic power of the Seleucids, and the Armenian Empire of Tigran the Great.
From the 16th century BC. e. in the south of Syria there is a city that was originally subordinate to the Egyptian pharaohs.
Syria occupies an important place in the history of Christianity - according to the Bible, Paul accepted the Christian faith on the road to Damascus, and then lived in Antioch, where the disciples of Christ first began to be called Christians (See Acts of the Apostles).
The famous city in the desert of Palmyra (I-II century AD)
Islamic rule
Aleppo Fortress
Islam gained a foothold in Syria in 661, when it became the capital of the Arab Caliphate under the Umayyads. At this time, the Caliphate was already a powerful state, stretching from to. Damascus became the cultural and economic center of the entire Arab world, already in the 8th century being one of the largest cities in the world. In 750, the Umayyads were overthrown by the Abbasid dynasty, after which the capital of the Caliphate moved to.
In the 12th century, the crusader states were formed on the territory of Syria, which lasted less than a hundred years. Since the 13th century, Damascus became the provincial center of the Mamluk Empire. In 1400, Syria was attacked by the Timurids. Tamerlane defeated the Mamluk detachments, destroyed Damascus and took all its wealth to. From 1517, Syria became part of the Ottoman Empire for 4 centuries.
On the eve of the First World War, the territory of modern Syria was part of three vilayets of the Ottoman Empire - Beirut, Aleppo and Damascus (Syria). The eastern, sparsely populated and mostly desert part of modern Syria was the western part of the independent sanjak of Zor, centered in . The territory of the Zor sanjak roughly coincides with the territory controlled by the Islamic State in 2014-2017.
French Mandate
Soon after the defeat in the First World War, the Ottoman Empire collapsed, and many of its territories were occupied. In 1920, the Syrian Arab Kingdom was founded with its center in Damascus. Faisal from the Hashemite dynasty, who later became king, was declared king. But Syria's independence did not last long. Within a few months, the French army occupied Syria, defeating Syrian troops on July 23 at the Battle of Maysalun Pass.
In 1922, the League of Nations decided to legalize the occupation of the lands of the Ottoman Empire and. In 1917, Great Britain occupied part of the Ottoman Empire - the "" region. In 1922, the regime of direct occupation was replaced by administrative control - a Mandate from the League of Nations. Subsequently, Palestine was divided. The lands east of the Jordan River were separated from it, where Transjordan was created under the protectorate of Great Britain.
Region in 1920
France, in turn, received a League of Nations Mandate for Syria in 1922. In 1926, the mandated territory was divided into Syria.
In 1926, Lebanon introduced a national constitution that confirmed the French mandate and provided for an elected president and a unicameral parliament.
In 1936, a treaty was signed between Syria and France providing for Syrian independence, but in 1939 France refused to ratify it. In 1940, France itself was occupied by German forces and Syria came under the control of the Vichy Regime (Governor-General Henri Denz). Nazi Germany, having provoked the rebellion of Prime Minister Gailani in British Iraq, sent units of its air force to Syria.
In June - July 1941, with the support of British troops, Free French units led by generals Charles de Gaulle and Catroux occupied Syria during a bloody conflict with Denz's troops. General de Gaulle in his memoirs directly indicated that the events in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon were directly related to German plans to invade (including the island of Crete), Yugoslavia and the USSR, since they had the task of diverting the armed forces of the Allies to secondary theaters military actions.
On September 27, 1941, France granted independence to Syria, leaving its troops on its territory until the end of World War II. On January 26, 1945, Syria declared war on Germany and. In April 1946, French troops were evacuated from Syria under pressure from the USSR and opposition from the United States. After which the Syrian government for decades moved towards the predominance of foreign contacts with the USSR.
Recent history
The president of independent Syria was Shukri al-Quatli, who fought for the country's independence under the Ottoman Empire. In 1947, a parliament began to operate in Syria. The main political forces were the pro-presidential National Socialist Party of Syria (currently active only in the territory), the Arab Socialist Renaissance Party and the Communist Party of Syria, which was then underground. The National Social Party of Syria was the bearer of the pro-fascist ideology of the “welfare state” and was distinguished by anti-Semitism and sympathy for the Nazis. Many Nazi criminals found refuge in Syria and became the founders of its intelligence services.
After Syria gained independence, attacks on Syrian Jews intensified and their businesses were boycotted. The new government banned emigration to Palestine, and the teaching of Hebrew in Jewish schools was seriously limited.
After the UN decision on the division of Palestine on November 27, 1947, Jewish pogroms took place in Syria. In Aleppo alone, with a Jewish community that had lived in the city for 2.5 thousand years and numbered between 6 and 7 thousand Jews, 150 houses, 5 shops and 10 synagogues were destroyed on December 1, 1947. From 8 to 75 Jews were killed, several hundred were wounded. After the pogrom, many Jews fled from the city to Turkey and Lebanon, to the territory of the future Israel and to the United States. In 1948, the Jewish community of Syria, numbering 50,000 people in 1900, was reduced to 30,000. Pogroms continued in 1948 and in subsequent years, as a result of which Jews were forced to almost completely flee Syria to, and the countries of South America, and to Currently, fewer than 100 Syrian Jews live in Damascus and Latakia.
In 1948, the Syrian army took a limited part in the Arab-Israeli war started by the Arab League. At the end of the war, accusations began to be heard in the country's parliament against the government of incompetence and misappropriation of financial resources, which forced it to resign after mass unrest, and the military to introduce a state of emergency in the country. Colonel Husni al-Zaim came to power, abolishing the 1930 constitution, banning political parties and subsequently proclaiming himself president.
President Adib al-Shishakli
On August 14, 1949, al-Zaim was killed and power passed to Colonel Sami Hinawi, who restored the civilian regime. To adopt the new constitution, the People's Council was elected, the majority in which was received by the Aleppo branch of the National Party, which advocates a union with Iraq. The idea of a political union with Iraq caused discontent among the military, whose leader was Adib al-Shishakli, and on December 19, Hinawi was removed. On September 5, 1950, a new constitution was proclaimed, according to which Syria became a parliamentary republic, but already in November 1951, the constitution was suspended and the country's parliament was dissolved. In 1953, Shishakli promulgated a new constitution and, after a referendum, became president.
In February 1954, a civil-military coalition led by Hashim Bey Khalid Al-Atassi came to power in the country, returning the 1950 constitution. In 1954, following the election results, the Arab Socialist Renaissance Party received the majority of seats in parliament, demanding radical changes in industry and agriculture. In the elections in 1955, Shukri al-Quatli was elected president of the country, with the support of conservatives in parliament.
On March 15, 1956, an agreement on collective security against possible aggression was concluded between Syria and Syria.
In November 1956, as a direct result of the Suez Crisis, Syria signed a treaty with the Soviet Union. This became a fulcrum for communist influence in the government in exchange for military equipment. was concerned about this increase in the strength of Syrian military equipment, since it seemed possible that Syria would try to take it away. Only heated debates in the United Nations suspended the threat of war.
United Arab Republic
On February 22, 1958, in the wake of the popularity of the pan-Arab movement, Syria united into one state - the United Arab Republic, centered in. The president of the new state was the Egyptian leader Gamal Abdel Nasser, but Syrians also held many important positions. However, Nasser soon dissolved all Syrian political parties. In Syria, large-scale nationalization of agriculture began, and then industry and the banking sector. The formation of the new state was supported by the leadership of the USSR: loans were provided to the UAR, and the participation of the USSR in more than fifty industrial construction projects was announced.
In Syria, dissatisfaction with the unification gradually grew. The Syrians believed that the Egyptians had taken all the leading positions, and they were in a disadvantaged position. Soon, discontent turned into open rebellion: on September 28, 1961, a coup d'état took place under the leadership of a group of officers; The Egyptians tried to suppress the center of resistance, but to no avail. A national government was created headed by Mamun Kuzbari. Thus, the UAR lasted only 3.5 years.
Syrian Arab Republic
Destroyed hospital building in Quneitra in the UN buffer zone (Golan Heights). 2006
After Syria left the confederation, the country was led by the liberal Nazim al-Qudsi. He returned many nationalized enterprises to their former owners. On March 28, 1962, a coup took place in the country again under the leadership of the same group of army officers. Al-Qudsi and his prime minister were arrested. After 5 days, supporters of the previous regime overthrew the interim government, and Al-Qudsi again became the president of the country.
On March 8, 1963, a military coup took place again in Syria, as a result of which the Arab Socialist Renaissance Party (PASV) came to power (the name “Baath” (Ar. “revival”) is often used). In 1964, a new constitution was adopted, which established the leading role of PASV. The country was led by Amin al-Hafez, who began radical socialist reforms. In particular, the nationalization of the main sectors of the economy was carried out again. On February 23, 1966, Syria was shocked by the fifth coup in 4 years led by Salah Jadid and Hafez al-Assad. Amin al-Hafez was overthrown, but the PASV remained in power, and Syria's socialist path of development remained largely unchanged.
In 1967, the Golan Heights were occupied during the Six Day War. Israeli air strikes during the war caused enormous damage to the economy. The government's failure to ensure industrial recovery after the war led to anti-government protests in 1968-1969. In November 1970, as a result of the “corrective movement” in the PASV, led by Hafez al-Assad, Salah Jadid’s group was removed from power. Thus, Syria became the main ally of the Soviet Union in the Middle East. The USSR provided Syria with assistance in modernizing its economy and armed forces.
In 1973, Syria, along with other Arab states, attacked Israel. The Arabs failed to defeat Israel and after 18 days the war was ended. By decision of the UN Security Council at the end of the war in 1973, a buffer zone was created separating Israel and Syria. The Golan Heights are currently controlled by Israel, but Syria is demanding their return.
As of April 2015, as a result of the fighting, 3.9 million Syrians fled their country, and another 7.6 million were internally displaced. Refugees mainly find shelter in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey, about 200 thousand people left for European countries, which is why the number of migrants at the borders of the European Union reached its highest level in July 2015 since such a count began in 2008.
After a series of serious defeats in 2015 (the loss of cities and Palmyra, as well as the capture of the Abu ed-Duhur airbase), at the end of September official Damascus turned to military assistance. On September 30, it officially confirmed the transfer of an aviation group of several dozen aircraft and helicopters and support units to Syria.
During the period 2015-2016, fighting continued throughout the country. The armed opposition, consisting of many groups, continued systematic shelling of cities under the control of government troops, and there were street battles using heavy weapons in several large cities of the country, including the capital.
The turning point in the military conflict was the liberation of the city by the Syrian army on December 22, 2016. At the beginning of 2017, the Syrian army concentrated its main forces on the fight against the Islamic State, as a result of which, by the end of autumn, the Islamic State had lost most of its territories in Syria, retaining only a few small territories under its control in different parts of the country (Yarmouk camp to the south from, south of the governorate, Quneitra governorate, as well as small areas of the eastern bank of the Euphrates River). On December 6, 2017, Russian President V.V. Putin officially announced the complete defeat of the Islamic State terrorists with the preservation of individual pockets of resistance. After the completion of the operation in the east of the country, the main fighting moved to the governorate.
State structure
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his wife Asma al-Assad
Syria is a multi-party presidential-parliamentary republic.
The head of state is the president. According to the country's constitution, the president is elected for 7 years, the number of terms in power is limited to two consecutive terms. The President has the right to appoint a cabinet of ministers, declare a state of martial law or a state of emergency, sign laws, declare an amnesty, and make constitutional amendments. The president determines the country's foreign policy and is the supreme commander of the armed forces.
The legislative power in the country is represented by the People's Council (Arabic: مجلس الشعب - Majlis al-Shaab). Members of the 250-seat parliament are directly elected for four-year terms. As a result of the parliamentary elections in 2003, 7 parties entered the People's Council. Led by the Baath, they form the National Progressive Front of Syria (NPF). 83 deputies have no party affiliation. The People's Council approves the country's budget and is also involved in legislative activities.
The judicial system is a unique combination of Islamic, Ottoman and traditions. The basis of Syrian legislation is, according to the constitution, Islamic law, although in fact the current legislation is based on the Napoleonic Code. There are three levels of courts: the Court of First Instance, the Court of Appeal and the Constitutional Court, which is the highest authority. The Constitutional Court consists of five judges, one of whom is the President of Syria, and the other four are appointed by the President. Thus, complete control over both the executive, legislative and judicial powers is concentrated in the hands of the president.
In addition to this, the religious court system deals with family matters and other domestic matters.
Government
The Syrian government is headed by a prime minister. The current chairman of the government is Imad Khamis.
On February 15, 2006, career diplomat Farouk Sharaa was sworn in as Vice President of Syria, who, as vice president, would oversee the country's foreign policy and information policy. New ministers appointed during the government reshuffle on February 11 also took their oaths of office.
The Syrian Foreign Ministry was headed by Walid al-Muallem, who was Syria's ambassador to Syria for ten years, and since the beginning of 2005 has served as deputy head of the Foreign Ministry. The government of Muhammad Naji Autry included 14 more new ministers. The head of the military police, Bassam Abdel Majid, took over the post of Minister of Internal Affairs, which remained vacant after the suicide of the former head of the Syrian Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ghazi Kanaan, in October 2005. Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Abdallah Dardari, Defense Minister Hassan Turkmani, Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Hussein, and Minister of Economy and Trade Amer Lutfi.
In the course of subsequent personnel changes, the former Chief of the General Staff of the Syrian Armed Forces, Ali Habib, became the Minister of Defense, and Lamia Asi became the Minister of Economy.
Human rights
"Allah protects Syria." Poster depicting the President in Damascus.
Since 1963, a state of emergency has been in effect in Syria, resulting in expanded powers for law enforcement agencies. Because of this, the country often faced accusations of civil rights violations. In particular, Amnesty International has repeatedly mentioned in its reports the presence of hundreds of political prisoners in the country, the use of torture as a common practice, the lack of a fair and independent judicial system, and discrimination against women and national minorities.
Syria is one of the most secular countries in the Arab world.
In April 2011, the state of emergency was lifted.
Representatives of several religions and peoples live in the country. In the 1960-1980s, the official government carried out strict assimilation of the Kurdish minority (10% of Kurds had not citizenship, but a residence permit; since 2011, the rights of the Kurds have been increased to be enshrined in a separate law instead of “general grounds”) . Since the 60s, the country has banned printed publications in the Kurdish language, its teaching in schools, and even its use in personal communication in public places. Kurds did not have the right to create cultural, educational, public and sports organizations. This did not cause any armed confrontation; in parallel, in neighboring Turkey, the “Kurdish” issue is constantly in an acute military stage.
In the early 1980s, there was a local uprising by an armed non-governmental religious group that killed up to 40,000 people.
The country uses the death penalty.
A number of human rights organizations in their reports regularly characterize Syria as an extremely unfavorable country in terms of human rights. Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Freedom House and others accuse the Syrian authorities of restricting freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, using torture and depriving them of medical care.
Foreign policy
Syria's foreign policy is focused, first of all, on resolving all disputes, including territorial ones - related to the return of the Golan Heights to the jurisdiction of Damascus. Although Syria's relations with other Arab countries were damaged after President Assad came out in support during the Iran-Iraq War, Syrian diplomacy is trying in every possible way to rally the Arab world around the problem of a Middle East settlement.
Syria has a special relationship with. Damascus considers the Russian Federation as its main military-political, trade and economic partner. The possibility of placing a Russian naval base in the Mediterranean port is being considered. Traditionally, Russia is a supplier of weapons and other military products to Syria.
Relations with the West are more strained. The Syrian authorities are accused of sponsoring international terrorism, encouraging the Iraqi resistance, and arming Hezbollah. Also, the United States has repeatedly accused the government of Bashar al-Assad of violating human rights and dictatorial methods of governance.
Relations with France remained good for decades, thanks to the enormous work and investment in the Syrian economy that began before the 2nd World War.
Geography
Syria Map
The area of Syria is 185.2 thousand km².
Relief
The Ansariya (An-Nusayriyah) mountain range divides the country into a wet western part and an arid eastern part. The fertile coastal plain is located in northwestern Syria and extends 130 km from north to south along the Mediterranean coast from to the border. Almost all of the country's agriculture is concentrated here. The highest mountain in Syria is Nabi Younis (1575 m). Most of the Syrian territory is located on an arid plateau, dotted with the mountain ranges of Dajable al-Ruwaq, Jabal Abu Rujmain and Jabal Bishri. The average height of the plateau above sea level ranges from 200 to 700 meters. To the north of the mountains is the Hamad Desert, to the south is Homs.
Climate
The climate is generally arid. The average annual precipitation does not exceed 100 mm. The average temperature in January is +7.2 °C, in July + 26.6 °C.
Water resources
In the east, Syria is crossed by the Euphrates and flows through its territory for 675 km. In 1973, a dam was built in the upper reaches of the river, which caused the formation of a reservoir called Lake Assad. Agriculture is widespread in areas along the Euphrates. Khabur and Belikh are considered major tributaries of the Euphrates. In the extreme northeast, the second main river of the Middle East, the Tigris, flows for 44 km along the border. And in the west flows the Orontes River ( El Asi, 325 km), which flows from Turkey. The Yarmouk River flows on the border with Jordan.
Flora and fauna
In western Syria, ficus, magnolia, plane tree, cypress, myrtle, laurel, and hibiscus grow. Aleppo pine is endemic to Syria. In irrigated areas, citrus fruits, olive trees, figs and grapes are cultivated. The forests themselves (beech and cedar) occupy a small part of the territory of Syria. In the east of Syria, desert vegetation predominates: tamarisk, astragalus, camel thorn, biyurgun, saxaul, boyalych. The fauna is not rich, there are antelopes, wild boars, jackals, foxes, hares, hyenas, a Syrian hamster and a Syrian brown bear. Storks and herons fly to Syria for the winter.
Administrative division
Syria is divided into 14 governorates, the head of which is appointed by the Minister of Internal Affairs after the approval of the cabinet. Each governorate elects a local parliament. Quneitra governorate has been occupied since 1973, part of the governorate is under UN administration.
| Number on map |
Russian Name |
Arabic Name |
Population | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | دمشق | 4 500 000 | ||
| 2. | ریف دمشق | 2 235 000 | ||
| 13. | Deir ez-Zor | دير الزور | 1 040 000 | |
| 4. | Daraa | درعا | 858 000 | Daraa |
| 10. | ادلب | 1 288 000 | ||
| 8. | Latakia | اللاذقية | 891 000 | |
| 12. | Ar-Raqqa | الرقة | 811 000 | |
| 7. | طرطوس | 720 000 | ||
| 11. | Aleppo (Aleppo) | حلب | 4 120 000 | |
| 9. | Hama | حماه | 1 416 000 | |
| 14. | Al Hasakah | الحسكة | 1 225 926 | Al Hasakah |
| 6. | Homs | حمص | 1 561 000 | |
| 3. | El Quneitra | القنيطرة | 69 000 | |
| 5. | Es-Suwayda | السويداء | 304 000 | Es-Suwayda |
Golan Heights
Druze settlement of Majdal Shams.
The territory of the Golan Heights makes up the Syrian governorate of Al-Quneitra, with its center in the city of the same name. Israeli troops captured the Golan Heights in 1967, and the region was under the control of the Israel Defense Forces until 1981. In 1974, the UN Emergency Force was introduced into the region. A demarcation line was drawn directly along the eastern border of the Quneitra governorate and a demilitarized zone was created. The United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) is based in the area.
In 1981, the Israeli Knesset passed the Golan Heights Law, which unilaterally declared Israeli sovereignty over this territory. The annexation was declared invalid by the UN Security Council Resolution of December 17, 1981 and condemned by the UN General Assembly in 2008.
The city of Katzrin became the center of the Israeli Golan. The majority of the non-Jewish population in the Golan are Druze who retain Syrian citizenship (they are given the right to obtain Israeli citizenship). In Syria they enjoy some privileges, in particular they are guaranteed free higher education.
In 2005, the population of the Golan Heights was approximately 40 thousand people, including 20 thousand Druze, 19 thousand Jews and about 2 thousand Alawites. The largest settlement in the area is the Druze village of Majdal Shams (8.8 thousand people). Initially, only UNDOF personnel had the right to free movement between Syria and Israel. But in 1988, the Israeli authorities allowed Druze pilgrims to cross into Syria so that they could visit the Temple of Abel, located in the neighboring governorate of Daraa. Also, since 1967, Druze brides who decide to marry a Syrian are allowed to cross to the Syrian side, and they already lose the right to return. Syria and Israel are de jure at war.
Economy
Weak sides: Civil War. International sanctions.
In 2014, the contraction in GDP was also caused by international sanctions, destroyed infrastructure, reduction in domestic consumption and production, and high inflation. In 2014, the war and ongoing economic downturn led to a humanitarian catastrophe, with the number of people in need in Syria increasing from 9.4 to 12.2 million and the number of refugees rising from 2.2 to 3.3 million. Syria's long-term problems include foreign trade barriers, reduced oil production, high unemployment, and lack of water resources.
The inflation rate in 2014 was estimated to be 34.8%. In 2014, according to Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index (an annual ranking of countries in the world reflecting the assessment of the level of perception of corruption by international analysts), Syria was ranked 159th out of 175 countries. According to the World Bank's annual Doing Business ranking in 2014, Syria was ranked 165th in terms of ease of doing business.
The public sector, which retained a leading role in the economy (70% of fixed assets of production), accounts for about half of the national income and approximately 75% of the value of industrial products. The state has complete control over finance, energy, railway and air transport. As part of the course proclaimed by the Syrian leadership towards gradual liberalization and modernization of the economy, a line has been taken to provide public sector enterprises with greater economic independence, in particular, the right to enter the foreign market and attract foreign investment.
The private sector was actively developing. It produces 25% of the value of industrial products, it occupies a dominant position in agriculture (almost 100%), domestic trade (90%), foreign trade (70%), the service sector, motor transport, and housing construction.
Industry creates the bulk of national income. The most developed industries are oil, oil refining, electric power, gas production, phosphate mining, food, textile, chemical (production of fertilizers, plastics), electrical engineering.
Agriculture (50% of the self-employed population) accounts for about 30% of national income and 17% of export earnings (cotton, livestock products, vegetables and fruits). Only a third of Syria's territory is suitable for agriculture.
Subsequently, political instability, hostilities and trade and economic sanctions imposed on Syria led to a deterioration in the country's economy.
- by May 23, 2012, losses from international sanctions against Syria amounted to 4 billion US dollars; sanctions led to a shortage of essential goods
- On January 10, 2013, the Syrian Foreign Ministry sent a message to the UN Security Council, in which it notified the international community about the looting by militants of about 1,000 factories and enterprises in the commercial and industrial center of Aleppo. The equipment and goods were illegally exported to Turkish territory, and the Turkish border authorities did not interfere with this.
International trade
Exports - $13.97 billion (in 2008) - oil, minerals, fruits and vegetables, textiles.
The main buyers are Iraq 30.7%, Germany 9.8%, Lebanon 9.6%, Italy 6.4%, France 5.5%, Egypt 5.4%, Saudi Arabia 5.1%.
Imports - $15.97 billion (in 2014) - machinery and transport equipment, food, livestock, metals and metal products, chemicals, plastics, paper
The main suppliers are Saudi Arabia (24.5%), UAE (12.1%), Iran (8.9%), Russia (8.4%), Iraq (7.3%), Turkey (6%), China (4.6%), Ukraine (4.1%).
Transport
Hejaz Railway Station in Damascus
Car roads
The total length of roads in Syria is 36,377 km. Of them:
- with hard surface - 26,299 km;
- without hard surface - 10,078 km.
Railways
The total length of railways is 2,750 km. In Syria, two types of gauge are used at once. 2423 km of roads were built with a standard gauge of 1435 mm, and 327 km with a gauge of 1050 mm. The road with a 1050 mm gauge was built by the Ottoman Empire at the beginning of the 20th century and connected with. This thread is currently not functioning. Railway connections are established with three neighboring states:, and. Currently, the construction of the line is underway; it is planned to lay the Dara and - railways.
Air Transport
The number of airports is 104 (1999), of which 24 have concrete runways. 3 have international status. The state airline, Syrianair, operates flights to more than 50 cities.
Pipeline transport
The total length of pipelines is 1,304 km, of which 515 are oil pipelines.
Sea transport
Main ports on the Mediterranean Sea: , Banyas.
Population
Syria's demographic curve. On the vertical axis - population, thousand people. Horizontal axis - year
Population density
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 10,000 BC e. | 100 000 |
| 1000 BC e. | 3 000 000 |
| 500 BC e. | 6 000 000 |
| 1 | 6 000 000 |
| 100 | 5 000 000 |
| 150 | 4 000 000 |
| 200 | 3 000 000 |
| 500 | 6 000 000 |
| 1000 | 6 000 000 |
| 1200 | 6 000 000 |
| 1970 | 6 000 000 |
| 1980 | 8 000 000 |
| 2000 | 16 071 000 |
| 2010 | 22 838 000 |
| 2017 | 17 780 041 |
| 2100 (forecast) | 31 000 000 |
According to the United Nations Population Fund, the total population of Syria in 2011 was 20.8 million, including 10.5 million men and 10.3 million women; the share of the urban population is 56%, the population growth rate in 2010-2015 will be 1.7%, life expectancy will be 74 years for men and 78 years for women.
The majority of the population is concentrated on the Mediterranean coast and along the banks of the Euphrates. Population density - 103 people/km². In Syria, education is guaranteed free from 6 to 11 years of age and is compulsory. 12 years of schooling consist of 6 years of primary school, three years of general education and another three years of special training required for admission to university. Literacy among Syrians over 15 years of age is 86% for men and 73.6% for women.
Largest cities
| Cities of Syria | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Name | Population | Governorate | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Russian | Arabic | Census 1981 | Census 2006 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1. | حلب | 985 413 | 1 626 218 | Aleppo (Aleppo) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2. | دمشق | 1 112 214 | 1 580 909 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3. |
The largest national minority, the Kurds, make up 9% of the Syrian population. Most Kurds live in the north of the country in Western (Syrian) Kurdistan, many still use the Kurdish language. There are also Kurdish communities in all major cities. The third largest ethnic group in the country are the Syrian Turkmens (Turkomans). Circassians are descendants of muhajirs - migrants from the Caucasus, and are mainly engaged in cattle breeding and agriculture. Before the Yom Kippur War and the destruction of the city, half of the Circassians lived in the Quneitra governorate; many of them moved to Damascus. The smallest people of Syria are the tribes of the senior zhuz of Kazakhs - Sirgeli, immigrants from Kazakhstan. There are also large communities of Armenians and Assyrians in the country. Religious composition
Worship at the Great Mosque of Aleppo There is no official religion in Syria. The country's constitution, adopted in 2012, proclaims the equality of all citizens, regardless of their religion or belief. However, according to the current constitution, the religion of the president of the republic is Islam, and Islamic jurisprudence should be the main source of legislation. The largest religion in Syria by number of followers is Islam; in 2010, Muslims made up 93% of the country's population. The majority of Muslims are Sunnis (74%), predominantly from the Hanafi madhhab. The Shia branch of Islam (13%), represented by Alawites, Ismailis and Twelvers, has gained significant influence in the country. Another about 3% of the population of Syria are Druze, whose position in the religious classification is ambiguous.
Maronite Church of St. Elijah in Aleppo The share of Christians in 2010 was estimated at 5% - 6% of the population. Throughout the 20th century, the share of Christians in the total population of the country has been steadily declining - from 16% at the beginning of the century to 7.8% in 2000. This was due both to higher natural increases among Muslims and to significant emigration of Christians to North and South America and the wealthier Gulf countries. The number of Catholics in 2010 was estimated at 430 thousand people. Most of them are believers of the five Eastern Catholic churches (Melkites, Syrian Catholics, Maronites, Armenian Catholics and Chaldo Catholics). The Orthodox are represented by the Antiochian Orthodox Church (260 thousand, 2010). There are also many supporters of the ancient eastern churches in the country - the Syrian Orthodox Church (195 thousand), the Armenian Apostolic Church (150 thousand) and the Assyrian Church of the East (70 thousand). Approximately half of the Protestants (40 thousand) are Reformed, the rest are believers of the Anglican, Perfectionist, Baptist and Pentecostal communities. In 2011, the Yazidi community in Syria numbered 80 thousand people. In addition to the above, there are very small groups of supporters of the Baha'i faith, Zoroastrians and Jews in the country. LanguagesThe official and most common language is Arabic. In the northern regions of the country, Kurdish is often used. The most common languages also include Turkmen, Adyghe (Circassian) and Armenian. In certain areas there are various dialects of Aramaic. Among the foreign languages, the most popular are English and Russian, which since 2014 has been gradually introduced in secondary schools in the Damascus-controlled western part of the country as a subject starting from the 7th grade. By the beginning of the 21st century, at least 35 thousand specialists lived in Syria who had ever studied in Russian in the USSR and the CIS countries. The French language was quite popular in Syria during the period between the two world wars, when the country was ruled by. However, since then, Russian has significantly replaced French as a second foreign language: there is only one French school left in the country in Damascus, and the number of active Francophones in Syria as of 2014 does not exceed 5,000 people. CultureBeing one of the oldest states in the world, Syria has become the cradle of many civilizations and cultures. Ugaritic cuneiform and one of the first forms of writing, Phoenician (XIV century BC), originated in Syria. Syrian scientists and artists made a significant contribution to the development of Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine cultures. Among them: the scientist Antiochus of Ascalon, the writer Lucian of Samosata, the historians Herodian, Ammianus Marcellinus, John of Malala, John of Ephesus, Yeshu Stylite, Yahya of Antioch, Michael the Syrian. Christian theologians Pavel Samosata, John Chrysostom, Ephraim the Syrian, and John of Damascus are also known. In the 12th century, the famous warrior and writer Osama ibn Munkyz, the author of the autobiographical chronicle “The Book of Edification”, a most valuable source on the history of the Crusades, lived and worked in Syria. The learned deacon Paul from Aleppo (Bulos ibn Makarius az-Zaim al-Halebi), having visited the Moscow state in 1654-1656, described in detail in his book “The Journey of the Patriarch of Antioch Macarius to Russia” the everyday culture, folk customs and religious rituals of Russians and Ukrainians, as well as the foreign policy of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich and the church reforms of Patriarch Nikon. The capital of Syria - the city - is one of the world's historical centers for the production of bladed weapons, the birthplace of the famous "Damascus steel". The Syrians made significant contributions to the development of Arabic literature, especially poetry, and music. Syrian writers of the 19th century, many of whom later immigrated to, made a decisive contribution to the revival of Arab culture (a kind of “analog” of the Renaissance in - Nahda). The most famous Syrian writers of the 20th century who made the greatest contribution to pan-Arab culture include Adonis, Ghada al-Samman, Nizar Qabbani, Ulfat Idilbi, Hanna Mina and Zakaria Tamer. Cinema in Syria is not very developed, partly due to the fact that it is entirely in the hands of the state. On average, the Syrian National Film Organization produces 1-2 films per year, which are very often censored. As a rule, banned films receive prizes at international film festivals. Famous directors include Amirali Omar, Osama Mohammed and Abdel Hamid, Abdul Razzak Ghanem (Abu Ghanem), etc. Many Syrian filmmakers work abroad. However, in the 1970s, Syrian-produced series were popular in the Arab world. Together with the Syrian film studio “Ghanem Film”, feature films were shot in the USSR and Russia: “The Corral” (1987), “The Last Night of Scheherazade” (1987), “Richard the Lionheart” (1992), “Destroy the Thirtieth!” (1992), “Angels of Death” (1993), “Tragedy of the Century” (1993), “The Great Commander Georgy Zhukov” (1995), etc. In modern Syrian society, special attention is paid to the institution of family and religion, as well as education. Modern life in Syria is closely intertwined with ancient traditions. Thus, in the old quarters of and other Syrian cities, living quarters are preserved, located around one or several courtyards, usually with a fountain in the center, with citrus gardens, vines and flowers. Outside of large cities, residential areas are often combined into small towns. The buildings in such areas are generally very old (often several hundred years old) and are constantly passed down from generation to generation. From 2000 to 2008, the number of Internet users in Syria grew from 30,000 to 1 million. However, authorities block Internet users from accessing sites such as YouTube, Blogspot and Facebook, as well as the sites of Kurdish and Islamist parties. Against this background, multiserver instant messaging networks, for example, based on the XMPP protocol, have gained extraordinary popularity compared to other Arab countries. Due to the behavior of Syrians on this network, many nodes completely block input of the Arabic alphabet. EducationBefore Syria gained independence, more than 90% of its population was illiterate. Free and compulsory primary education was introduced in 1950. Before the start of the civil war, there were about 10 thousand primary and more than 2.5 thousand secondary schools in Syria; 267 vocational schools (including 77 industrial, 65 trade, 18 agricultural and veterinary, and 107 women's); 4 universities. Textbooks in secondary schools (under the rule of Bashar al-Assad) are provided free of charge up to and including 9th grade. The University of Damascus was founded in 1903. It is the leading higher education institution in the country. The second most important is the university in Aleppo, founded in 1946 as the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Damascus, but in 1960 it became an independent educational institution. In 1971, Tishrin University was established. The youngest university was founded in Al-Baath University. In addition, a large number of Syrians receive higher education abroad, mainly in and in France. HealthcareSyria has free public health care. There are about 300 hospitals in the country, and there are approximately 900 residents per doctor. In addition, government employees have the right to compensation (up to 100%) for private costs of medical care, provided that these medical services are provided in Syria. Syrian Health Minister Abd-Assalam Al-Naib noted in 2014 that Syria occupied one of the first places in the region in the field of medicine. The country’s healthcare system operated 49 clinics, and the population was fully provided with medicines (72 drug production enterprises operated, up to 97% of the population was provided with national medicines), complex operations were carried out, including heart surgery and kidney transplantation, which, as the minister noted, became possible thanks to the experience adopted from the Soviet Union. Currently, the Syrian healthcare system has suffered great damage. Pension provisionMen retire at 60. In the event of the death of a pensioner, his widow and children receive his pension, while sons receive it until they reach adulthood, and daughters until they get married. If the daughter was unable to get married, then she receives this pension until her death. Holidays
mass mediaState TV and Radio Company - ORTAS ( Organisme de la Radio-Télévision Arabe Syrienne, الهيئة العامة للإذاعة والتلفزيون - “General Directorate of Radio Broadcasting and Television”), which includes the 1st (launched in 1960) and 2nd TV channels (launched in 1985), radio stations Radio Damascus ( إذاعة دمشق ), Voice of the People ( صوت الشعب ) and Voice of Youth ( صوت الشباب ). Armed forcesThe supreme commander of the armed forces is the president of the country. Military service in the Syrian army is carried out by conscription. Young men are drafted into the army for 2 years upon reaching conscription age (18 years old) and only on the condition that the young man has at least one brother. Otherwise, he is declared the breadwinner of the family and is not subject to conscription. The total number of armed forces during the years of the civil war decreased significantly and is about 130 thousand people (15th place in the world). About 14 thousand Syrian troops were in the territory before Syria withdrew its foreign contingent in April 2005 (introduced at the request of the Lebanese leadership). The collapse of the Soviet Union, which was Syria's main military-technical partner, significantly worsened the situation of the Syrian army. From the 1990s to the present day, Syria has been purchasing weapons from China and. Russia is the main supplier of repair equipment and spare parts, as well as the main political partner. The country also receives financial assistance from the Arab Gulf states as payment for its participation in the operation against Iraq. In addition to this, Syria is conducting independent research in the field of weapons. On September 30, 2015, Russian President V.V. Putin gave an order to use the Russian Aerospace Forces in Syria as support for President Bashar al-Assad in the war against the armed opposition and ISIS. The armed forces include the ground forces, air force, navy and air defense forces. Became part of the Macedonian Kingdom. The remains of several Neanderthals were found in the Dederiyeh Cave, located in the Afrin River valley. About 10 thousand years BC. e. Syria became one of the centers of the Pre-Pottery Neolithic A, where cattle breeding and agriculture appeared for the first time in the world. The subsequent Pre-Pottery Neolithic B is characterized by the rectangular houses of the Mureybet culture. During the pre-ceramic Neolithic era, local residents used vessels made of stone, gypsum and burnt lime. Finds of obsidian, originating in Anatolia, indicate ancient trade relations. 11,000 years ago, the community at Tel Qarassa pioneered agriculture. The Tell Qarassa North discoveries provide the oldest evidence of the domestication of three types of grains: one type of barley and two types of wheat (spelt and spelt). Settlement Tell Halula IX-VIII millennium BC e. in northern Syria had an area of 8 hectares. DNA research of the inhabitants of Tell Halul and Tell Ramad in southern Syria showed that the first European settlements were founded by residents of the Middle East. The oldest known fossil remains of a domesticated cow come from an Early Neolithic settlement Jah "de el-Mugara in northern Syria and date back to the 8th millennium BC. e. (calibrated radiocarbon dates are 10,650 - 10,250 years ago). Molecular genetic analysis of these findings allows us to conclude that the entire population of current cows originated from 80 aurochs domesticated in the settlements of Jah de el-Mugara and Chayonu-Tepesi in southeastern Turkey. In 5 thousand BC. e. in the north of modern Syria there was a Halaf culture, which was at enmity with the Ubaid culture and was absorbed by it. In Northern Mesopotamia, the beginnings of urban life can be seen at Nagara (now Tel Brak in northern Syria). By 3800 BC. e. the city had large buildings, extensive workshops and an estimated population of 20 thousand people, not counting its suburbs. The first significant settlement in southern Mesopotamia was Eridu around 3700 BC. During the Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age, the cities of Hamoukar and Emar played an important role. AramOne of the brightest eras of its early history was the X-VIII centuries BC. e., when, after the aggressive campaigns of kings Reason I and Tab-Rimmon, the city of Damascus became the center of the powerful Aramaic kingdom, which soon became the hegemon of all Syria. This dominant position continued under their descendants. At the beginning of the 9th century. BC e. Tab-Rimmon's son, Ben-Hadad I, fought with the kingdom of Israel and seized part of northern Galilee from the Israelites. But a few decades later, the hegemony of Damascus began to be threatened by the rapidly growing Assyrians. They first collected tribute from the rulers of Syria in 859 BC. e. In order to more successfully resist the enemy, the local rulers decided to combine their forces. The son of Ben-Hadad I, Ben-Hadad II, managed to create a powerful anti-Assyrian alliance, which included Tsarihamat, Israel, Arvad, Ammon and some others. In 853 BC. e. A fierce battle took place under the walls of the city of Karkara, on the banks of the Orontes River. It was very bloody, but ended in vain. Some time later, the Assyrian king Shalmaneser III again invaded Syria, besieged Damascus, but was unable to take it. However, the coalition of Syrian and Palestinian rulers, dangerous for the Assyrians, did not last long. Soon between the Israeli king Ahab and Ben-Hadad II (bib. Venadad) the war began. At the Battle of Rimot-Gilead in 850 BC. e. The Israelites were defeated and Ahab was killed (2 Kings). Then in 843 BC. e. Ben-Hadad II himself also died - one of his close associates, a certain Azail, taking advantage of the fact that the king was sick, strangled him with a blanket and seized power himself. In 834 BC. e. The 120,000-strong Assyrian army approached Damascus for the second time. King Shalmaneser III of Assyria discovered that the Syrians had taken up positions on Mount Senir, one of the mountain peaks of Lebanon, and were entrenched there. The Assyrians managed to defeat the Syrian army, and Hazael himself was forced to flee to Damascus. The Assyrians surrounded the city and cut down the groves in its vicinity. Shalmaneser III was able to capture large booty, but he failed to take the city this time too. Antique periodFrench MandateThe 1969 Constitution defined Syria as a democratic, people's, socialist republic with a planned economy, with private property limited by law. On November 16, 1970, as a result of a military coup, President Salah Jadid was overthrown, and Hafez al-Assad, whose rule was actually a dictatorship, became the president of the republic in 1971. The obvious Soviet bias of the Syrian leadership was balanced by nods towards Islam. The Arab-Israeli wars in and 1973 contributed to an increase in the role of Syria in the general confrontation. During the reign of Hafez al-Assad, Syria sought to limit Israeli influence in the region. The Syrian Golan Heights came under Israeli control, but Syria’s almost complete political control over Lebanon, established during the civil war in that country, became a kind of “compensation” for this loss. In 1982, a series of armed uprisings took place in Syria. Syria. About the country. Introduction. Syria. General information. Geographical location: Education. The capital is Damascus. Population of Syria. The official language is Arabic. Climate. Religion. Currency. Syria visa. Transport. Electricity: 220 V. Communication: Communication code with Russia is 00+7. The country has mobile communications, and there are many inexpensive Internet cafes ($1/hour). What to buy as a souvenir. 👁 Do we book the hotel through Booking as always? In the world, not only Booking exists (🙈 we pay for a huge percentage of hotels!) I have been practicing Rumguru for a long time, it’s really more profitable 💰💰 than Booking. 👁 Do you know? 🐒 this is the evolution of city excursions. The VIP guide is a city dweller, he will show you the most unusual places and tell you urban legends, I tried it, it’s fire 🚀! Prices from 600 rub. - they will definitely please you 🤑 👁 The best search engine on the Runet - Yandex ❤ has started selling air tickets! 🤷 (Syrian Arab Republic) General information Geographical position. Syria is a state in Western Asia, stretching from the Mediterranean Sea in the west to Iraq in the east at the center of ancient trade routes between Europe, Asia and Africa. In the north the country borders with Turkey, in the south with Jordan, and in the west with Lebanon and Israel (Golan Heights). The length of the Mediterranean coast is 180 km. Square. The territory of Syria occupies 185,200 square meters. km. Main cities, administrative divisions. The capital of Syria is Damascus. The largest cities: Damascus (1,500 thousand people), Aleppo (1,500 thousand people), Homs (580 thousand people), Al-Ladhimiya (300 thousand people). Administrative-territorial division of the country: 13 governorates (governments) and the municipality of Damascus equivalent to them. Political system Syria is a republic. The head of state is the president. The head of government is the prime minister. The legislative body is the unicameral People's Council. Relief. Most of Syria is a desert plateau with low mountains, descending from west to east. In the west, two mountain ranges stretch, forming the Jebel Ansariya mountains (height up to 1,562 m) along the Mediterranean coast, the mountains of Kurd Dagh, Jebel Zawiya, Anti-Lebanon (height up to 2,814 m) and Jebel El-Sheikh (the Arabic name for the mountain Hermon ridge, most of which is now located in Israel). In southern Syria, the black basalt massif of Jebel Druze rises. The coastal lowland with evergreen vegetation and luxurious beaches is 10-20 km wide. You can swim in the warm sea almost all year round. The east of the country is hilly steppe, semi-desert and desert with rare oases. The northeastern part is occupied by the Jezire Desert. Geological structure and minerals. The country's subsoil contains reserves of oil, phosphates, manganese, and chromium. Climate. The climate on the coast is subtropical Mediterranean, with damp, mild winters (average January temperature + 12°C) and dry summers with an average temperature of +26°C. It is colder in the mountains and snow falls in winter. In the interior regions, the climate is dry continental, characterized by large seasonal and daily temperature changes, for example, in winter the temperature can vary from +10°C at night to +20°C during the day, and in summer the maximum temperature reaches +45°C, +50°C . Inland waters. The Euphrates River flows from northwest to southeast for 680 km through Syria. In ancient times, just to the south, in Mesopotamia (or Mesopotamia, between the Euphrates and the Tigris), the oldest civilization on earth arose. Another deep river, the Orontes, flows through the country, 570 km long, in Syria - 325 km. Soils and vegetation. The mountain slopes are covered with forests (oak, pine, cypress, laurel), occupying about 3% of the country's territory. As the altitude increases, the forests transform into alpine meadows. Trees also include poplar, tamarisk, chestnut and eucalyptus. Palm trees can be seen in the Palmyra oasis. Animal world. The fauna of Syria is quite poor. Predators include the panther, jackal, and striped hyena. There are antelopes, gazelles, and onagers (wild donkeys). Lots of reptiles and rodents. Population and language The country's population is approximately 13.5 million people: from 80% to 90% (according to various sources) are Arabs. There are about 100 thousand Bedouins. National minorities are represented by Kurds, Armenians, Turks and Circassians. The official language is Arabic (Syrian dialect). In Aleppo and other big cities they speak Armenian, in some villages east of the Euphrates they speak Turkish. In two or three villages, the language of the Bible - Aramaic - has been preserved to this day. Local residents understand English, the older generation understands French. Religion The dominant religion in Syria is Islam. Of the 82% of Muslims, Sunnis make up 68%, Shiites - 14%. Shiites are divided into several sects: Alawites (Nusairis) - 11.5%, Ismailis - 1.5%. About 3% are Druze. Brief historical sketch About 800 thousand years ago, primitive people came to Syria from Africa. About fifty ancient settlements have been excavated in Syria. Early Paleolithic objects were found in Sitt Marko, Ras Shamra and Latamna, and the oldest human remains of the Middle Paleolithic (Mesolithic) period were found in the Dederia caves. English archaeologist Leonard Woolley in 1927-1928. excavated the city of Ur on the Euphrates, the legendary homeland of the forefather Abraham. The royal tombs he discovered provided a wealth of information about the life of the Sumerians and their funeral rites. But the most striking discovery was that under the cultural layer with the remains of the tombs there was an absolutely clean layer of clay about two and a half meters thick. The only possible conclusion was made: an unprecedented flood occurred in ancient Sumer. Perhaps the real flood described in the Tale of Gilgamesh, older than the Bible, discovered on clay cuneiform tablets, served as the basis for the biblical story of the Great Flood. Lists of ancient kings and texts of treaties and laws were deciphered on clay tablets. Archaeological excavations and deciphered texts have proven: in the 4th millennium BC. e. Canaanite (Amorite) tribes lived in the Euphrates Valley and, in particular, in the territory of modern Syria. At the end of the 3rd - beginning of the 2nd millennium BC. e. Early slave states emerged in the region. In the XVI-XIV centuries. BC e. There were almost continuous wars on Syrian territory. Syria was conquered in turn by the Egyptians, the Mitanni Empire (which controlled Jezira), the Hittites, then the Arameans, by the 1st millennium BC. e. spreading their influence over almost all of South-West Asia. The Hittites, whose empire was destroyed around 1200 BC. BC, were pushed into Northern Syria and the Upper Euphrates Valley and created new Hittite kingdoms there with centers in Aleppo, Karchemish, Hama, and Arpad. At the beginning of the 10th century. BC e. The Aramaic kingdom of Damascus arose on the territory of Syria, from the 8th century. part of Assyria (from about the 9th century BC), then the Neo-Babylonian (in the 7th century BC), the ancient Persian kingdom of the Achaemenids (until 333 BC) and the Hellenistic state of the Seleucids. Another Aramaic kingdom, established in Ham, was also conquered by Assyria in the 9th century. In 333 BC. e. In Northern Syria, the troops of Alexander the Great defeated the huge army of the Persian king Darius III. After the death of the great commander, the empire was divided. The east went to Alexander's general Seleucus Nicator (founder of the Seleucid dynasty). The Greeks founded the cities of Antioch, Alamea, and Dura-Europos in Syria. In 64 BC. e. The Romans crushed the Palmyra kingdom, which stretched from Egypt to Asia Minor and occupied a significant part of modern Syria. Antioch became the capital of the new Roman province. BIV-VII centuries n. e. Syria was a prosperous province of the Byzantine Empire. BIV-V centuries Christian churches were built, new rich cities arose. In 532, Syria experienced a Persian invasion, and after the war between the Byzantines and the Sasanian Persians in 603, in 611 the Persians again poured into the country, finally expelled from Syria in 627. When in 636 the Arabs defeated the Byzantines at Yarmuk, Damascus surrendered. In 639, Aleppo, Antioch and Latakia were captured, and then the whole country. In 661, Muawiyah, the Arab governor of Syria and founder of the Umayyad dynasty, seized power and moved the capital to Damascus. Until 750 Damascus remained the capital of the Umayyad Caliphate. It was during this period that the Arabic language spread, most of the population converted to Islam and Islamic art was born. In 750, supporters of Abu al-Abbas, who founded the Abbasid dynasty, overthrew the Umayyad dynasty. In 762, the capital of the Arab Caliphate was moved to Baghdad, and the role of Syria noticeably decreased. In 868, Ahmad ibn Tulun (founder of the Tulunid dynasty), ruler of Egypt, conquered Syria. In 934, Damascus, like Egypt, fell into the hands of the Ikshid dynasty, which was soon expelled from Northern Syria to the south of the country and Egypt by the Arab Hamdanid (later Fatimid) dynasty. Until 975, the Hamdanids also ruled in Aleppo, until they were expelled by the Byzantine emperor John I Tzimiskes. In the X-XI centuries. a significant part of the country was captured by the Seljuk Turks. XI-XIII centuries - the era of the Crusades. In 1097-1098 The crusaders besieged and took Antioch, and then founded the Principality of Antioch - one of many principalities and kingdoms (including Jerusalem) founded by the crusaders in the East. Since those times, fairly well-preserved castles and fortresses of the crusader knights have remained on the territory of Syria. The power of the Crusaders was not stable. In 1173, Salah al-Din (known in Europe as Saladin) captured Damascus and united Egypt and Syria, beginning the Ayyubid dynasty. In 1187, at the Battle of Hattin, he captured Jerusalem. From 1265 the crusaders began to be driven out of the East. In 1268, Sultan Baybars captured Jaffa in Palestine and Antioch in Syria. In 1271, the Crusader fortress fell, in 1285 - the Markaba fortress, in 1303 - the island of Aruad - the last stronghold of the Crusaders in Syria. From the 13th century until the beginning of the 16th century. Syria was ruled by the Egyptian Mamluks - warriors of the Egyptian sultans, recruited from slaves of Turkic origin, and in 1250 seized power in Egypt and ruled Egypt and Syria until the Turkish conquest in 1517. In 1400, Syria experienced an invasion of the Mongols, in 1401 troops Tamerlane captured and burned Damascus, exterminating its inhabitants. In 1453, the Turks captured Constantinople, consolidating their victory over the Byzantine Empire and quickly conquering Southwest Asia. In 1516, under Selim I, the Turks captured Egypt and Syria, and until 1918 Syria was part of the Ottoman Empire (named after Osman, the creator of the emirate and then the empire). The most significant events of this period: 1812. - uprising of the Janissaries, who managed to take Damascus and Aleppo; 1860 - extermination of Christians in Damascus. During World War I, Turkey, and therefore the entire Ottoman Empire, was an ally of Germany. To expel Turkish troops from the territory of South-West Asia, Sheikh Faisal teamed up with British and French troops. In 1917, Faisal entered Damascus, and in 1920 he founded the Arab kingdom. Following the defeat of Germany and its ally the Ottoman Empire in World War I, the League of Nations gave France a mandate to govern Syria in 1920. French rule was marked by numerous uprisings, the most powerful of which was the Druze uprising in 1925, which ended with the bombing of Damascus captured by the rebels. In the summer of 1941, British, French and Jordanian troops entered Syria to overthrow the pro-fascist regime. As a result of a powerful national liberation movement, the French military authorities in November 1941 were forced to recognize the independence of Syria. In 1943, the first national government was formed, and on April 17, 1946, all foreign troops were withdrawn from the country. From 1945 to 1954, several coups d'etat took place in Syria. General Zaim's coup occurred after the first Arab-Israeli war in 1948 (which in Israel is called the War of Independence). In February 1958, Syria and Egypt united to form the United Arab Republic (UAR), with Egyptian President Nasser as president, but in 1962 Syria left the union and became the independent Syrian Arab Republic (SAR). The head of the republic is the president; legislative power in the country belongs to parliament. In 1963, the Baath Party came to power, whose motto was the words “Unity-Freedom-Socialism.” The subsequent period was marked by rapprochement with the Soviet Union and the nationalization of many industrial sectors. In 1967, during the Six Day War with Israel, Syria lost the Golan Heights. In 1970, General Hafez al-Assad, who had previously been defense minister, came to power and united several political parties into the Progressive National Front. The remaining parties were banned. In 1992, he was elected president for the fourth time for seven years, almost unanimously. The period of Assad's rule, which undoubtedly brought stability to the life of the country, was overshadowed by another Arab-Israeli war - the Yom Kippur War, as a result of which not only was it not possible to return the Golan, but the Israeli army found itself 40 km from Damascus, and Syria suffered serious economic damage . Brief Economic Sketch Syria is an agrarian-industrial country. They cultivate grains and legumes, industrial crops (cotton, sugar beets and cane, tobacco). Fruit growing, vegetable growing, viticulture, melon growing, olive groves. Extensive livestock farming. Fishing. Extraction of oil, phosphates, salt. Textile and food industry. Chemical, leather and footwear, oil refining enterprises. Handicrafts. Export of oil, petroleum products, cotton, agricultural products, textiles. The currency is the Syrian pound. Brief sketch of culture Art and architecture. With the rise of the national liberation movement in Syria, a new art was born. Even the titles of the paintings by artists Farid Kardus “The Awakening of the Arabs” and Nazem Jafari “Peoples Welcome the Unity of the Arabs” can judge its direction. The first Syrian artists studied in Italy, France and Germany; from 1950, art exhibitions began to be periodically held in Damascus, and in 1956 the Syrian Art Society was founded. Realist Nazem Jafari's favorite subject was the urban landscape of Damascus. Genre artists Mahmoud Jalal (Peasant Woman with a Straw Tray) and Nassir Shaur (Portraits of Peasant Women) created poetic and pure images of Syrian women. Naim Ismail in his work relies on the traditions of medieval miniatures, even in works on everyday themes (“Market”, “Village Road”, etc.). Some of Syria's contemporary artists have also been strongly influenced by Western European abstract art. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
