Syria Today | April 2009

120 Iraqi refugees resettled in Germany

Germany’s long-delayed programme to resettle 2,500 Iraqi refugees got underway on March 19, when it accepted 120 individuals living in Syria referred to the country by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Japan funds Neirab camp rehabilitation

Japan donated SYP 202.1m (USD 4.3m) to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) fund for rehabilitating the Palestinian Neirab camp in Aleppo, on March 15...

European delegations urge international recognition of Hamas

A series of European Union (EU) delegations met with Hamas political leader Khaled Meshaal in Damascus last month.

Cyber-dissident jailed for third time

The Damascus Criminal Court sentenced a 62-year old cyber-dissident to three years in jail on March 15, on charges of “weakening national feelings” after he published articles demanding more press freedom.

Assad ready to mediate with Iran

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said he is ready to mediate between the West and Iran, provided Western countries present a clear proposal to submit to Tehran.

Feltman and Shapiro find “common ground” with Damascus

The United States and Syria have a lot of “common ground” on which to cooperate, the US State Department’s top Middle East official Jeffrey Feltman said after talks in Damascus on March 7.

Lebanese embassy opens in Damascus

Syria and Lebanon finalised the process of establishing their formal diplomatic ties last month, with Syria appointing its first ambassador to Lebanon and Lebanon opening an embassy in Damascus.

Eight schoolgirls drown in Lake Zarzar

Eight schoolgirls drowned after an overloaded boat carrying dozens of students sank in Lake Zarzar, a small lake near Damascus, on March 19. The boat owner and a man who tried to rescue one of the girls are also reported to have died.

Feeling the pinch

The global financial crisis continues to plague economies around the world. With this in mind, Syria Today hit the streets to ask whether Syrians have felt the global pinch.

Assad meets Arab ‘moderates’

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad attended a four-way mini summit in Riyadh on March 11, in the latest move to signal a thaw in Damascus’ relations with its Arab neighbours. On March 20, Assad also made a visit to Jordan, the first since 2005.