Syria Today | August 2009

US wants Syria’s help in brokering peace deal

The US wants Syria’s help in forging a deal between Israel and the Palestinians, US Middle East envoy George Mitchell said after meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus on July 26.

British Council holds ‘English for Fun’ day

The British Council marked its 75th anniversary by hosting an ‘English for Fun’ children’s day in Damascus on July 17.

School for gifted opens

A new school for Syria’s most talented students was opened in Homs on July 27.

Assad meets Sadr for unity talks

Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad urged Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr to press forward with Iraqi national reconciliation efforts during talks in Damascus on July 20, Syria’s state-run news agency SANA reported.

Saudi Arabia appoints new ambassador to Syria

Saudi Arabia appointed a new ambassador to Syria last month in the latest sign of a thaw in relations between the two countries.

Syria amends honour crime law

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad issued a decree last month that increased the prison sentence for honour killings to a minimum of two years.

Russian Deputy FM condemns Israeli settlement activity

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Saltanov called on Israel to halt all settlement activity in the Occupied Palestinian Territories during a trip to Damascus from July 18-19.

Syria ready to mediate between Iran and the West

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Mu’allem said Damascus can mediate between Iran and the West to settle their disputes, including that surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme.

Mu’allem: peace depends on 1967 border withdrawal

Syria will not attend any peace summit, including a proposed international conference to be held in Russia at the end of the year, unless Israel commits to withdrawing to the 1967 borders in the Golan Heights, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Mu’allem said on July 12.

Third swine flu case confirmed

Syria’s Ministry of Health confirmed a third case of the swine influenza A-H1N1 virus in the country on July 12.