Syria Today | January 2010

Syria holds country’s first TV drama conference

In a bid to boost local TV drama production, the Syrian government organised the first conference for producers, writers and actors working in the country’s TV drama industry on December 7.

Syria and Iran boost defence cooperation

Syria and Iran signed an agreement to bolster defence cooperation during a three-day visit by Iranian Defence Minister Ahmad Vahidi to Damascus between December 8 and 11.

Damascus hosts Turkish-Arab Cooperation Forum

Damascus hosted the second meeting of foreign ministers of the Turkish-Arab Cooperation Forum on December 15.

Syria attacks Israel’s ‘conflict diamond’ leadership role

Syria surprised nations gathered at a UN General Assembly session on the Kimberley Process last month when it demanded Israel’s name be removed from a key resolution, the AP reported on December 11.

2010 Wish List

At the beginning of the New Year, Syria Today went out to discover what the country’s young generation hopes and wishes for in 2010.

Syrian government launches AIDS booklet for journalists

Last month the Syrian government launched the first handbook on AIDS for journalists, which aims to give them a clearer insight into the illness and ways of covering it in the media.

Assad’s younger brother passes away

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s younger brother Majd Hafez al-Assad passed away on December 12 after suffering from a chronic disease, Syria’s state-run news agency SANA reported.

Syria participates in Copenhagen Climate Change Conference

Syria’s Minister of the Environment Kawkab al-Daieh travelled to Copenhagen last month as part of a Syrian delegation at the COP15 United Nations Climate Change Conference.

Q&A: Keith Ellison
Democrat Member of US Congress

Keith Ellison, a Democrat who became the first Muslim congressman in the United States in January 2007, believes that while the change in US-Syrian relations may have been slow in 2009, steady progress has been made.

Weighing up the Consequences

Syria’s delay in signing the EU Association Agreement is justified. The country must carefully consider the ramifications of such a deal.