Syria Today | June 2010

Russian president makes historic visit to Syria

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev made a historic visit to Damascus on May 10 and 11, urging the US to play a more active role in pushing forward the Middle East peace process.

Syria calls for nuclear-free Middle East at NPT conference

Syria called on the international community to compel Israel to join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), stressing the need for a Middle East free of nuclear weapons at the 2010 NPT review conference on May 5.

Iraqi Ba'athists hold first public meeting in Damascus

Members of the Iraqi Ba'ath Party held their first public rally in the Syrian capital on April 29.

Protests staged against Israeli attack on freedom flotilla

Protests were held throughout Damascus on May 31 in response to the deadly Israeli attack on a flotilla of pro-Palestinian activists attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.

President Assad makes two-day visit to Turkey

Syria, Turkey and Qatar jointly called for a peaceful solution to the Iranian nuclear dispute during a two-day visit by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to Turkey beginning May 8.

Syria marks Arab Deaf Week

AAMAL, a non-profit organisation that assists the disabled, launched a new deaf-support programme on May 2 and announced the placement of 25 hearing-impaired children into local schools.

Local News

Film banned for nudity concerns
The Ministry of Culture banned the film Café Muller from being screened during the second Damascus Contemporary Dance Forum last month.

Counselling centre for Iraqi refugees opens in Deir ez-Zor

A new centre in Deir ez-Zor will provide psychological support services to Iraqi refugees.

Q&A: Beatrice Megevand-Roggo, Middle East and North Africa Head of Operations for the International Committee of the Red Cross and Abdul Rahman Attar, President of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent

Do you think there will be a war between Syria and Israel this summer?

Damascus and Tel Aviv have traded accusations and counter-accusations for a number of months now. Will the tensions lead to war this summer? Syria Today hit the streets of Damascus to ask ordinary Syrians what they think.