Arabic News Weekly Edition for Syria, 2/14/2005
Weekly Edition, Syria - Week of February 14, 2005
- Al-Assad appoints Asef Shawkat as chief of military intelligence
In a step which was described as to enhance his control on security departments, the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad appointed his brother-in-law ( husband of his sister Bushra) Lt. gen. Asef Shawkat as chairman for the military intelligence in succession of Lt. Gen. Hassan Khalil who has retired. Syria, Politics, 2/19/2005 - Rice warns Syria
The US on Friday warned Syria it will be exposed to more sanctions if it will not help in investigations in the Hariri assassination. Syria-USA, Politics, 2/19/2005 - Danish archbishop visits Kiftaro Academy
Chief of Danish Archbishops, Eric Norman Sivins, and an accompanying delegation visited on Friday Sheikh Ahmadd Kiftaro Academy and listened to a review on the activities of the academy. Syria-Denmark, Religion, 2/19/2005 - Qatari papers and pressures on Syria Syria-USA, Politics, 2/19/2005
- Adana economic symposium opened Syria-Turkey, Local, 2/19/2005
- Bush escalates pressure against Syria
The US President George W. Bush has escalated his pressures on Syria demanding it to withdraw from Lebanon, according to UN Security Council resolution 1559 and to make sure that gunmen that sneak from its lands to Iraq not to be used in support of what he called international terrorism. Syria-USA, Politics, 2/18/2005 - Iranian advisor: cooperation with Syria is not against anyone
Iranian President Advisor Mohammed Shariati said on Thursday the Syria- Iran cooperation was not against any side or party inside or outside the region. Syria-Iran, Politics, 2/18/2005 - Rice: We have diplomatic tools to use against Syria
While the US President George W. Bush did not specify certain measures against Syria, the US secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said that the "US administration considers that it has necessary diplomatic means to force Syria to get out of Lebanon," Syria-USA, Politics, 2/18/2005 - President Khatami of Iran vows support to Syria Syria-Iran, Politics, 2/18/2005
- Syrian premier meets with Iran's Expediency Council Head Syria-Iran, Politics, 2/18/2005
- Nasrallah: Lebanon could never be hostile to Syria
Secretary General of Hizbullah in Lebanon said Tuesday Hariri supported the establishment of excellent fraternal relations with Syria, stressing that "Lebanon could never be hostile to Syria." Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 2/17/2005 - Syria - Iran solidarity
Syria underlined on Wednesday solidarity with Iran in facing what it has been exposed to of unfair threats under various names and pretexts. Syria-Iran, Politics, 2/17/2005 - Syria's economic relations with Iran to match political closeness
Syria's Prime Minister Naji Otari depicted on Wednesday his current visit to Tehran as of particular importance due to challenges facing the two countries and the region. Syria-Iran, Politics, 2/17/2005 - Russia confirms determination to provide Syria with non shoulder- borne air defense missiles
Russia on Wednesday stressed its determination to sell new air defense missiles to Syria despite Israel's fears, but it explained that these weapons are middle-range and will not violate the military balance in the Middle East. This, however, did not prevent Washington from expressed unease. Syria-Russia, Politics, 2/17/2005 - Damascus: Direct messages from Rice to the Syrian leadership
The Syrian official news agency said that the US ambassador in Damascus, Margaret Scobey, handed over the Syrian officials today a message from the US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice concerning Lebanon. Syria-USA, Politics, 2/17/2005 - Syrian senior officer stresses close ties with Jordan Syria-Jordan, Politics, 2/17/2005
- EU: No Change in Ties With Syria Syria-European Union, Politics, 2/17/2005
- Central Bank of Syria meet on surplus issue Syria, Economics, 2/17/2005
- Khaddam: Hariri was assassinated due to his political role
"Hariri was targeted because of his political role in boosting civil peace in Lebanon ... Enemies of Lebanon and the Arab nation have interest in assassinating peace in Lebanon," Syrian Vice President said Tuesday. Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 2/16/2005 - Syrian state security court sentences 15 convicted to imprisonment
The Supreme State Security Court sentenced on Tuesday four offenders who partook in the riot events in Dummar neighborhood of Damascus last year and perpetrated devastating acts, four years in prison. Syria, Politics, 2/16/2005 - Rice summons the American ambassador in Damascus
The US Department Of State announced that the US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice announced the withdrawal of the American ambassador in Damascus signifies a deterioration of the American relations with Syria. Syria-USA, Politics, 2/16/2005 - Further American measures expected against Syria
The US Secretary Of State Condoleezza Rice said that Washington has taken the measures it considers necessary in this phase and will discuss other available options in its efforts to excert pressure on Syria. Syria-USA, Politics, 2/16/2005 - Delegation of Turkish News Agency in al-Quneitra
Head of Turkish News Agency CIHAN, Camal Biatly, on Tuesday underlined depth of relations between the two peoples, indicating that the delegation will transmit facts on occupied Syrian Golan through CIHAN Agency to the whole world. Syria-Turkey, Politics, 2/16/2005 - Al-assad condemns terrorist act in Beirut
President Bashar al-Assad on Monday condemned the terrorist act that claimed the life of a number of the Lebanese people, on top of them former Premier Rafic Hariri. Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 2/15/2005 - Lebanese opposition holds Lebanese government, Syria responsible for the attacks
Angry demonstrators attacked a headquarters for the Baath party in Beirut and the house of the prime minister Omar Karami. Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 2/15/2005 - Al-Assad receives Moratinos Syria-Spain, Politics, 2/15/2005
- Spanish foreign minister underlines importance of resumption of negotiations on the Syrian track Syria-Spain, Politics, 2/15/2005
- Syrian people in Golan underline total commitment to their Syrian identity Syria-Israel, Politics, 2/15/2005
- Damascus releases 55 prisoners, most of them Islamists
Damascus has released some 55 political detainees most of them are members of the banned Muslim Brothers group, including five Palestinians, two Lebanese, one Iraqi and one Tunisian. Syria, Politics, 2/14/2005 - A new Syrian Popular Credit Bank
Syrian Popular Credit bank launched the first automatic exchange machine (ATM) in the country which was placed in al-Hamra Street in Damascus. Syria, Business, 2/14/2005 - Al-Assad holds telephone talks with al-Qathafi Syria-Libya, Politics, 2/14/2005
- Al-Assad Confers with Canada's Foreign Minister Syria-Canada, Politics, 2/14/2005
- Turkmani: need to look at roots of Terrorism Syria-Regional, Politics, 2/14/2005
- Syrian premier in an official visit to Iran: boosting economic ties Syria-Iran, Politics, 2/14/2005
- Zabadani telephric: a new tourism project
Preparations are underway to execute a forty-five million dollars tourist project in the summer resort of Zabadani near Damascus. Syria, Business, 2/14/2005