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Syria

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Last reviewed: 23 March 2009

Country information

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS


Syria's Relations with Neighbours


Syria has good relations with Iran, including on defence ties, and the two signed a memorandum of defence understanding in June 2006. On 21 November 2006 Syria and Iraq signed an agreement to restore diplomatic relations almost 25 years after they cut them.  The ongoing violence in Iraq has led to an influx of between 1.2 and 1.5 mn Iraqi refugees into Syria.

In October 1998, Turkey threatened military action against Syria, in frustration at alleged long-term Syrian hospitality for Kurdish PKK ( Kurdistan Workers’ Party)terrorist groups active against Turkey. The dispute was resolved diplomatically, with Syria meeting most of the Turkish demands.

There has been substantial high level bilateral contact between Turkey and Syria in the past year - with both the Syrian President and Foreign Minister in Ankara and the Turkish Foreign Minister in Damascus in the last quarter of 2007,. Turkey has sought to use this contact to encourage Syria back into the international fold and Syria is also keen to ease its isolation. Turkey believes it is important for the West to engage with Syria to weaken its ties to Iran, and currently hosts the indirect peace talks between Syrian and Israeli delegations. No agreements have yet been struck.

Syrian intervention in Lebanon during the 1980s brought an end to the civil war in that country. By September 2004, Syria still had a military force of approximately 15,000 men in Lebanon and commanded a high degree of influence there.

On 14 February 2005, former Lebanese Prime Minister, Rafiq Hariri, was assassinated in a bomb that killed 19 others and injured over 200. In Lebanon it was widely believed that Syria was involved in this attack and on 14 March 2005 approximately one million demonstrators came out onto the street to demand the departure of Syrian forces. In response to domestic and international pressure, Syria withdrew and a UN verification team reported on 23 May 2005 that all Syrian troops had withdrawn from Lebanon, although it was uncertain whether all intelligence personnel had left.

Syria is widely suspected of involvement in the murder of the Rafiq Hariri. On 7 April 2005, United Nations Security Council resolution 1595 was passed which mandated the establishment of a UN International Independent Investigation Commission, into the attack. UN International Independent Investigation Commission’s  interim report of 20 October 2005 indicated that it was unlikely that the murder of Hariri could have been carried out without the knowledge of Syrian intelligence. United Nations Security Council resolution1636 of 31 October 2005 required Syria to cooperate with the UN International Independent Investigation Commission. The  UN International Independent Investigation Commission 's report of 12 December 2005 stated that 19 Syria and Lebanese suspects had been identified, though it did not name them.

United Nations Security Council resolution1644 of 15 December 2005 extended the UN International Independent Investigation Commission’s mandate until 15 June 2006 as its investigation had not reached the point where it could be handed over to the Lebanese authorities. United Nations Security Council resolution1644 also requested that the UN Secretary-General make recommendations on whether the UN International Independent Investigation Commission’s mandate be broadened to cover all political attacks since October 2004 (the date of the first attack on a Lebanese politician opposed to Syrian involvement since the adoption of United Nations Security Council resolution1559). A further recommendation was also made that the UN Secretary -General’s report on whether there should be international involvement in the trial of those accused of the murder of Hariri. The UN International Independent Investigation Commission investigation continues, and the final report will be passed to an International Special Tribunal for Lebanon to try those involved.

In May 2007 United Nations Security Council resolution 1757 established the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) under Chapter VII of the UN Charter to try suspects involved in the murder of Hariri and other attackes. The Special Tribunal began its work in the Hague on 1 March 2009.

Syria's Relations with the International Community

Over recent years, Syria has had a complex relationship with much of the international community.  Syria’s role in the 18 month political crisis in Lebanon as well as their facilitation of foreign fighters into Iraq has led the UK, USA and France and some EU countries to limit their contacts with the Syrian government.  The EU does, however, have diplomatic and economic relations with Syria. The European Council approved the Commission's negotiating mandate in December 1997 and negotiations for an Association Agreement between the EU and Syria started in May 1998. In April 2000, Syria ratified the MEDA framework agreement freeing-up the potential for €100 million development funds. Following lengthy discussions, an EU Association Agreement was initialled between the EU and Syria in Brussels on 19 October 2004, however negotiations are currently suspended Once signed and ratified the Association Agreement will lead to progress towards liberalisation of the Syrian economy in the longer term.

The agreement of the Doha accord in May 2008 (which ended the political crisis in Lebanon) and the resumption of the Israel Syria proximity talks has led a number of countries, most notably France, to re-evaluate their approach to Syria.  France re-engaged with Syria by inviting President Assad to attend the Mediterranean Union Summit in Paris in July2008, where Lebanon and Syria agreed to establish diplomatic ties and open embassies for the first time.  Following the summit, President Sarkozy visited Damascus in September 2008. Foreign Minister Muallem visited London in October 2008. The Foreign Secretary visited Damascus in November 2008 and had talks with President Assad.

Middle East Peace Process

President Bashar al-Assad claims to be committed to fulfilling his father's legacy by achieving peace with Israel. However, Syria's support for Palestinian rejectionist groups is seen by many to directly contradict this aim, Syria has said that if the Roadmap for Peace is acceptable to the Palestinians then it is acceptable to Syria. President Asad has sought a bigger role for the EU, rather than the United States, in the MEPP. Indirect peace negotiations between Syria and Israel resumed in May 2008, with Turkey acting as an intermediary. The talks halted when Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced he was stepping down.

Syria's Relations with the UK

Britain broke off diplomatic relations with Syria in 1986.  The relationship improved after the restoration of diplomatic relations in November 1990. However, Syria's stance on certain issues continues to give us cause for concern, and we have a number of serious differences. The Government remains keen to improve relations with Syria, which has much work to do in making progress on key areas of concern including Iraq, Lebanon, support for terrorists, counter terrorism, human rights and reform.

We remain particularly concerned about the role of Syria in Lebanon and Iraq. Syria supplies Hizbollah with weapons and supports cross-border insurgents entering Iraq.  Such support encourages extremism and threatens the stability of the region, and puts peace in the Middle East further out of reach.

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Contacts

Syria

Address:

8 Belgrave Square
London SW1X 8PH

Telephone:

(020) 7245 9012

Fax:

(020) 7235 4621

Office hours:

Mon-Fri: 0930-1530

Website: http://syremb.com