syriastew.com

As I wrap up two months of blogging entirely on Syria and its relations with the rest of the world, I want to take a moment to reflect on how much has changed in only two months. Dare I say that I am a little optimistic about where Syria now stands with the rest […]

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President Assad has reshuffled his cabinet for the third time this year, according to a report from Agence France Press. A source speaking on condition of anonymity said the changes came after a “global re-evaluation.”
What does that mean?
I’m not sure yet. I’ve often wondered what Assad’s relationship is like with those […]

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I was hesitant to believe recent reports of Iraqi refugees leaving Syria for Iraq due to decreasing violence at home. I believe several elements are coming together, including a dip in violence, that is making it appear that the Iraqi refugee crisis is over..
First, the Syrian government cracked down on the refugees, closing its […]

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I found this report about Syria on Current TV. It’s a great introductory piece about the country, its people and its politics. While this was posted one year ago, the information is still relevant for anyone who doesn’t know a thing about Syria - except for what our government tells us.
Watch the video - […]

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Facebook was blocked in Syria over the weekend, in an apparent crackdown of online activities. The Washington Post reported many in Syria are angered by the block:
Syrian users of Facebook said on Friday the authorities had blocked access to the social network Web site as part of a crackdown on political activism on the Internet.
“Facebook […]

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Syria has finally accepted an invite to the Annapolis Mid-East Peace Conference, after learning that the Golan Heights could be on the agenda. The Assad regime is sending deputy Foreign Minster, Faisal Mekdad.
The LA Times reported that sending the deputy minister may be a nod to Syria’s ally Iran:
Sending Moqdad instead of the more […]

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The AP gave a great run-down on the dispute between Israel and Syria involving the Golan Heights.  Syria hopes that the issue will be addressed at this week’s Annapolis Peace Conference.  So for those of you who don’t know, here are the basics:
Location: Plateau at southwestern corner of Syria overlooking Sea of Galilee and northern […]

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Syria Today just celebrated its third birthday, a real cause for celebration.
Why?
The magazine is a joint venture between Syrians and Americans, and has managed to survive in Damascus, where media is severely restricted. The fact that Syria and America have been at odds over a wide array of issues makes the magazine’s survival […]

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It appears that Syria may take part in the upcoming Annapolis peace talks in Maryland, but it is unclear at what level-will it be the president or an envoy? Also unclear is whether the issue of the Golan Heights will be on table, or if the talks will focus primarily on resolving the conflict between […]

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