POLICY

Sarkozy phones President al-Assad, praises his tireless efforts to make Doha agreement a success

29/5/President Nicolas Sarkozy of France has appreciated President Bashar al-Assad's tireless efforts to make the Doha agreement a success and to ensure election of the consensual President by the Lebanese.

The French President expressed his desire to give greater impetus to the relations between France and Syria, particularly in the political and economic spheres as well as increasing coordination between the two countries in topics of the common interest. Sarkozy also expressed his country's support to Syria to restore all its rights and readiness to offer all what pushes the peace process in the region forward.

President al-Assad Receives message from Libyan Leader on latest developments

28/5/President Bashar al-Assad received a message from the Libyan Leader, Colonel Muammar al-Qadhafi on bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries and the situation in Lebanon, Palestine and developments of peace process.

The message was conveyed to President al-Assad by Ahmad Qadhaf al-Dam, the Special Envoy of Leader Muammar al-Qadhafi during a meeting in Damascus.

Foreign Ministry summons a number of Ambassadors of permanent Member states at the UN Security Council

8/6/ Foreign Ministry has summoned Ambassadors of Russia, United Kingdom, China and France and called on them in their countries capacity as permanent member states at the UN Security Council to put pressure on the Israeli occupation authorities to release the Syrian ailing prisoner Seitan Nimr al-Weli who has been imprisoned in the Israeli jails since 1985 and needs special medical care.

Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem sent letters to the UN Secretary General, Chairman of the UN General Assembly, Human Rights Envoy, Head of the Human Rights Council, Chairman of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Director General of World Health Organization and the EU Presidency, calling them to immediate interference to ensure release of the Syrian ailing prisoner Seitan Nimr al-Weli and ensure suitable medical treatment he needs.

Al-Moallem, Mashaal Discuss Developments in Palestine

9/6/  Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem discussed with Head of Hamas Political Bureau Khaled Mashaal recent developments in Palestine, particularly in light of the Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas's call for inter-Palestinian dialogue and Hamas approval of the move according to the Sana'a Declaration, the Yemeni Initiative and Damascus Arab Summit resolutions.

Mashaal expressed appreciation of Syria's efforts under the leadership of President Bashar al-Assad and its constant support to the Palestinian issue.

He also expressed Hamas readiness for inter-Palestinian dialogue to achieve  reconciliation and guarantee the Palestinian people's legitimate rights.

Syria denies as baseless al-Akhbar news on Syrian-Saudi and Syrian-Egyptian relations

29/6/A Syrian official information source has denied as "baseless" the news published by the Lebanese newspaper "al-Akhbar" yesterday on accusations directed to the Saudi leadership of plotting against Syria.

" The mentioned news about the Syrian-Saudi relations and the Syrian-Egyptian relations are baseless and lack credibility. " The sources said.

Mikdad and British Official Discuss Bilateral Relations

4/6/ Deputy Foreign Minister Dr. Fayssal Mikdad discussed with Permanent Under-Secretary of the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) Peter Ricketts bilateral relations between the two countries and the importance of bolstering them.

During the meeting, Dr. Mikdad reviewed the regional situation and developments in Iraq, Palestine and Lebanon, affirming the importance of continuing discussions and coordination between Syria and the United Kingdom in issues of mutual concern.

For his part, Ricketts underlined the importance of Syria's regional role and the need to work for developing relations between the two countries and expand cooperation between them.

ECONOMY

Syria, Cyprus Sign Investment Promotion Agreement

9/6/ Minister of Economy and Trade Dr. Amer Housni Lutfi held talks with Cypriot Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Antonis Paschalides.

Minister Lutfi affirmed the strength of relations between the two countries and the need to bolster them in economic fields, stressing the importance of holding joint agricultural and industrial investment projects and increasing trade exchange.

He also underlined the importance of the Syrian-Cypriot Economic Forum which will improve cooperation and identify investment opportunities in both countries, pointing out that the geographic location of Syria and Cyprus gives them economic importance.

For his part, Minister Paschalides affirmed that the Cypriot delegation's visit aims to build strong economic relations, stressing that there are excellent opportunities for cooperation that will benefit both sides. He also expressed his country's readiness to set up joint investment projects and sign cooperation agreements with Syria.

Later, Director General of the Investment Department Dr. Mustafa al-Kafri and Director General of the Cyprus Investment Promotion Agency Sotirio Sotiros signed an agreement of cooperation in investment promotion.

The agreement aims to facilitate and encourage the flow of investment and exchange of technology between the two countries, in addition to encouraging businessmen to hold joint projects, identifying investment opportunities, implementing suitable strategies and holding seminars and workshops.

The agreement also stipulates for establishing a joint committee for cooperation in foreign investment tasked with the development of cooperation.

The meeting was attended by Director of International Relations at the Ministry of Economy, the Cypriot Ambassador in Damascus, and the delegation accompanying the Cypriot Minister.

Syria is the First Arab Country to Establish Ministry for Environment

4/6/Minister of Local Administration and Environment Eng. Hilal al-Atrash stressed on Wednesday that Syria is considered one of the first countries that establish Arab ministry for environment.

Ending a festivity, organized by Aleppo Governorate in cooperation with Environmental Affairs' directorate in Aleppo on the occasion of World Environment Day, Eng. al-Atrash was briefed on the steps that had been taken in the environmental field during the last few years including the environmental law and its applications, cleanness law for the year 2004 and establishing economical cities in the Syrian cities.

The minister indicated to the importance of sharing cooperation to protect the environment and realize the comprehensive development, pointing out that the World Environment Day festivity will be organized in Wellington City in New Zealand this year.

For his part, Aleppo Governor Tamer al-Heji pointed out to the Syrian authorities interest in the environmental sector, indicating that Aleppo city witnessed many environmental projects that will ensure the needs of health environment.

Memo of Understanding between Syria and WHO

29/5/Damascus University and the World Health Organization (WHO) signed on Thursday a memo of understanding on cooperation and coordination in the field of family medicine training and offering high quality services in the field of first health care.

According to the memo, which was signed by Health Minister Dr. Maher al-Husami, Damascus University Rector Dr. Wael Moalla and WHO Representative in Syria Dr. Ibraheem Beit al-Mal, the Syrian side is committed to allocating nine training and service health centers in the field of family medicine.

The Ministry also is committed to offer the needed equipment to these centers, designed as training centers to students of medicine and nursing.

Damascus University is committed to outline curriculums of the family medicine in coordination with the Health Ministry, and to do workshops aiming at training the cadres of adopted health centers.

For its part, and according to the memo of understanding, the WHO is committed to support the project of family medicine through training the participants and participate at supervising and evaluating the program, including visits of experts from the WHO.

At the end of their meeting, Dr. al-Husami, Dr. Moalla and Dr. Beit al-Mal exchanged cordial words during which they stressed the importance of cooperation and coordination in the field of family medicine due to its important role in developing and improving health care and health system in general.

VARIETY

Hama ranks first in Arab Architecture Heritage Prize in Qatar

5/6/The Syrian central city of Hama won first prize of the Architecture Heritage Prize of the Qatari al-Ja'eza Establishment affiliated to the Arab Cities Organization. In a statement to SANA staff writer Wednesday, Chairman of the City Council Mukhtar al-Hurani said that 12 Arab cities competed for this prize where Dubai won the second rank and Damascus the third. He pointed out that Hama participation in the prize represented by restoration of the historical center of the city which is al-Tawaferah district which includes the headquarters of the ancient city department, Nureddin al-Zinki Hospital, al-Sultan Bath, al-Biskis Restaurant, Nueddin al-Zinki Mosque, Palace of Asaad Basha al-Azem, headquarters of Antiques Association and artist Ateliers . Photos of these buildings before and after restoration were displayed. He indicated that al-Tawaferah district in Hama is considered as one of the oldest district in the city which is still exist and locate at the western bank of River Orontes.

Thousand and One Masterpieces Exhibition in Damascus National Museum

4/6/General Secretariat of "Damascus: Capital of Arab Culture 2008" festivity, in cooperation with Directorate General of Ruins and Museums will hold an exhibition "Thousand and One Masterpieces from Syrian Lands" at the National Museum in Damascus .

The exhibition, titled " Currencies in Damascus During the Classic Period", includes a collection of coins minted in Damascus during the Byzantium, Romanic and Hellenistic periods.