Syria

 Welcome to Syria !  Kendra Gampe, Morgan Agia, and Jenna Yoder Population ** 18,389,000 Damascus; 2,228,000  71,498 square miles Arabic, Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian, French, English   sunni, Alawite, Druze and other Muslim sects, Christian **Life Expectancy **<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="font-size: 9pt; color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">70 <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="font-size: 15pt; color: #66cc61; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">U.S. $3,700 <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace;"><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif;">77 Iran Everyone **<span style="font-size: 12pt; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman';">Language ** <span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Arabic (official); Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian widely understood; French, English somewhat understood
 * <span style="font-size: 9pt; color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">
 * <span style="font-size: 9pt; color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Capital **<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
 * <span style="font-size: 9pt; color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Area ** <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
 * <span style="font-size: 9pt; color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Language **<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
 * <span style="font-size: 9pt; color: #333333; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">Religion **<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"> <span style="font-size: 15pt; color: #66cc61; line-height: 115%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
 * <span style="font-size: 9pt; color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">GDP per Capita ** <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
 * <span style="font-size: 9pt; color: #333333; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">Literacy Percent ** <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">
 * Friends **
 * Enemies **

[]

__<span style="color: #ee172c; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif;">Syria __



<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace;"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace;">**<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Apple Chancery'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">FLAG **<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Apple Chancery'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">: The national flag is a horizontal tricolor of red, white, and black stripes; in the white center stripe are two green five-pointed stars. <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: #000000; line-height: 130%; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace;">**SIZE:** Slightly larger than North Dakota. Coastal Syria is a narrow plain, in back of which is a range of coastal mountains, and still farther inland a steppe area. <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: #ee172c; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">**Boardering Countries** Lebanon, Israel, Cyprus, Jordan, Iraq, and Turkey <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman';">Racially, the Syrians are varied, and except where ethnic distinctions have found religious expression, racial types are generally intermixed. It is estimated that Arabs make up about 90.3% of the population. Other ethnic groups make up the remaining 9.7%, including Kurds, Armenians, and others. <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman';">Syria is divided into 14 provinces //(muhafazat)//; every province has a governor //(muhafiz)// and council. Each province is in turn divided into districts //(mantiqat),// each headed by a //qaimmaqam.// Each district is further subdivided into subdistricts, each in the charge of a //mudir.// Governors are appointed by and are directly responsible to the authorities in Damascus. <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman';">The 1981–85 development plan allocated S£2.6 billion to construction projects, including housing. According to the latest available information for 1980–88, total housing units numbered 1,670,000 with 6.4 people per dwelling. <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Apple Chancery'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Syria has no territories or colonies. <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif;">**<span style="display: block; font-size: 90%; color: #66cc61; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; text-align: center;">Food ** <span style="display: block; font-size: 90%; color: #66cc61; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif;">Typical <span style="font-family: 'Apple Chancery'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Syrian meal starts with mezze (appetizers). It is always a social occasion when friends and family gather to enjoy appetizers and conversation before lunch and dinner. A meat, (lamb is the favorite meat) chicken or fish dish follows with salad and rice. <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif;"> A typical Syrian meal is followed by tea or coffee, platters of fruit and home made pastries filled with nuts and sweetened with sugar syrup. In many dishes, there is alot of pita bread (flat bread), olives, and humas     <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif;"> <span style="display: block; font-size: 90%; color: #66cc61; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; text-align: center;">**<span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: Calibri; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman';">Some National specialties: ** • //Kubbeh// (minced semolina and meat formed in balls and stuffed with minced meat, onion and nuts). • //Yabrak// (vine leaves stuffed with ricehj =<span style="display: block; font-size: 90%; color: #66cc61; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; text-align: center;">and minced meat), //ouzi// (pastry stuffed with rice and minced meat) and a variety of vegetables cooked with meat and tomato sauce, usually presented on separate plates and eaten by mixing it with cooked rice. • //Mensaf// (pieces of lamb on rice and pine nuts). • Main vegetables are okra, French beans and //malukhiyya//. • //Baklava// is a favorite dessert made from flaky pastry filled with honey and nuts. = Proverbs <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-no-proof: yes;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">The camel limped from its split lip <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> //<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">A bad workman blames his tools // <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-no-proof: yes;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="font-size: 18pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">What is past is dead <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> //<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Let bygones be bygones // <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Apple Chancery'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">MONETARY UNIT **<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Apple Chancery'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">: The Syrian pound (S£)
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Apple Chancery'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">WEIGHTS AND MEASURES **<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Apple Chancery'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">: The metric system is the legal standard, but local units are widely used.
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Apple Chancery'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">HOLIDAYS **<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Apple Chancery'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">: New Year's Day, 1 January; Revolution Day, 8 March; Egypt's Revolution Day, 23 July; Union of Arab Republics Day, 1 September; National Day, 16 November. Muslim religious holidays include 'Id al-Fitr, 'Id al-'Adha', Milad an-Nabi, and Laylat al-Miraj. Christian religious holidays include Easter (Catholic); Easter (Orthodox); and Christmas, 25 December.
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Apple Chancery'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">TIME **<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Apple Chancery'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">: 2 PM = noon GM
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman';">ETHNIC GROUPS **
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman';">LOCAL GOVERNMENT **
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman';">HOUSING **
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman';">DEPENDENCIES **

<span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-no-proof: yes;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">O departing one, leave behind good deeds! <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> //<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">A good deed is never lost // <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">

<span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-no-proof: yes;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Haste is the devil's work and patience is from God the Merciful <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> //<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Patience is a virtue // <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">

<span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-no-proof: yes;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">The son of a duck is a floater <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> //<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Like father, like son. // <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">

<span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-no-proof: yes;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">He is like a deaf man at a wedding procession <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> //<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">A fish out of water // <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">

<span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-no-proof: yes;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Every knot has someone to undo it <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> //<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Every problem has a solution //<span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-no-proof: yes;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">When the lions are away, the hyenas play <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> //<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">When the cat is away, the mice will play // <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">

<span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-no-proof: yes;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Let it wound your heart rather than go out and cause a scandal <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> //<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Keep it, to yourself if you don't want others to know // <span style="font-size: 24pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"> <span style="display: block; font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; text-align: left;">** Syrian PM visits Baghdad in fresh bid to boost ties ** Baghdad: The Iraqi government says Syria's prime minister has arrived in Baghdad in a visit meant to further boost ties between the long strained neighbours.

Relations have recently improved although Iraq and the United States accuse Syria of allowing foreign fighters to cross into Iraq, a charge Damascus denies.

According to the spokesman, Prime Minister Naji Al Otari was greeted at the Baghdad airport by his counterpart Nouri Al Maliki.

Government spokesman Ali Al Dabbagh says a high-level Syrian delegation is accompanying the visiting premier.

Syria and Iraq restored diplomatic relations in November 2006, ending a 24-year break that began when Damascus accused Iraq of inciting riots in Syria in 1982.

<span style="font-size: 20pt; color: #66cc61; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif;">Iraq seeks bidders to restart Syria oil pipeline <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Tue Apr 21, 2009 BAGHDAD, April 21 (Reuters) - Iraq is seeking offers from foreign companies to rehabilitate an oil pipeline to Syria's Mediterranean terminal of Banias after a Russian firm did not begin the work, an Oil Ministry spokesman said on Tuesday. A Russian company was signed up to fix the pipeline, which has not been used for exports since the 1980s, but has not taken up the task, ministry spokesman Asim Jihad said. The pipeline has a capacity to carry 300,000 barrels of crude per day. "The Russian company failed to do the job and now we are seeking other foreign firms to evaluate the damage and rebuild the pipeline," Jihad said. Russian firm Stroytransgaz signed a protocol with Iraq to reactivate the oil export pipeline last March, according to Russian officials. It is not clear if it signed a formal contract and Jihad did not identify the company he was talking about. Syrian Prime Minister Naji al-Otari arrived in Iraq on Tuesday on a visit and one of the subjects under discussion would be the pipeline, officials said. During a visit to Russia this month, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said he would like to revive contracts signed by Russian companies before the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. Syria has a 600 km (375 mile) border with Iraq. U.S. forces bombed the pipeline on the Iraqi side of the border during the invasion to topple Saddam Hussein. (Reporting by Ahmed Rasheed; Editing by Michael Christie)

**<span style="display: block; font-size: 20pt; color: #ee172c; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">Syrian rappers find their voice ** **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Young musicians in Syria expressing themselves with their own take on rap and hip-hop. **

<span style="font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">DAMASCUS - With a swift move, he brings the microphone close to his mouth. “Brothers in Gaza, my microphone is your cannon. You kneel down only to God, and no one can force you to surrender,” blares out Hani al-Sawah, as if on stage in front of a huge audience. But Sawah, 20, is performing with friends in his bedroom and makeshift recording studio in the city of Homs. Sawah’s head is shaved – his only obvious fashion statement, though he’s no ordinary young man. He sees himself as a poet, writing and performing rap songs with two other friends. Set up three years ago, his band, Street Art, is now beginning to win over other Syrian youngsters. Sawah is one of a growing number of rappers and hip-hop performers in Syria who sing about politics, social change and the problems faced by Syrian youth. Most of these homegrown talents, like Rap Refugees, Wrong Way, and Sons of Rage, are gaining popularity among teenagers and university students. They perform on the street, in parks and college campuses all over Syria, mainly in cities like Damascus, Homs, Aleppo and Lattakia. “At first, we started imitating foreign rap singers,” said Sawah, recalling that he used to dress and perform like famous artists, such as Latin-American performer Immortal Technique whose lyrics are highly political and often call for revolution. But he gradually created his own style inspired by life in Syria. He now sings in Arabic with western rap beats. “We started singing about domestic issues that fit the reality we live in,” said Sawah, who every Thursday meets with his friends on the corner of a street in Homs to exchange ideas and improvise new lyrics. “Through Arabic rap, we found a great style to express ourselves. Simply, it is a matter of letting off steam.” Most rap groups haven’t the means to record tracks and produce CDs. They rely on Facebook and other websites to publicise their songs. Very few get to perform on stage because of the total lack of support for their music, which is considered marginal by record companies, said Imad al-Helou, who works as a sound technician and helps a number of rap bands. Helou, who also owns a CD shop in Homs, said that local rap songs are downloaded from Syrian websites or passed from one person to another via flash discs. One song was downloaded 50,000 times only hours after it was put online, he said. The Song of an Exile, performed by Khalid Gailani, obviously hit a nerve in a country where many youngsters dream of leaving – even though many of those who do so and then come back are often disillusioned and disappointed. “It is a lie to say that abroad everything is great, everything is sweet and good. Take it from me, it is all fantasy. Here, life is decent. Abroad, you are humiliated, so it’s not worth it,” said Khalid, 21, who is one of Syria’s best known rappers. Khalid wrote the song based on the experience of one of his friends who went abroad but had no luck. Lyrics that relate to the day-to-day issues of young Syrians seem to be key to the success of local rappers. Some manage to record their songs in big studios in Damascus by splitting the fee of roughly 100,000 Syrian pounds (2,000 US dollars) between them. But most produce their songs at home, using simple sound mixers. “This is the story of my life from birth to death. I hear the sounds of my ahs (used in Arabic to express pain) but still resist,” sings Firas Maasarani, a rapper with the band Underground Pound. Massarani believes that his songs have a “purpose and a meaning”, that each song is a piece of art, like a painting, trying to convey a message and make people think. In the first place, they want to express themselves. But of course, there is also the hope that they will some day be able to make a living out of it, move from the bedroom to a professional studio – a dream that still seems very far away. “Our music is often looked down upon,” noted Massarani. So far, though, the authorities have not tried to ban any of the music. This is perhaps because most rappers – either consciously or subconsciously – know the red lines. Their lyrics mostly deal with social issues or with political topics that are considered acceptable to discuss. In the aftermath of the Israeli incursion in Gaza in December last year, for example, many rappers devoted their songs to the plight of the Palestinian people. In the song I Call on You, Khalid criticised Arab regimes that did not come to the aid of Palestinians in Gaza. “A nation on whose forehead shame we write. There are men under fire who defend themselves by stones,” he sings. Lyrics like this, he feels, cannot be sung in baggy American pants like most US rappers wear. He prefers to perform in the Kefiyeh, the black and white headscarf that has become the symbol of the Palestinian cause. In another of his successful songs, The Coffee Has Boiled, he criticises the Syrian youth’s growing obsession with western looks and fashion. “I have a headache,” run the lyrics. “I feel my heart is hurting when I see my country’s young men and women good only at imitation.”

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