Syria

Syria is a unique country in the Middle East. For thousands of years, Syria has been the cradle of great civilizations, where the legacy of the Romans, Persians, Egyptians, Turks and Babylonians is still preserved. The country also contains the ruins of ancient Palmyra, one of the richest cities of late antiquity, one of the best examples of ancient Roman architecture and recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

General information

The official name of the state — Syrian Arab Republic (SAR). The territory of the country is 185 180 km² (87th in the world). The population of the country — 16,139,840 people (as of early 2023). Syrian Arabs (including Palestinian refugees) make up about 90% of the country's population. The largest national minority — Kurds — makes up 9% of the Syrian population. Most Kurds live in the north of the country in Western (Syrian) Kurdistan, many still use the Kurdish language. There are also Kurdish communities in all major cities. The third largest ethnic group in the country are the Syrian Turkmens (Turcomans), who make up 7% of the population of Syria. Also living here are Circassians, Sirgels — Kazakh tribes, diasporas of Armenians and Assyrians.

The largest religion in Syria in terms of the number of followers is Islam, in 2023 Muslims make up 92.8% of the country's population. Most Muslims — Sunnis (about 74%). The Shiite direction of Islam (about 13%), represented by Alawites, Ismailis and Twelvers, has received significant influence in the country. About 3% of the population of Syria are Druze. Christians — about 5.2%.

The state and most widely spoken language in the country — Arab. Kurdish is often used in the northern regions of the country.

The most common languages also include Turkmen, Adyghe (Circassian) and Armenian. In some areas there are various dialects of Aramaic. Among foreign languages, the most popular — English, as well as Russian, which since 2014 has been gradually introduced in secondary schools as a subject, starting from the 7th grade.

The capital of the Syrian Arab Republic — the city of Damascus, the second largest city in Syria. The oldest of all capitals in the world.

Aleppo — the largest city in Syria and the center of the eponymous, most populated governorate of the country. The main industries in the city are textile, chemical, pharmaceutical, agro-processing, electrical engineering, and alcoholic beverages. Tourism is also developed. Aleppo — the largest urban agglomeration in the Syrian Republic and the largest industrial center, employing more than 50% of the country's industrial workers and generating an even larger share of export earnings. Aleppo is located in a very favorable zone for agriculture. 

The third largest city in Syria is Homs, before the Civil War it was a major industrial center with a population of about 776 thousand people 

The currency of the Syrian Arab Republic — Syrian pound.

Syria is divided into 14 governorates, the heads of which are appointed by the Minister of the Interior after the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers. Each governorate elects a local parliament. The governorate of Quneitra has been occupied by Israel since 1973, part of the governorate is under the control of the UN.

History, geography, culture, mentality

On Syrian soil, civilization originated in the 4th millennium BC, but the modern state is just over 70 years old.

In ancient times, the Hyksos, Hittites, Egyptians, Armenians, Arameans, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Macedonians, and Romans ruled the Syrian lands. The Canaanite tribes built their cities here, the nomadic Semites, the Phoenicians and the Philistines settled here. The capital of the country, Damascus, is rightfully considered one of the most ancient cities on earth.

Interesting fact: The Arab historian Ibn Asakira, who lived in the 12th century, was sure that the first city wall built after the Great Flood was Damascus. He attributed the creation of the city to the 4th millennium BC.

It was in Syria, on the road to Damascus, that the persecutor of Christians Saul believed in the Son of God, later becoming the apostle Paul. And the followers of Jesus Christ, who lived in Syrian Antioch, were the first to call themselves Christians.

At the beginning of the 7th century, Islam came to these lands, and in 661 Damascus became the capital of the Arab Caliphate for almost a hundred years. In the XII century, the crusaders, after a series of successful conquests, create several states in Syria, which, however, fell under the invasion of the Mamluk empire, having not existed even for hundreds of years. In 1400, Tamerlane came to Syrian land, ruining and destroying Damascus.

From 1517, Syria became part of the Ottoman Empire for four centuries. In 1922, after the First World War, which led to the collapse of the Ottoman port, the province of Syria came under the mandate of the League of Nations under the control of France, and four years later the territory was divided into Lebanon and Syria. The country received its long-awaited independence on September 27, 1941.

In November 1956, as a direct result of the Suez Crisis, Syria signed a treaty with the Soviet Union. This became a foothold for communist influence in the government in exchange for military equipment.

On February 22, 1958, in the wake of the popularity of the pan-Arab movement, Syria and Egypt united into one state — United Arab Republic with its center in Cairo. In Syria, large-scale nationalization of agriculture began, and then industry and the banking sector. The formation of a new state was supported by the leadership of the USSR: loans were granted to the UAR, and the participation of the USSR in more than fifty industrial construction projects was also announced. The UAR lasted only 3.5 years.

The revolutions taking place in the Middle East have also spilled over into Syria. In March 2011, anti-government demonstrations began in the city of Dar'a in the south of the country, and then in other cities of the country. By the summer of 2014, the eastern part of the country was under the rule of ISIS, which proclaimed the creation of a caliphate in part of the territory of Syria and Iraq, with the capital in the city of Raqqa. By April 2015, 3.9 million Syrians had fled their country as a result of hostilities.

The turning point in the military conflict was the liberation of the city of Aleppo by the Syrian army on December 22, 2016. In early 2017, the Syrian army concentrated its main forces on the fight against ISIS, as a result of which, by the end of autumn, ISIS lost most of its territories in Syria, retaining only a few small territories under its control in different parts of the country, as well as small areas of the eastern coast river Euphrates. On December 6, 2017, Russian President V.V. Putin officially announced the complete defeat of the terrorists of the Islamic State, while maintaining separate pockets of resistance.

Syria shares borders with Israel, Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and Iraq. From the west it is washed by the Mediterranean Sea. The Ansaria Ridge divides the country into a green western part and an arid eastern part. The highest mountain — Nabi Younis (1575 m). Two of the most famous rivers of the Ancient World flow through the Syrian land — Euphrates and Tigris.

In Syria, back in the 15th century BC, one of the first forms of writing — Ugaritic cuneiform.

The capital of Syria, Damascus, has been famous for its blades for many centuries. And until now, the phrase "Damascus steel" sounds like a compliment to the master, talking about the highest quality of a dagger or saber.

In the vicinity of Damascus, there is Mount Jebel Qasiyun. There are several caves in the mountain. In the Cave of Blood (Magarat ad-Damm), according to legend, lived Adam — first man. It is believed that Cain killed his brother Abel in the same cave.

Also in Damascus is the Umayyad Mosque — one of the most majestic and oldest temple buildings in the world. In the Byzantine era, on the orders of Emperor Theodosius, the pagan temple was destroyed and the Church of St. Zechariah was built in its place, which was later renamed the Church of John the Baptist. When the Umayyad caliph Al-Walid I ascended the throne, it was decided to buy the church from the Christians. The caliph wanted the mosque he built to attract more attention, so it had to become even more beautiful. His ideas were realized by the best architects and craftsmen from the Maghreb, India, Rome and Persia. Of particular value are the minarets, which have been preserved almost in their original form. The minaret, located in the southeast direction, is dedicated to the prophet Isu (Jesus) and bears his name.

The prophecy of the Tower says that before the Last Judgment in the second coming, Jesus Christ will descend on this minaret. When He enters the mosque, He will resurrect the prophet Yahya. Then both of them will go to Jerusalem to establish justice on Earth. That is why every day a new carpet is laid in the place where the Savior's foot steps.

The inhabitants of Syria are traditionally very hospitable, while the hosts clearly enjoy it no less than the guest himself. Such an invitation should not be refused, so as not to offend the owner — in most cases, such signs of attention are wholeheartedly.

You can bargain in small shops and markets. Take pictures of government institutions, palaces, military and transport facilities, bridges, etc. forbidden. In Christian churches, you should ask permission before filming, although filming is usually allowed. In mosques, filming and photography is usually not allowed. Do not photograph local women without permission.

Clothes should be modest. Women should not wear provocative clothing. Appearing in public places in beachwear is considered extremely indecent.

When visiting mosques, it is also worth putting on the uniform adopted in such cases. When visiting Christian churches, there are no such strict rules, but, nevertheless, to enter the church in shorts and other "sports" clothing. clothing is not worth it.

It is better to always carry documents or their photocopies with you.

It is strictly not recommended to enter into political discussions with the Syrians, especially regarding Israel.

Power

Syria is a multi-party presidential-parliamentary republic.

The head of state is the president. The President has the power to appoint the Cabinet, declare martial law or a state of emergency, sign laws, grant amnesties, and amend the constitution. The president determines the country's foreign policy and is the supreme commander of the armed forces. Legislative power in the country is represented by the People's Council. The People's Council approves the country's budget and is also involved in legislative activities.

The judicial system is a unique combination of Islamic, Ottoman and French traditions. The basis of Syrian legislation is, according to the constitution, Islamic law, although the actual legislation in force is based on the Napoleonic Code. There are three levels of courts: the Court of First Instance, the Court of Appeal and the Constitutional Court, which is the highest instance. The Constitutional Court is composed of five judges, one of whom is the President of Syria and four others are appointed by the President. Thus, the president has full control over both the executive and legislative and judicial powers.

Economy

Syria has a diversified economy that combines centralized management with market forms of management.

The shocks experienced by Syria interrupted the dynamics of the sustainable development of the national economy of previous years. Enormous damage has been done to the economic infrastructure and social sphere. The unilateral (USA, Japan, Turkey) and multilateral (EU, Arab League, GCC) sanctions imposed against Damascus have become a heavy burden.

The volume of GDP, which in 2010 amounted to 58.3 billion dollars, has decreased by about half. The gold and foreign exchange reserve has significantly decreased.

The authorities, however, manage to keep the economy afloat by keeping the financial system from collapsing. In the recent period, there has been a tendency towards some revival of economic activity as a result of the relative stabilization of the situation in the areas controlled by the authorities.

Main industries: oil (including oil refining), gas, phosphate mining, mineral fertilizer production, as well as textile and food.

Agriculture accounts for up to 20% of GDP, it also employs up to 80% of the rural and economically active population (13.8% in the pre-crisis period). The agricultural sector has become a key sector in the economy of the SAR.

Most important industries:

The most famous Syrian industries are textile, which is represented by the production of cotton, spinning and weaving, food processing, production for the provision of building and finishing materials; electrical and electronic industries such as household appliances, computer screens and televisions (Trevio, Sirionex and Al-Hafiz). There are also factories for the production and assembly of cars, which mainly meet the needs of the local market (the Syrian-Iranian company and its most famous Sham car, Modern Motors, which assemble models of the Kia brand, hereinafter complexes "Kings Group", which collects mainly Chinese cars, and "Shammout Group".

There are also industries related to natural resources, such as fertilizer and cement. In terms of energy, in 2010, the country's production reached 45.9 billion kWh, with the largest share allocated to local consumption, while the rest is exported to Lebanon. In general, the electronic industry sector is very weak, the country imports most of this kind of consumer goods.

Most important agricultural products:

Syria ranks 10th in the world in the cultivation and production of wheat, barley and cotton, and 6th in the cultivation and production of olives, along with vegetables and fruits of fruit trees and more. The country ensures food security for its population, and vegetables, fruits and other crops are among the exported commodities, especially to the Gulf countries.

Most exported goods:

Petroleum, phosphates, minerals (minerals), olives, spices and seasonings, clothing, cotton, chemicals, fruits and vegetables.

Syrian trade relations and trading partners:

Syria exports goods to the Gulf States, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Turkey, Spain and the Russian Federation, and imports goods from the Russian Federation, Turkey, China, Lebanon, Egypt and South Korea.

Business climate

According to the law, any foreigner has the right to engage in any kind of labor activity only subject to obtaining permission from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor of the SAR and its departments in the provinces and the foreigner has a residence permit. The said normative acts also outline the scope of duties of individuals who provide employment to foreigners.

Current business areas in Syria:

Agriculture, light industry, construction, mining, research and commercial activities, transport and transportation, financial and real estate activities, hospitality, tourism services, leasing operations, education, health care, individual services and family organization events.

Investment climate

Economic and trade relations between Syria and Russia in the pre-war period and still are characterized by a large flow of investments and goods in one direction — to Syria.

In 2000, Russia and Syria signed an agreement on the avoidance of double taxation, and the Federation of Syrian Chambers of Commerce and the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry signed an agreement on cooperation to strengthen and expand trade and economic relations between entrepreneurs of the two countries.

At the end of 2017, a customs agreement was signed with the Russian government on cooperation and mutual administrative assistance in customs matters. The agreement provides for technical and administrative cooperation, information exchange, controlled delivery, investigations and confidentiality of information. The agreement also includes many customs benefits between the two countries and a reduction in duties, which has a positive impact on the movement of trade exchange.

In September 2019, the General Director of the Ministry of Oil and Mineral Resources of Syria signed with the General Directors of Russian companies "Velada" and "Mercury" three contracts in the field of exploration, drilling and production in the oil sector.

In 2021, the Syrian government ratified a contract with the Russian company Capital Limited for oil exploration in the Mediterranean off the coast of Tartus. The agreement dated March 16, 2021 was concluded for a period of 25 years plus another five years, according to which the Syrian state grants the company the exclusive right to explore and develop oil in Offshore Block No. 1 in the Syrian exclusive economic zone in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Tartus province to southern the Syrian-Lebanese maritime border area of 2,250 km². Geological exploration works are designed for 48 months and, if necessary, can be extended for 36 months.

In addition to oil and gas, Russian investments attract phosphates. For example, in April 2018, a 50-year contract was ratified under which the Russian company Stroytransgaz Logistics can extract phosphate ore from the huge mines of Sharqiya in Palmyra in central Syria, the reserves of which are estimated at 150 million tons. The deal gives this company the right to develop phosphates in Palmyra for a period of 50 years, and the production will be divided between Stroytransgaz JSC; (70%) and the Syrian State Company for Geology and Mineral Resources (30%). In addition, Stroytransgaz takes over the management of the chemical industrial complex of the Syrian State Fertilizer Company, consisting of three adjacent plants for the production of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers, which are located in the province of Homs.

The Syrian authorities have signed contracts with two Russian companies to carry out exploration work on the shelf of the republic. In July 2018, the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation reported that the Russian STG-engineering, Zarubezhneft, Zarubezhgeologiya, Technopromexport and other companies have begun exploration work on the Syrian shelf. At the same time, the ministry noted that work is also being carried out on land.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry previously noted that "the deposits near the city of Baniyas are among the richest in the entire Mediterranean."

In April 2019, the Minister of Transport of Syria announced the signing of a contract for the management and reconstruction of the port of Tartus with Stroytransgaz. The project includes the expansion of the northern part of the port, the improvement of its infrastructure, as a result of which the throughput of the port should increase from 4 to 38 million tons per year. In addition, Stroytransgaz implemented several projects in Syria, such as the Arab Gas Line, the Gas Plant in the Central Region, and the Gas Plant in Twainan on the Administrative Boundary Line between Homs and Raqqa. Among other things, Russia and Syria have many plans and projects to restore infrastructure and develop the economy. Russia is the most important ally for Syria both in the geopolitical context and economically, therefore the Syrian side signs many contracts with Russian companies on the implementation of projects that will ultimately benefit both sides.

While Russian investment is concentrated most in the oil and gas sector, as well as in phosphate mining and fertilizer production, there are other areas in which important projects are being carried out, such as the construction of factories and railway networks and the creation of mills. In addition, Russian companies provide technical assistance in the field of energy, transport technologies, irrigation and water resources, and there is also an active training of Syrian personnel in Russian universities and institutes through the provision of state quotas for Syrian students.

It can be assumed that in the coming years, economic ties between Russia and Syria will develop more intensively than now. This is justified by the following reasons:

1. Under the pressure of sanctions, Russia is reformatting its foreign economic policy, and now it is primarily oriented towards the East, and since Syria is an old strategic ally of Russia, one can quite predict an increase in investment and trade.
2. Many agreements and projects that have been signed in recent years have begun to have a positive impact on economic performance.
3. Syria occupies a strategic place in the world and could become a transit point for Russia, given that the port of Tartus has already been under the control of a Russian company for a period of 49 years.
4. Despite the fact that Syria lost more than $400 billion during the war, according to some estimates, there is great potential for further development of economic indicators, since Syria is now at the stage of economic recovery, and in some areas this process is going quite well. fast. The studies also show a positive upward trend in the Syrian economy.

Damascus remains a reliable partner and ally of Moscow in the Arab world and in the international arena, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

Business and investment support structures

Syria pursues an economic policy for the inflow of investments, the most important components of which are:

• policy of economic openness by becoming an observer member of the World Trade Organization in 2010,
• signing the European Partnership Agreement in 2008 and joining the most important international economic organizations.

According to Law No. 22 of 2005, the Syrian Financial Markets and Securities Commission was established to regulate and develop financial markets and related activities, and to promote savings and investment.

With regard to tax policy, Legislative Decree No. 8 of 2007 on investments was published, which provided significant tax incentives to the investor. As for the funding policy, Legislative Decree No. 55 of 2006 was issued to establish the Syrian securities market.

Based on Legislative Decree No. 9 of 2007, the Syrian Investment Commission was established to stimulate national investment and development and improve the investment climate in the country.

The leadership of the Syrian Arab Republic attaches great importance to the liberalization of the economy and pays great attention to improving the rules governing the functioning of a mixed economy, striving to maintain and increase the role of the private and mixed sectors, increase employment in these sectors and improve public sector management systems.

Syria is part of the Arab Free Trade Area, established under the auspices of the League of Arab States as the first step towards a common Arab market.

Together with other member states, the Syrian Arab Republic actively participates in the work of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and is a member of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia ( ESCWA). Syria is in talks to join the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The Russian-Arab Business Council, headquartered in Moscow and Beirut, was created on the initiative of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) of Russia and the General Union of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Arab countries (now — Union of Arab Chambers) and works with them in close cooperation.

The Russian-Syrian Business Council was established on September 28, 2004 at the initiative of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation in order to promote the development of cooperation between Russian and Syrian businesses.