ARAB FORUM Archive 2008
The Arab Republic of Syria is divided into thirteen provinces (muhafazat) and the capital city region of Damascus. Many Syrians feel that their country is an artificial entity because of the French right of mandate that existed from 1920 until full autonomy on April 17, 1946 – this date is considered to be the national holiday. Independence had been declared as early as September 28, 1941. According to the new constitution ratified by a referendum in 1973, Syria is a presidential republic with the character of a people’s social democracy. more...
Syria is not a country of mass tourism and does want to become one. All the same, tourism is one of its industries with a future and growth potential. In 2007, revenues from foreign tourist amounted to 2.7 billion U.S. dollars, with 6.9 billion U.S. dollars being targeted for 2017, as Tourism Minister Dr. Saadalla Agha Al Kalaa announced at the German-Arab Tourism Forum during this year’s ITB in which Syria was a partner country. Investments in the tourist trade and the number of visitors have also been showing a steady rising trend for years. With almost 34,000 visitors, the Germans were the second largest European nation of visitors in 2007 after the Russians with some 42,500. more...
Syria’s image has been dominated until now by the unresolved conflict in the Near East. The terms used for this Levantine country have stretched all the way to “rogue state.” But politically movement can be noted both, both internally and externally. One of Syria’s special hallmarks is an incomparably rich history that continues to have en effect to this day, above all through the co-existence of numerous religions. ARAB FORUM spoke with the Syrian ambassador, H.E. Dr. Hussein Omran, about the reform-oriented future and millennia-old traditions and his personal relationship to Germany. more...
After three-fourths of a year, Secretary General Dr. Hanan Kassab-Hassan sees the interim balance as being positive. The top quality events in every area of art and culture have been well received and the Culture Year has provided the framework for the activities of many of Syrian’s intellectuals.
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On the 5th of September, Schleswig-Holstein’s Minister President, Peter Harry Carstensen, received the Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates, Sheika Lubna bint Khaled Al Qasimi, in his office in Kiel. more...
All signs are pointing toward an upswing in Saudi Arabia. Billions are to be invested in the development of the country. The fact that the investment of billions of oildollars in the infrastructure and building projects alone is insufficient for a sustained economy is well known, even in Saudi Arabia.The future must be based on knowledge. The recently concluded Third Economic Forum in Riyadh, titled “For Sustained Economic Development,” whose patrons included King Abdullah, once again underscored this fact. The first steps to achieve this have long since been taken.
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For the first time in years, German-Libyan economic relations have again shown strong growth in German exports. In the first eight months of 2007, German exports to Libya rose by 21.3 % to 450 million euros. Imports from Libya – primarily oil – on the other hand, declined in value by 12.1 % to 2.7 Billion euros because Germany imported less oil from Libya.
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There is hardly another Arab land that is so fascinating and that is constantly so breathtakingthan the Middle East kingdom that is the onlynation named after its royal family. It was unitedas Saudi Arabia on September 23, 1932, underKing Abdel Aziz al-Sa‘ud. Over 95 % of the totalof 2.24 million square kilometers of land area is desert. And what has just recently been happening onprecisely that remaining 5 % of habitable area isfascinating to anyone who has become a littlebit more involved with the country boastingsome 24 million inhabitants (86 % Saudis, 10 % Yemenites, 4 % other) and the world‘s largestoil and gas reserves, gigantic refineries andpetrochemical facilities. more...
Syria’s image has been dominated until now by the unresolved conflict in the Near East. The terms used for this Levantine country have stretched all the way to “rogue state.” But politically movement can be noted both, both internally and externally. One of Syria’s special hallmarks is an incomparably rich history that continues to have en effect to this day, above all through the co-existence of numerous religions. ARAB FORUM spoke with the Syrian ambassador, H.E. Dr. Hussein Omran, about the reform-oriented future and millennia-old traditions and his personal relationship to Germany.
more...
