Syrian Civil Society Forums - -
Recent Press Reports
(updated 4 April 2001)
2 April, 2001: Syrian Cartoonist Champions Free Speech (by Claudia Parsons, Reuters)
2 April, 2001: Lebanon: the National Salvation Front calls for redeployment of Syrian troops (Al-Hayat, in Arabic) 
1 April, 2001: Lebanese chafe under Syrian control: Christians say troops should go (by Nicholas Blanford, The Boston Globe)
1 April, 2001: Al-Hayat: Four editorials/comments on Syria's presence in Lebanon (in Arabic):
30 March, 2001: Syrian People's Assembly approves private bank law (ArabicNews.com)Hazem Saghieh;
Fayez Malas; Dalal Al-Bizri; and Nahla Al-Shahhal
30 March, 2001: Syrian Parliament approves law for establishing private banks: 30 million Dollars minimum capital (Al-Hayat, in Arabic)
29 March, 2001: Syria begins economic reform (BBC News)
29 March, 2001: )Syria Begins Economic Reforms; Opens Banks to Foreign Ownership (By Andrew Hobbs, Bloomberg.com)
27 March, 2001: Lebanese patriarch urges Syrian troop withdrawal (BBC News)
27 March, 2001: A Father's Shadow Lingers Over Syria: Bashar Assad Struggles to Modernize While Maintaining Stability (by Howard Schneider, The Washington Post)
27 March, 2001: Syria plans to reform feudal land laws that ‘are unfair’ to farmers (by Sami Moubayed, The Daily Star)
26 March, 2001: Syrian Minister Naser Qadour Dismisses Lebanese Pullout Calls (Yahoo Daily News)
26 March, 2001: Syrian rehabilitation is in the pipeline (by Brian Whitaker, The Guardian)
24 March, 2001: Syrian judicial committees call for restoring back dignity to people deprived of their freedom (ArabicNews.com)
23 March, 2001: Rights Group Urges Syria to Allow Return of Exiles (Yahoo Daily News)
23 March, 2001: An evolving EU- Syrian financial co-operation (ArabicNews.com)
23 March, 2001: Lift restrictions on political salons: Syrian lawmaker (The Times of India)
22 March, 2001: Riyadh Seif closes his Forum (ArabicNews.com)
22 March, 2001: Ruling party's memo attacks reformists (The Times of India)
20 March, 2001: Heated debate in the Lebanese Parliament over Syria's presence (AlJazeera.net)
19 March, 2001: A new government in Syria? (ArabicNews.com)
17 March, 2001: Syria's Assad Warns Reformists Not to Exceed Limits (Yahoo Daily News)
15 March, 2001: Reviving civil society committees in Syria (ArabicNews.com) Click here for Arabic version (AlJazeera.net)
15 March, 2001: Why Syrian intellectuals are not addressing the issue of Syria's presence in Lebanon? (by Jihad Al-Zayn, Al-Nahar; in Arabic)
14 March, 2001: Syria set to reform 50-year-old tax law (by Issam Hamza, Reuters)
14 March, 2001: Extensive Interview with Issam Al-Zaim, Syria's Planning Minister (Al-Hayat; in Arabic)
13 March, 2001: Al-Jazeera Television - "Opposite Directions Progam": Cultural, political and economic developments in SyriaClick here for full transcript (in Arabic)
13 March, 2001: Damascus: Lecture on human rights cancelled, following participation of Islamists and Baa'thists in the lecture on the "Culture of Fear" (Al-Hayat, in Arabic)
13 March, 2001: Al-Atasi Forum and the culture of fear (ArabicNews.com)
13 March, 2001: Islamists, Baathists and Marxists discuss the "Culture of Fear" (Al-Hayat, in Arabic)
13 March, 2001: Syria looks to the future: One eye on the old guard, President Bashar applies reformist zeal with caution (by Brian Whitaker, The Guardian)
13 March, 2001: Syria eases rules on taking part in foreign events (by Issam Hamza, Reuters)
12 March, 2001: Syrian Human Rights Committees issue their by-laws; Damascus gives green light to "Al-Atassi Forum" and the "Culture of Fear" is the first lecture (Al-Hayat; in Arabic)
12 March, 2001: Meeting of Syrian Baath party central committee postponed (ArabicNews.com)
12 March, 2001: Syria Reaches Turning Point, but Which Way Will It Turn? (by NEIL MacFARQUHAR, The New York Times)
12 March, 2001: Popular boycott of American products in Syria (Imad Naddaf, Al-Hayat; in Arabic)
12 March, 2001: The Baath Party Seeks A Youthful Image (Monday Morning, Beirut)
)
12 March, 2001: Syria takes a long walk in from the cold (by Michael Jansen, The Daily Star)
12 March, 2001: Aref Dalila: we are looking for radical change in the nature of political work in Syria (Interview by Razzouq Al-Ghawi, Al-Sharq Al-Awsat; in Arabic)
12 March, 2001: Abdallah Al-Ahmar: Damascus will continue to reform and open up (Al-Nahar; in Arabic)
11 March, 2001: Abdallah Al-Ahmar: Syria to pursue reform, but warns opponents (by Issam Hamza, Reuters)
11 March, 2001: Member of Parliament Riad Seif is interrogated for two hours by the Public Prosecutor (Unknown source; as posted by "alamawi" in SHRC bulletin boards; in Arabic)
11 March, 2001: Mohamed Ali Al-Atassi responding to recent accusations: Syrian intellectuals are not connected to outside forces nor plotting against the regime (Unknown source; as posted by "alamawi" in SHRC bulletin boards; in Arabic)
10 March, 2001: A governmental reshuffle in Syria (ArabicNews.com)
10 March, 2001: Syria human rights record (ArabicNews.com)
9 March, 2001: Aref Dalila: the reform experiences of 1980 and 2000 (Al-Hayat; in Arabic)
9 March, 2001: The balance sheet on Miro's government (by Sami Moubayed, The Daily Star)
9 March, 2001: The political reform movement in Syria: where is it heading? (by Omar Haj Ibrahim, Al-Nahar; in Arabic)
9 March, 2001: Syria's internal debate: the limits of economic reforms (Al-Nahar; in Arabic)
9 March, 2001: Syria's limited liberalism (by Barbara Plett, BBC News)
Click here for Arabic text
8 March, 2001: Syria checks reform speedometer (by Riad al Khouri, The Daily Star)
8 March, 2001: Damascus: Ministerial reshuffle a must necessitated by march of development and modernization (ArabicNews.com)
8 March, 2001: The 38th anniversary of the Baath's accession to power (Al-Nahar; in Arabic)
7 March, 2001: Syria's Baath wants to give young image for 38th anniversary of power (by Roueida Mabardi, AFP)
7 March, 2001: Damascus: a city not moved by the revolt of its intellectuals (by Hazem Al-Amin, Al-Hayat; in Arabic)
5 March, 2001: Analysis-Syria Looks to China Model in Economic Reforms (Reuters)
5 March, 2001: Former Syrian information minister statement to al-Sharq al-Awsat (ArabicNews.com)
5 March, 2001: Seif's guest house; abuse of emergency laws a root problem (ArabicNews.com)
4 March, 2001: Syria's press and the Jordaninan Experience (by Salah Hazeen, Al-Hayat; in Arabic)
4 March, 2001: A humorous look at recent reforms in Syria (by Imad Naddaf, Al-Hayat; in Arabic)
3 March, 2001: Riad Seif denies to be deprived from immunity (ArabicNews.com)
3 March, 2001: New Syrian government to have persons able to implement reform agenda (ArabicNews.com)
2 March, 2001: News in Damascus of nearby resignation of Miro government; focus on reform (ArabicNews.com)
2 March, 2001: Who exactly is the "Syrian Leadership"? (by Sobhi Hadidi, Al-Quds Al-Arabi; in Arabic)
(click here for PDF version)
2 March, 2001: Issam Al-Zaim: No privatization plans for Syria (Al-Hayat; in Arabic)
2 March, 2001: Syria Reformers Question Government (by Zeina Karam, Associated Press)
1 March, 2001: 'Damascus Spring' of
political change under way (by Michael Jansen, The Irish Times)
27 February, 2001:
Syria moves gradually on economic reforms (by Khaled Yacoub Oweis, Reuters)
Click here for Arabic version
26 February, 2001:
Authorities crack down on Damascus Spring (by Charles Snow, Middle East Economic Survey)
26 February, 2001:
Syria' difficult choices for change (by Khaled Al Mesha'an, Al-Quds Al-Arabi; in Arabic-- PDF version)
26 February, 2001:
Al-Doumari: Syria's First Satirical Paper Published (AFP)
26 February, 2001: A second document by the civil society committees (ArabicNews.com)
25 February, 2001:
Response of the Committee on Civil Society Forums to Ba’thi Accusations (Al-Hayat; in Arabic)
25 February, 2001:
Hazem Saghyeh (Al-Hayat; in Arabic) -- How can Civil Society flourish in a Military Society like Syria?
25 February, 2001: Syrian Rights Group Slams Curb on Free Speech Forums (Reuters)
24 February, 2001: Al-Hayat Editorial: Comparing Syria to Yugoslavia or Algeria (in Arabic)
24 February, 2001: Syria: civil society committees to reorganize themselves (ArabicNews.com)
23 February, 2001: Syrian Activists Regroup after Official Backlash (Reuters)
22 February, 2001: Syrian official and the political forums (ArabicNews.com)
22 February, 2001:
Syrian MP Riad Seif hosts debate despite ban (by Issam Hamza, Reuters)
21 February, 2001 Editorial: The Damascene old guard can only delay reforms (Jordan Times)
21 February, 2001: Seif treatment raises question about legitimacy of legislative establishment (ArabicNews.com)
21 February, 2001 Syrian reformer Michel Kilo protests government pressure (by Thanaa Imam, UPI)
20 February, 2001 Don't quit now (Editorial, The Daily Star)
20 February, 2001 Human Rights Watch Condems the Suppression of Civil Society Meetings
19 February, 2001 Khaddam accuses civil society forums of trying to push the country into civil war (Reuters)
19 February, 2001: Khaddam warns the intellectuals: we will not allow to convert Syria in Algeria or Yugoslavia (ArabicNews.com)
19 February, 2001: Reform retreat, Khaddam and intellectuals in Syria (ArabicNews.com)
18 February, 2001 Syria's outspoken civil forums suspended (by Issam Hamza, Reuters)
18 February, 2001 Syrian authorities crack down on political reform movement (by Maher Chmaytelli, AFP)
18 February, 2001 Syrian authorities summon legislator with liberal views (AFP)
17 February, 2001 President Assad's tough balancing act (by Michael Young, The Daily Star)
16 February, 2001 Outlawed Syrian Islamists want to return home: statement (AFP)
15 February, 2001 Second non-official newspaper launched in Syria (AFP)
13 February, 2001 Syrians test new signs of freedom (Christian Science Monitor)
9 February, 2001: Syrian Parliament member criticizes 1000 statement and the party split advocates (ArabicNews.com)
8 February 2001: Extensive Interview with Bashar Al-Assad (Abdul-Rahman Al-Rashed, Al-Sharq Al-Awsat; in Arabic)
8 February, 2001 Syrian progress and reform on several fronts (by Riad al Khouri, Jordan Times)
7 February, 2001 Revived calls for Syrian political and economic reform cannot be turned back, says Sorbonne professor Bourhan Ghalioun (Jordan Times)
5 February, 2001 Reform School: The quiet revolution in Syria (Feed Magazine)
2 February, 2001: Baathists take part in the dialogue and criticize Seif's documents (ArabicNews.com)
1 February, 2001: Syrian lawyers demand the rule of law and political pluralism; Riad Seif launches Movement for Social Peace; Novelist Nabil Suleiman assaulted in Lattakia; (in Arabic, Al-Nahar)
31 January, 2001: Branches opened for the Syrian parties (ArabicNews.com)
30 January, 2001: More political parties to be formed in Syria (ArabicNews.com)
29 January, 2001: Syria: Martial law 'frozen' (AFP)
28 January, 2001 Interview with Aref Dalila - Syria critic wants martial law lifted (by Kinda Jayoush, Reuters)
27 January, 2001: Syria and the human rights defense committee (ArabicNews.com)
27 January, 2001: Syrian intellectuals work toward civil society (AFP)
27 January, 2001: Seif and the new party in Syria (ArabicNews.com)
27 January, 2001: Intellectuals forming working groups to draft visions for needed reforms (in Arabic, Al-Nahar)
25 January, 2001: Riad Seif announced the establishment of the social peace movement (ArabicNews.com)
24 January, 2001: Syria new comprehensive amnesty, and implementation of amnesty (ArabicNews.com)
22 January, 2001: Fundamental changes to take place in Syria (ArabicNews.com)
19 January, 2001: Damascus: a new, political non- opposition political party established (ArabicNews.com)
18 January, 2001: A new intellectual forum in Damascus (ArabicNews.com)
17 January, 2001: On the civil socity and reform discussions in Syria (ArabicNews.com)
16 January, 2001: Muslim brothers back the 1000 Syrian intellectual statement (ArabicNews.com)
12 January, 2001: The One thousand statement calls for democracy and the revival of the civil society in Syria (ArabicNews.com)
12 January, 2001: The Basic Document of the Committee for the Revival of Civil Society in Syria – "wathiqat al-alf" (Al-Hayat; in Arabic)
12 January, 2001: Syria: vivid discussions of Syrian national dialogue on democracy and oppression (ArabicNews.com)
12 January, 2001: Journalism culture restored to Syria: An independent political satire publication is expected to hit newsstands soon
(Sami Moubayed, Arabia on Line)
12 January, 2001: Opinion: Syria's ruling party is en route to change (Sami Moubayed, The Daily Star)
11 January, 2001: Al-Assad desires to replace Presidential referendum by democratic elections (ArabicNews.com)
