Political pressure groups and leaders:
Kurdish Democratic Alliance (includes several groups but has no
designated leader); Kurdish Democratic Front (includes several
groups but has no designated leader); Muslim Brotherhood (operates
in exile in London) [Sadr al-Din al-BAYANUNI]; National Democratic
Front [Hassan Abd al-AZIM]
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Imad MUSTAFA
chancery: 2215 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 232-6313
FAX: [1] (202) 234-9548
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Michael
CORBIN
embassy: Abou Roumaneh, Al-Mansour Street, No. 2, Damascus
mailing address: P. O. Box 29, Damascus
telephone: [963] (11) 333-1342
FAX: [963] (11) 224-7938
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black, colors
associated with the Arab Liberation flag; two small green
five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band;
former flag of the United Arab Republic where the two stars
represented the constituent states of Syria and Egypt; similar to
the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band, Iraq, which has
three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line
centered in the white band, and that of Egypt, which has a gold
Eagle of Saladin centered in the white band; the current design
dates to 1980
Economy Syria
Economy - overview:
The Syrian Government estimates the economy grew by 4.5 percent in
real terms in 2005, led by the petroleum and agricultural sectors,
which together account for about half of GDP. Economic performance
and the exchange rate on the informal market were hit by
international political developments following the assassination in
February of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq al-HARIRI and the
specter of international sanctions. Higher crude oil prices
countered declining oil production and exports and helped to narrow
the budget deficit and widen the current account surplus. The
Government of Syria has implemented modest economic reforms in the
last few years, including cutting interest rates, opening private
banks, consolidating some of the multiple exchange rates, and
raising prices on some subsidized foodstuffs. Nevertheless, the
economy remains highly controlled by the government. Long-run
economic constraints include declining oil production and exports,
increasing pressure on water supplies caused by rapid population
growth, industrial expansion, and water pollution.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$71.42 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$25.84 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.8% (2005 est.)