وزارة الزراعة : المنظمات العربية والأجنبية العاملة في سورية لم تعلق نشاطاتها و أكساد مستمرة بالعمل
Ministry of Agriculture: Arab and foreign organizations operating in Syria has not suspended its activities and continues to work ACSAD
http://www.aksalser.com/index.php?page=view_news&id=d7ce44a27a781c0137334b274a880ca8&ar=282864714
Tuesday - December 13 - 2011 - 12:41:39
Reliable sources in the Ministry of Agriculture, said that Arab and foreign organizations operating in Syria integrated with the Ministry of Agriculture has not suspended its activities until now, did not report any of the staff have anything related to economic sanctions imposed by the Arab League on the Syrian people.
According to the newspaper, the "al-Thawrah", the sources said that the Arab Organization to combat desertification and land (ACSAD), which is the most prominent Arab organizations operating in Syria continue to work as usual, without change, and did not circulate to its staff relating to economic sanctions, nothing.
According to the source, many of the projects funded by the ACSAD in Syria is still ongoing and has not cut off funding to them, describing what is happening on the harassment of Arab organizations, the Arab League.
And describes other sources informed that some of the Organization of ACSAD met with some of the key partners of the Syrians in the projects carried out within Syrian territory, and reassure them of the ongoing projects implemented and not to stop the funding, according to data issues at the present time, with more Tmonat to compensate participants Syrian These projects will pay in full, as well as compensate all those who contributed to the land owners to participate in projects.
Russia urges Syria to accept AL proposals
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2011-12/13/c_131304372.htm
English.news.cn 2011-12-13 20:03:07
MOSCOW, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- Syria should sign the protocol proposed by the Arab League (AL) that would allow Arab monitors into the country, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday.
"Our advices sent to Damascus... was that the protocol must be signed and the observers will be accepted as soon as possible," Lavrov said after talks with his visiting Algerian counterpart Mourad Medelci.
Lavrov added that Russia is ready to send its own observers to Syria along with some other BRICS countries.
Lavrov also said the Syrian opposition attempted to trigger a humanitarian disaster in the country to justify foreign military intervention.
He also accused several countries of "being immoral" for their claims that Russia has been blocking the work of the UN Security Council.
"Our draft resolution is on the table and I would describe as immoral the position of those who refuse to press the armed extremist wing of the (Syrian) opposition while accusing us of blocking the work of the UN Security Council," he said.
Lavrov lashed out at the West for its "bad determination" to impose sanctions against Syria, which, in his words, would not lead to anything good.
On Oct. 4, Russia vetoed a UN Security Council draft resolution on Syria, saying the draft was based on a "philosophy of confrontation" and ran counter to a peaceful settlement of the crisis.
Xinhua News Analysis: Allies work in solidarity with Syria despite West's tough stance
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2011-12/13/c_131304606.htm
English.news.cn 2011-12-13 23:48:50
DAMASCUS, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- As the West assumes a tough stance toward Syria by imposing sanctions and supporting the opposition groups, Damascus' allies are seeking to find a peaceful solution to the country's months-long crisis.
Ali Nik-Zad, the Iranian minister of communication and housing, was quoted by the official SANA news agency as saying on Tuesday that the Iranian parliament has ratified a free trade zone agreement between Iran and Syria.
Nik-Zad, who presides over the ongoing economic meeting held in Damascus with Syrian Economy Minister Mohammad Nidhal al-Shaar, said Iran is ready to initially sign the trade agreement during the meeting.
The two-day meeting will discuss the situation of Iranian companies in Syria and the means of developing their businesses.
The Iranian minister said upon arrival that his country would always stand along with Syria and is keen on developing bilateral relations in all fields.
"The Americans, Western countries and their agents in the region would never be able to defeat us and we will always stand fast together in confronting them," he said.
Syria has recently announced that it would search for new markets and conclude new trade deals with friendly countries such as Russia, China, Iran and other supportive states.
The Middle East country has been hit with several rafts of economic sanctions by world powers, such as the United States, Europe and recently by the Arab League (AL), over the alleged excessive use of force in dealing with domestic protests.
Meanwhile, some 44 Iraqi personalities arrived in Damascus late Monday in an effort to mediate between the Syrian government and the opposition.
The five-day visit, organized by the Popular Iraqi Front in support of Syria, will hold talks with opposition figures who reject foreign intervention.
The spokesman of the Iraqi group, Hussein al-Rubaie, told local media that the delegation will hold meetings with high-ranking Syrian officials, including Syrian Vice-President Farouk al-Sharaa.
"The target is to bring closer points of view between the government and the opposition to solve the crisis in Syria and forestall attempts by those who try to internationalize it," the spokesman said.
Al-Rubaie also said the delegation will convey a "reassuring economic message" that Iraq would not take part in any economic blockade on Syria and its people.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki, who opposed the Arab League' s suspension of Syria's membership and the international sanctions, has positioned himself as a mediator.
He recently warned that a civil war may break out in Syria if President Bashar al-Assad steps down, and said that the Iraqi government is ready to meet with the Syrian opposition to try to reach a solution and avoid further bloodshed.
Meanwhile, Russia, Syria's crucial backer, urged Damascus to accept the AL's proposed protocol to allow in Arab monitors to oversee the country's unrest on ground.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday that Russia is ready to send its own observers to Syria along with some other BRICS countries.
Lavrov also accused the Syrian opposition of attempting to trigger a humanitarian disaster in the country to justify foreign military intervention, while lashing out at the West for its "bad determination" to impose sanctions against Syria, which, in his words, would not lead to anything good.
Xinhua News Analysis: U.S. troops' exit to usher in bitter-sweet era of U. S.-Iraq relationship
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2011-12/14/c_131304636.htm
English.news.cn 2011-12-14 03:40:28
by Zhang Ning, Wang Hongbin
BAGHDAD, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- As the Dec. 31 deadline for the U. S. troops' pullout is drawing near, experts in Iraq said the withdrawal is to usher in a new bitter-sweet era of the U.S.-Iraq relationship.
U.S. President Barack Obama and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al- Maliki pledged to build up "a long-term partnership" on Monday during Maliki's tour to the United States, but analysts said the pledge would hardly smooth the tension between the two sides triggered by the withdrawal tussle.
NORMAL MUTUAL RELATION
"Normal" must have been a key word when Obama and Maliki met at the White House on Monday, as the two governments engaged in a landmark shift in their relationship that was born in war.
The two countries launched the first effort towards the normalcy as early as in 2008, when Baghdad and Washington clinched the Strategic Framework Agreement (SFA) and the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA). The two pacts panned out the Dec. 31 deadline for the troop withdrawal.
In their Monday's White House meeting, Obama and Maliki covered a broad agenda to reinforce the new partnership. In addition to the regional security issues, the two leaders also discussed trade, energy and the U.S. investment in Iraq.
The meeting turned out to be a signal that the partnership between Washington and the government it nurtured in Baghdad will take on an unfamiliar but more normal diplomatic relationship.
Arguments could be an indication of normalcy in the U.S.-Iraq relationship, as Obama told the press conference at the conclusion of Monday's meeting that the two sides have different stance on the Syria issue.
Washington would like to play tough on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to make him step down, while Baghdad, which was against any sanction on Syria, expressed its concern over the regional security.
On the Bahraini unrest, the United States supported the government controlled by Sunni Arabs, while Iraq backed the demonstrators, the majority of whom were Shiites.
Some analysts speculated that Iraq took sides merely considering the Sunni-Shiite identity, while Sabah Shaikh, a professor of politics in the Baghdad University, said the country was trying to display its diplomatic independence.
"Iraq stays away from the U.S. intentionally to polish its image," said the professor, adding that the country also has its own interests to consider in policy making.
As to Syria, a neighbor country that is housing hundreds of thousands of Iraqis and having close trade ties with Iraq, any sanction measure would have negative impact on Iraq's economy.
On the other hand, the United States has expressed its concern over Iran's potentially increasing political influence on Iraq in the wake of the pullout.
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden told Maliki during his recent visit to Iraq that the United States understands Iraq's efforts for cooperation with Iran, yet it has to make sure that Iraq would not be used as a base to attack the United States.
SECURITY COOPERATION PERSISTS
The security issue will still top the agenda, as the United States and Iraq have both left open the door to future training missions.
Iraqi troops would take part in the U.S. military exercises outside Iraq and the U.S. troops would rotate into Iraq for specific training exercises.
Iraq has contracted to buy 18 F-16 fighter jets from the United States, and the U.S. pilots will train Iraqi pilots.
The U.S. authorities have emphasized that it will not redeploy troops to Iraq, though the status quo of its involvement depends on the negotiations with the Iraqi government.
In the meeting in Baghdad with Biden, Maliki said that "no doubt, U.S. troops will play a role in providing training for Iraqi forces."
Biden said the United States and Iraq would maintain "a robust security relationship," though he said the nature of the relationship would be up to the Iraqis.
Although the exchange of remarks underscored the reality that the United States is likely to be involved in Iraq's security even after the withdrawal, Maliki has said the Iraqi forces are capable of fully taking the security responsibility and much of Baghdad's desire to build a relationship with Washington is on the basis of "mutual respect."
The U.S. military also wishes that a training force would be invited to stay in Iraq next year, on which the two sides were unable to reach an agreement.
Analysts said potential struggles between the two sides will be seen in the future after the pullout, making the relation unpredictable.
Al-Maliki announces Iraq's rejection of sanctions on Syria
http://www.sana.sy/eng/22/2011/12/13/387854.htm
Dec 13, 2011
Washington, (SANA)-
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki announced his country's rejection of imposing sanctions on Syria because they mainly affect the Syrian people.
" Iraq is not in the position of imposing sanctions, but it rejects sanctions on Syria… Iraq supported the Arab League initiative because it suffered from blockade and interventions," al-Maliki said at a press conference with the US President Barack Obama.
He added that all sides recognize the dangers of a war outbreak in the region.
US watchdogs quiz firms over Iran, Syria ties
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hlepQreamDOgKiZ_gNGYs91wOCxA?docId=CNG.908b271c4ec03309357a9d96165f22d0.431
http://backupurl.com/oig43e
By Andrew Beatty (AFP) – 1 day ago
2011.12.13
WASHINGTON — US financial watchdogs have demanded dozens of big-name Western firms open the lid on their business with Iran, Sudan and Syria -- countries deemed by Washington to be "state sponsors of terrorism."
Documents recently released show the Securities and Exchange Commission in a tug-of-war with household names like Sony, Caterpillar, Xerox, AIG and Siemens to provide a comprehensive account of their trade with the three nations, as well as Cuba.
The correspondence -- which is released with a delay of at least 45 days and dates back to the beginning of this year -- shows many firms staying within the letter of the law, while continuing business despite high-profile sanctions.
While many firms appear to be tidying up the remnants of legacy investments in Tehran, Khartoum and Damascus, others have pursued legal action against the use of their brand after ties have been severed.
But the documents also point to the repeated use of a loophole that allows Western -- and in particular US firms -- to do business in Iran, Syria and Sudan via non-US subsidiaries.
Correspondence from heavy equipment manufacturer Caterpillar Inc. detail how its equipment continues to be sold in Syria and Sudan via dealers and distributors, netting the Illinois-based company tens of millions of dollars each year.
In the first quarter of 2011 sales to Syria totaled $600,000 and sales to Sudan totaled $19.5 million.
"Several of Caterpillar's non-US subsidiaries have sold and continue to sell products to Syria and Sudan as permitted under US economic sanctions and export controls," the company told the SEC.
The firm acknowledged that some of its products may have reached the Syrian government via these intermediaries.
And despite a broad three-decade-old US embargo on Iran, Caterpillar reported sales to the Islamic Republic worth $23.7 million in 2010.
Caterpillar later ordered non-US subsidiaries to sever ties with the country and that figure is down to zero this year.
That step has not yet been taken in Syria or Sudan.
While the US firms' trade with Syria, Iran and Sudan represented a fraction of their overall business, trade did cut across sectors.
In the tech sphere Cisco reported "very limited operations in Syria" with sales worth "approximately $2 million or less in each of fiscal years 2008, 2009 and 2010."
Government-rescued insurance giant AIG reported that since 2008 it had identified five investments totaling $233.0 million which related to Iran, Sudan or Syria.
While the US government has recently warned companies that they risk reputational damage in doing business with the three countries, more proscriptive measures may be on the way.
The disclosures come as Congress weighs yet tougher sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program and a plot to kill the Saudi Arabian ambassador in Washington.
Congress is also considering legislation that would prohibit American companies from exporting hardware or software that could be used for online surveillance or censorship to nations that restrict the Internet.
It would also require Internet companies listed on US stock exchanges to disclose to American regulators their practices in collecting and sharing personally identifiable information.
In the absence of broad multilateral sanctions against doing business with the likes of Iran, the US authorities appear keen to make their leverage felt in other ways.
The SEC also wrote to non-US firms with stock listings in the United States asking them to outline their dealings in the four countries.
The responses paint a telling picture of how non US-firms keep Iran at arms length while continuing to do business there.
Sony reported revenues of $325.6 million in its trade with Iran in the fiscal year ending in March 2011, mostly through "Iran-based distributors and in part through traders based in Dubai."
"If Sony believed such sales, or any other transactions or activities, would hurt its reputation, it would evaluate the situation and take appropriate action in the circumstance," the company said.
German conglomerate Siemens reported it had made nearly $1.0 billion in revenue from trade with Iran in fiscal 2010, while acknowledging that some of its products may have been siphoned off to Iran's nuclear program.
Lawyers for the company said Siemens "did not knowingly provide such software to or for any nuclear power plants or nuclear enrichment facilities in Iran.
"Nonetheless, Siemens has no control over re-sales or transfers of its software products via indirect channels."
السلطات الأميركية تطالب ثلاث شركات ببيان علاقتها مع سورية
U.S. authorities claim three companies made their relationship with Syria
(aliqtisadi.com) http://goo.gl/PeM8t
Date of article: 13/12/2011
And directed the Capital Market Authority in the United States (SEC), one of the highest governing bodies of the work of major companies in the United States, a message to U.S. companies, ask about the details of the business relationship with Syria, Iran, and Sudan.
The messages went mainly to companies (sony-American Express-veolia Enviroment).
The letter, upon the decision of the United States, which has been recently renovated, considering these countries (sponsor of terrorism).
In addition to the new sanctions imposed on it, and the message asked these companies to declare their relationship to trade with these countries, in order to clarify the risks to the investors' funds in these countries.
The company responded (sony) that have sales in Iran during the last year of about $ 325 million.
The company explained that the sales in each of Syria, Iran, and Sudan does not exceed 5% of total sales.
Belgian Researcher: What is Happening in Syria is a Consequence of External Manipulation Aiming to Destroy the Syrian State and Society
http://www.sana.sy/eng/22/2011/12/11/387640.htm
Dec 11, 2011
BRUSSELS, (SANA) – Belgian researcher Kris Janssen said that western media channels place all events which have occurred recently in the Middle East and North Africa under a common denominator of "Arab spring," wondering of there really is such a thing as the Arab spring.
In an analytical article, Janssen compared Syria and Egypt and said that they represent two different models, noting that the socio-political backgrounds of the two countries are completely different and stem from different ideological models.
He pointed out that Syria's policy always sought to avoid sharp social inequality by applying a series of mechanisms and instruments that guarantee that generated wealth is distributed in a fairer way by offering opportunities to each citizen to participate in and contribute to economic life.
Janssen cited examples such as Syria's developed health care and education systems, housing policies and labor legislation, adding that the Syrian solidarity principles have been developed without having the benefits of falling back on vast natural resources like oil and gas.
"When we understand the social fabric of Syrian society and the historical context of its functioning it becomes clear that what we are witnessing at present is the provocation of sectarian conflict which has no internal cause but as a consequence of external manipulation aiming to destroy the Syrian state and Syrian society," he said.
He added that indications of external manipulations of the events in Syria are clearly visible by observing international media networks such as al-Jazeera, BBC, CNN, al-Arabiya, France 24 and others, as the political influence and the direct or indirect financing of these networks is no big secret.
Janssen said that the media manipulations are but one example of an effort to portray the Syrian government as an extremely brutal and violent regime that massacres its own citizens and to present an extremely disturbing image of Syria and a one-sided view of the events going on there, adding that "other examples and evidence of media manipulation are abundantly documented through the Iraqi experiences and, only very recently, in Libya. These examples teach us a lot about deception techniques and psychological warfare."
He noted that the current campaign against Syria also highlights and exposes the implementation of double standards, wondering why Europe, the United States or the UN Security Council weren't heard when Israel bombarded Lebanon in 2006 and destroyed its entire infrastructure, or during the Israeli aggression on Gaza in December 2008 and January 2009 which caused 1,500 deaths and more than 5,000 injuries among the civilians.
" Where was the rest of the world to condemn Israel for all these or other acts of aggression against the Palestinians during the last 60 years? " Janssen asked.
Janssen said that it seems that the Libyan scenario is repeating itself by applying the same strategy of trying to topple the regime by bringing in heavy weaponry and providing logistical and financial support to extremist gangs without putting the United States or Europe militarily at risk of suffering casualties from deploying ground troops.
He went on to note that the only difference with Libya up until now is the absence of NATO bombardment and imposition of a no-fly zones, which can probably be attributed to the strong diplomatic backing of Syria by Russia, Syria's advanced air defense systems and its strategic relationship with Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas.
"Does the aforementioned mean that there are no legitimate demands for economic, political and social reforms to be made? Is everyone who asks for reforms a violent criminal by definition? The answer is of course not," Janssen said, adding that many of the requested demands are justified and needed, and that the Syrian government is aware of this and started implementing a series of structural reforms many years ago.
"The reform process is therefore not something new but has been put in a much higher gear now," he pointed out.
Janssen went on to note that the Syrian government has been very open and admitted that mistakes were made and that reforms should have been made sooner and faster, adding "Yet, in all fairness we have to add that the implementation of this wide range of reforms is a very complex process and that far reaching social change demands the necessity of careful balancing between progress and stability of society. It is fear for endangering social stability which stopped the Syrian Government in implementing reforms in a faster pace."
He reviewed some of reforms carried out by the Syrian government, which include a liberal journalism law, abolishing the state of emergency which was in place since 1963, preparing a new constitution, introducing a multiparty system, granting citizenship to a large part of the Kurdish population, and organizing local and parliamentary elections.
"Still, reform and adventurism are two different things," he noted, explaining that reforms are urgently needed but adventurism will lead the country into chaos, lawlessness and violence, saying that what the Syrian people want first and foremost is the implementation of reforms in a controlled manner which benefits all, and to continue daily life in a peaceful and harmonious way and contribute to the progress and development of the country so that prosperity of present and future generations is safeguarded and enhanced.
"The Syrian people will therefore have nothing to do with the criminal gangs, paid and supported by some foreign powers and their regional allies, sowing terror in order to provoke a civil war and destroy the homeland and all the principles and values for which Syria and the Syrian people stand for," Janssen said.
He concluded by affirming that the Syrian people will overcome these turbulent times, stressing that Syria went through difficult and challenging times before in its history and always came out stronger.
"One of the pillars of this strength was, is and shall always remain the unshakable steadfastness and solidarity among the Syrian people. Those criminals who now leave behind a trail of bloodshed and destruction will be held accountable by the Syrian people at the appropriate time for their committed crimes."
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