Content
The Middle East and North Africa
In view of Syria's worsening human rights situation, the BMZ had already decided in May to suspend most official development cooperation with the country. All German experts had left Syria at the end of April. A number of selected ongoing projects for Iraqi and Palestinian refugees and also projects that directly benefit the Syrian people and operate with local authorities are being continued with the help of local staff. This also reflects EU policy; with the EU Council Decision of 23 May 2011, European Neighbourhood Policy with Syria was suspended.
After the First World War, Syria came under French rule by mandate and was divided into autonomous districts. In 1946 French rule came to an end in the region, and the country on the Mediterranean Sea gained its independence. The early years of the republic were characterised by political instability and crises of government. In 1958 Syria joined with Egypt to form the United Arab Republic, but this fell apart after Syrian officers staged a putsch in September 1961. Following a further putsch, the nationalist Baath party came to power in 1963 and has ruled ever since.
Syria has been governed under a state of emergency since 1963 on the grounds of the 'state of war' with Israel. During the Six Day War against Israel in 1967 Syria lost the Golan Heights, which were annexed by Israel without international recognition.
In order to reach a peace agreement, Syria demands the total return of this territory occupied by Israel. There have been numerous indirect talks between Syrian and Israeli politicians in the past, brokered by Turkey.
Economically, Syria is in a phase of transition from a state-controlled planned economy to a socially-oriented market economy. To strengthen the private sector and create incentives for investment, there is an urgent need for more vigorous liberalisation, reform of the administration and a reduction of bureaucracy. The overwhelming majority of state revenues are generated by oil exports but the country's oil production is in decline, forcing the state to look for alternative sources of revenue.
Since the early 1990s the Syrian population has grown by two to three per cent per annum. Almost 40 per cent of inhabitants are under the age of 14. The country’s high level of population growth is one of the causes of water scarcity, which has worsened markedly in recent years.
Syrian-German cooperation
Due to unsettled debts from the times of the former German Democratic Republic, development cooperation had to be suspended in 1992 but was resumed in 2001 after a debt restructuring agreement was signed.
The aim of Germany's cooperation with Syria is to support economic reforms as a foundation for wider ranging reforms extending into the areas of political participation/civil society, the rule of law and human rights. Germany is supporting Syria's efforts to move toward a social market economy, improve its prospects of rapprochement with Europe and find its role as a constructive partner in the Middle East peace process. Syria’s relations with neighbouring countries are crucial to peaceful development in the region. Constructive and critical dialogue with Syria can help here. By replacing confrontation with cooperation the aim is to promote peace, security and stability in the region. At the same time, political reform processes are to be promoted.
Apart from economic reform, Germany cooperates with Syria on the modernisation of the administration, sustainable urban development and work in the water supply and sanitation sector.
German Embassy

German Embassy in Damascus
P.O. Box 2237
Damascus
Syria
Phone:
+963 / 11 / 37 90 00 00
Fax:
+963 / 11 / 332 38 12






