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| Syria (Syrian Arab Republic, SAR) |
State in the Middle East. Territory - 185.2 thousand sq. km. Population - 8.9 million (1979); predominantly Arabs - 90% (Syrians), there are also Kurds, Armenians, Circassians, Assyrians, Jews. Capital - Damascus (about 1.2 million inhabitants) The state language is Arabic. Religious composition: Muslims (Sunnis, Shiites, Alawites, Druze) - 85%, Christians - about 15%. Before World War I, Syria was part of the Ottoman (Turkish) Empire. Since 1920 it has been a mandate territory of France. On September 27, 1941, Syria was formally proclaimed an independent republic, in fact, it gained independence only after April 17, 1946, when the withdrawal of foreign troops from its territory was completed. This day became nat. holiday of the country ("Day of evacuation"). On March 8, 1963, the Arab Socialist Renaissance Party (PASV) came to power. This date is celebrated in Syria as the Day of the Revolution. On 23 February 1966, the leadership of the PASV and the country passed to the left wing of the party, which took a positive course in domestic and foreign policy. Since the end of 1970, when the leadership of the party and the country was headed by H. Assad, the process of socio-economic and political transformations intensified in the country: large industrial enterprises were nationalized. enterprises, banks and insurance companies, an agrarian reform was carried out. In March 1972, the National Progressive Front (NPF) was created in Syria, which included the PASV, the Syrian Communist Party, the Socialist Unionist Movement, the Arab Socialist Union, and the Arab Socialist Party. The main program document of the NPF - the Charter - calls on the people to fight against imperialism and Zionism, to strengthen the unity of action of Syria with other Arab countries, and above all with those where progressive regimes exist, to strengthen cooperation with socialist states, to rally all the progressive forces of the country, focuses on the implementation of socio-economic transformations. Chairman of the National Progressive Front - H. Assad. In the field of domestic policy, the Syrian leadership is focusing on the further development of the national. economy, pursues a course aimed at deepening the leading role of the public sector, at improving the material situation of the working people. Along with this, the SAR Government has taken a number of steps to encourage the private sector in the framework of national policy and attract foreign capital for economic development. In the international arena, Syria is actively pursuing an anti-imperialist course, a line of strengthening relations of friendship and cooperation with the socialist states, primarily with the USSR . Participates in the movement of Afro-Asian solidarity and non-aligned states, contributes to the development of the movement of non-aligned on an anti-imperialist basis. In inter-Arab relations, Syria stands for the unity and unity of action of the Arab countries in the struggle for the liberation of the Arab lands occupied by Israel in 1967, for ensuring the legitimate rights of the Arab Palestinian people, for strengthening the National Front of Resilience and Resistance - the main bulwark of the struggle against imperialist conspiracies, for disrupting treacherous, Egyptian-Israeli "peace" treaty. In September 1978, Syria, along with other members of the National Front of Resilience and Resistance, severed diplomatic relations with Egypt and took part in political and economic sanctions against the Sadat regime. Syria is a member of the Arab League. По конституции, одобренной общенародным референдумом 12.III 1973 г., САР провозглашена «суверенным социалистическим народно-демократическим государством, частью арабского отечества». Президент страны наделен широкими полномочиями (с марта 1971 г. — X. Асад; 8.II 1978 г. в результате референдума переизбран на второй семилетний срок). Высший законодательный орган — Народный совет (председатель — М. Хадид). Исполнительный орган — Совет министров (с 1980 г. его возглавляет А. Р. Каем). The Party of Arab Socialist Renaissance (PASV) is the ruling party, founded in 1947. The main slogan of the party is "Unity, freedom, socialism." Secretary General - H. Assad. I Syrian Communist Party (UPC) - founded in 1924, stands for deepening progressive transformations in the country, improving the situation of the working people, strengthening friendship with the USSR and other socialist countries. Representatives of the UPC are members of the People's Council, the government, and the central management of the NPF. General Secretary of the Central Committee - H. Bagdash. The organ of the press is the newspaper "Nidal ash-Shaab". General Federation of Workers' Trade Unions - founded in 1938, it unites 8 branch trade unions. Since 1964, the General Federation of Peasants has been functioning. Under the leadership of PASV, the National Union of Syrian Students, the General Federation of Syrian Women, and the Youth Union of the Syrian Revolution operate. The leading position in industry and foreign trade is occupied by the public sector (90% of all capital investments). It accounts for almost 75% of the industry. production and 46% of national income. Along with the public sector, the private sector continues to play a significant role in the economy. Industrial output from 1975 to 1978 increased by 44.4%. The most developed industries are the textile, food and building materials industries. New industries have been created: oil production, oil refining, chemical. Oil production in 1979 amounted to about 9 million tons. Agriculture employs over 67% of the working population, accounting for 25% of GNP and up to 70-75% of exports (excluding oil). As a result of the agrarian reform, over 1.5 million hectares of land were confiscated from large landowners by 1976, and by the end of 1977, almost 4 thousand cooperatives (about 280 thousand members) were created. At the same time, a significant stratum of kulaks and landowners remains in the countryside. Main agricultural crops: cotton, wheat, barley, lentils, tobacco. Livestock raising is extensive and accounts for 30-35% of gross agricultural output. Livestock (1977, in thousands): cattle - 574, sheep - 6490, goats - 956, camels - 162. The USSR is helping the SAR in the creation and expansion of key sectors of its economy. With the economic and technical assistance of the USSR , an oil-extracting industry has been created in Syria, irrigation facilities are being built, railways. roads, high-voltage power lines. 18.III 1978 commissioned at full capacity of the largest hydropower complex in the Middle East on the river. Euphrates. The main mode of transport is automobile (almost 80% of the freight and passenger turnover). Length of rail roads - 2.2 thousand km. Damascus has a modern airport. Seaports: Latakia, Tartus, Banias. The monetary unit is the Syrian pound. 100 sire. f. = 16.66 rubles. (February 1980). The main export goods are cotton, barley, livestock, fruits, wool, raw hides, etc .; imported - cars and industrial. equipment, cement, timber, chemical products. The main trading partners are the EEC countries. Trade with the USSR and other socialist countries is developing successfully .
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