ARAB REPUBLIC OF SYRIA CELEBRATES THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF ITS INDEPENDENCE (ANALYSIS)
Armen Manvelyan

“Radiolur”
17.04.2006 15:30

Today the Arab Republic of Syria is celebrating the 60th anniversary
of its independence. To note, this historic fact was preceded by a
long national-liberation war, which came to and end on April 17, 1946
with complete withdrawal of French troops from Syria. Before that,
for 25 years Syria was under political and military control of France.

It should be reminded that in 1920 the League of Nations decided
to give the mandate of Syria to France. However, discontent with
this decision, the people of Syria stirred up a number of rebellions
against the invaders, the most powerful of which was the 1925 revolt,
when the rebels even managed to enter capital Damascus. However,
the revolt was viciously pressure by French troops.

Nevertheless, the powerful national-liberation movement forced France
to recognize in 1941 the independence of Syria. Notwithstanding all
this, 5 more years of struggle were necessary to reach complete
withdrawal of French troops from the country. It is the day of
withdrawal of the French troops that Syrians celebrate as Independence
Day.

Generally, turning to Armenian-Arab ties, we should note that
the relations with the Arab Republic of Syria are of particular
importance for the Armenian nation. During the 1915 massacres in
Osman Turkey thousands of Armenians survived thanks to our Syrian
friends. The role of Syria is invaluable also in the further formation
and development of the Armenian community in the country. Armenians
became citizens of Syria, enjoying all the rights the native people
of the country had. Perhaps, this is the reason that explains the
fact of establishment of warm friendly relations between independent
Armenia and Syria. We can say that the centuries-long Armenian-Arab
ties and friendly relations were best expressed just in the sphere of
Armenian-Syrian relations. In needs to me mentioned that Syria was one
of the first countries to recognize and establish diplomatic relations
with Armenia. In the future Armenian-Syrian relations continued to
develop dynamically both in political and economic spheres. Today we
can state that despite the existing good relations, official Yerevan
and Damascus have still much to do to raise the relations between
the two countries to the level of friendly relations between the
two peoples.

There is still a great unused potential of political and economic
development between the Republic of Armenia and the Arab Republic
of Syria.