France–Syria relations
Encyclopedia
France–Syria relations are foreign relations between France
and Syria
. France has an embassy in Damascus
and a consulate general in Aleppo
and Latakia
. Syria has an embassy in Paris
. Both countries are full members of the Union for the Mediterranean
.
. Since independence in 1946, ties have remained strong but relations are sometimes strained because of differences over the Syrian policy in Lebanon. Relations reached a bottom in 2005 after the assassination of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri. High-level bilateral political relations between the two countries only resumed after the signing of the Doha Agreement. This change has resulted in a succession of contacts and bilateral visits initiated by Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad
’s visit on the occasion of the summit of the Union for the Mediterranean
on 13 July 2008, and that of the French President Nicolas Sarkozy
on September 3, 2008.
As of August 2009 it was reported that Syrian-French relations strained over wheat trade.
In the area of science, France has a special relationship in archaeology, with many joint archaeological teams active in Syria.
Moreover, Syria boasts a solid French-speaking tradition, in particular in certain Christian milieus and/or with Syria’s elite. French has been growing significantly since 2003, when it became the second language required in public education.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
. France has an embassy in Damascus
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
and a consulate general in Aleppo
Aleppo
Aleppo is the largest city in Syria and the capital of Aleppo Governorate, the most populous Syrian governorate. With an official population of 2,301,570 , expanding to over 2.5 million in the metropolitan area, it is also one of the largest cities in the Levant...
and Latakia
Latakia
Latakia, or Latakiyah , is the principal port city of Syria, as well as the capital of the Latakia Governorate. In addition to serving as a port, the city is a manufacturing center for surrounding agricultural towns and villages...
. Syria has an embassy in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. Both countries are full members of the Union for the Mediterranean
Union for the Mediterranean
The Union for the Mediterranean is a multilateral partnership that encompasses 43 countries from Europe and the Mediterranean Basin: the 27 member states of the European Union and 16 Mediterranean partner countries from North Africa, the Middle East and the Balkans...
.
Background
Syria was under French occupation between 1920–1946, under the French Mandate of SyriaFrench Mandate of Syria
Officially the French Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon was a League of Nations mandate founded after the First World War and the partitioning of the Ottoman Empire...
. Since independence in 1946, ties have remained strong but relations are sometimes strained because of differences over the Syrian policy in Lebanon. Relations reached a bottom in 2005 after the assassination of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri. High-level bilateral political relations between the two countries only resumed after the signing of the Doha Agreement. This change has resulted in a succession of contacts and bilateral visits initiated by Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad
Bashar al-Assad
Bashar al-Assad is the President of Syria and Regional Secretary of the Ba'ath Party. His father Hafez al-Assad ruled Syria for 29 years until his death in 2000. Al-Assad was elected in 2000, re-elected in 2007, unopposed each time.- Early Life :...
’s visit on the occasion of the summit of the Union for the Mediterranean
Union for the Mediterranean
The Union for the Mediterranean is a multilateral partnership that encompasses 43 countries from Europe and the Mediterranean Basin: the 27 member states of the European Union and 16 Mediterranean partner countries from North Africa, the Middle East and the Balkans...
on 13 July 2008, and that of the French President Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy is the 23rd and current President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra. He assumed the office on 16 May 2007 after defeating the Socialist Party candidate Ségolène Royal 10 days earlier....
on September 3, 2008.
Economic relations
Syria is a modest trading partner for France: 71st customer and 57th supplier. A sharp drop in French exports was a result of the cooling of bilateral political relations in 2005. A resumption in financial cooperation is currently being envisaged.As of August 2009 it was reported that Syrian-French relations strained over wheat trade.
Cultural relations
University cooperation is the main area of French-Syrian cooperation. France is Syria’s leading partner in this sector. Eventually, 20% of Syria’s university instructors will have been trained in France. France is the second-leading host country for Syrian students: there are more than 3,000 students in France, mostly in Masters programs and in scientific disciplines.In the area of science, France has a special relationship in archaeology, with many joint archaeological teams active in Syria.
Moreover, Syria boasts a solid French-speaking tradition, in particular in certain Christian milieus and/or with Syria’s elite. French has been growing significantly since 2003, when it became the second language required in public education.