World Country Guide

General Information

Area
185,180 sq km (71,498 sq miles).

Population
17,800,000 (official estimate 2002).

Population Density
96.1 per sq km (2002).

Capital
Damascus. Population: 2,228,000 (official estimate 2003).

Geography
The country can be divided geographically into four main areas: the fertile plain in the northeast, the plateau, coastal and mountain areas in the west, the central plains, and the desert and steppe region in the central and southeastern areas. The Euphrates flows from Turkey in the north, through the Syrian Arab Republic, down to Iraq in the southeast. It is the longest river in the Syrian Arab Republic, the total length being 2330km (1450 miles), of which 600km (370 miles) pass through the Syrian Arab Republic. The Khabur River supports the al-Khabur Basin in the northeast.

Government
Republic since 1973. Gained independence in 1946. Head of State: President Bashar al-Assad since 2000. Head of Government: Prime Minister Muhammad Naji al-Otari since 2003.

Language
Arabic, French and English. Kurdish is spoken by a small minority.

Religion
Over 80 per cent Muslim (mostly Sunni), with sizeable Christian (mostly Orthodox and Catholic) groups and Jewish minorities.

Time
GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from 30 March to 30 September).

Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz. European-style two-pin plugs.

Communications

Telephone
IDD is available. Country code: 963. Outgoing international code: 00.

Mobile telephone
GSM 900/1800 network. Network operators include Mobile Syria (website: www.syriatel.com) and Syrian Telecommunications Establishment.

Fax
Available at post offices and major hotels.

Internet
Access to Internet services is available in universities and public offices. Syrian Telecommunication Establishments (website: www.ste.net.sy) is the main ISP.

Telegram
Service available from the main telegraph office in Damascus, most hotels and post offices.

Post
Airmail to Western Europe takes up to 10 days. Parcels sent from the Syrian Arab Republic should be packed at the post office. There are post offices in virtually all towns. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1500; larger branches will be open all day.

Press
The Syria Times is published daily in English. All other newspapers are in Arabic (the most important ones being Al-Baath, Ath-Thawra and Tishrin). International papers are also widely available.

Radio
BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.