Tuesday 16/3/2010
During a short trip to the United States this past week, I encountered a variety of different responses to my living in Syria. The purpose of my trip was to visit some of the universities to which I am applying for graduate programs this year. My first stop was Washington D.C. where, due to a snow storm, I ended up having to stay in a hotel overnight before taking a train
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Heavyweight Arab investor backs investment in Syria ART TV’s Saleh Kamel asks for more reforms Exclusive English text – by Forward Magazine, Syria Speaking at the 13th Arab Businessmen and Investors Conference this week in Damascus, Saudi businessman Saleh Kamel raised eyebrows with what was described as a sharp and courageous speech, dealing with investment, red-tape, and corruption in Syria. Kamel, owner of the popular ART TV, CEO and founder of Dallah al-Baraka Group, addressed
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This is the full text of a Statement by Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs William J. Burns, that Forward Magazine, and other media oulets in Syria, received a few days ago. February 17, 2010 Good afternoon. I am pleased to be back in Damascus. I am here to convey President Obama’s continuing interest in building better relations with Syria based upon mutual interest and mutual respect. Syria plays an important
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When I touched down at the Damascus airport in June of last year, it was my first time in Syria. Although it was not going to be my first time living in an Arabic-speaking country, I had been told by my friends that this time would be different -and they were right. After graduating from college a few years ago, I spent time in Yemen, Egypt and Oman studying Arabic and
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Avatar movie (2009) tells the story of Palestine, according to Syrian sales professional, Soud Atassi (Photo doctored by R. Saqr) Reading between the lines of AVATAR By Soud Atassi AVATAR, for many, is just an American movie about war between the humans and some strange creatures that own a strange living forest that is full of life power. The movie shows us that the American army does not care about humanity, shedding light
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Only a few months old, The Syrian Public Polling Center, is Syria’s new addition to the openness and change process that the country is witnessing. As an independent institution, this center is expected to reveal public opinion about Syria’s most pressing issues, through methodological and systematic poll reviews. Aliqtisadi magazine published a full interview with the center’s founder, Arabi al-Masri, who said: “All advanced countries have respectable polling centers that measure people’s
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Celebrating Valentine’s Day in Damascus: For Syrians, who like other nations aren’t safe from the hands of commercialism, the rituals of valentine start a month before Feb the 14th By Hamzeh Abu-Fakher Staff Writer, Forward Magazine It’s February and stores, restaurants and cafes are tearing down what’s left of their Christmas decorations and adorning their spaces in this month’s highlight festivity, symbols that suggest displays of love and affection for Valentine’s Day. Red ribbons,
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A friend of Forward Magazine, Syria, just sent us this joke. Short but good! An Israeli arrives at London ’s Heathrow airport. As he fills out the entry form, the immigration officer asks him: “Occupation?” The Israeli promptly replies: “No, no, just visiting!” Posted in Media in Syria
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Are you proud to be Syrian? Well, you should be! Flip through Forward Magazine’s January 2010 digital pages, using the latest in page-flipping technology… http://anax8a.pressmart.com/forwardsyria/index.aspx Meet 4 Syrian expatriates who are … - Influencing the online world (Yahoo!’s Bassel Ojjeh new ArabCrunch.net sponsorship deal for entrepreneurs) - Lobbying to change perceptions about Syrians and Arabs in the US (Helen Samhan – Arab American Institute Foundation) - Leading the paper industry from his Vienna-base (Nabil Kuzbari) - Proposing
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The Next Web blog, an international source of news and views about the web, posted a recent interview with Syrian entrprenuer Abdulsalam Haykal. With sanctions on Syria getting a recent renewal by Obama’s administration, Haykal views sanctions “both as a blessing and a curse.” He continues, ”In entrepreneurship, the barrier to entry is a crucial factor. Sanctions make the barrier low because competition is less fierce. However, it gives you a cushion
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The blog of Syria’s leading English monthly, Forward Magazine.