Syria Research Articles

Syrian refugees to Europe: are they different from the non-Syrians?

ABSTRACT The conflict and violence in the Syrian Arab Republic have led to an increase in Syrians seeking asylum in European countries. In this study, asylum applications of Syrian refugees to European countries are examined, taking into account the geographical neighborhood effects, with annual data for the time period from 2009 to 2018. This paper also aims to compare asylum applications of Syrian to non-Syrian refugees. The estimation results suggest that positive previous asylum application decisions by the corresponding countries have explanatory power on asylum applications of Syrian and non-Syrian refugees. Economic conditions impact on asylum applications of non-Syrian refugees, while similar statistical evidence cannot be found for Syrian refugees. The empirical evidence from Syrian refugees also indicates a positive geographical neighborhood effect, which suggests that the relationship is stronger in countries that are closer to each other. However, the findings from non-Syrian refugees do not indicate that neighboring observations affect one another. Overall, this suggests that Syrian refugees do not move according to economic incentives but with previous asylum applications that resulted in positive and asylum applications in neighboring countries.

Güriş Construction & Engineering, Inc. v. Syrian Arab Republic (Int'l Comm. Arb.)

On August 31, 2020, an arbitral tribunal sitting in the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) rendered its final award in Güriş Construction & Engineering, Inc. v. Syrian Arab Republic (Güriş). The tribunal held that the Respondent had breached its obligations under the Agreement Between the Republic of Turkey and the Syrian Arab Republic Concerning the Reciprocal Promotion and Protection of Investments (the Turkey–Syria BIT).

Syrian national growth references for children and adolescents aged 2–20 years

BackgroundDuring the past three decades, growth charts have become one of the principal tools for monitoring anthropometric development in individuals and populations as well. Growth references by the CDC and other countries have been widely used in our hospitals and healthcare units for clinical assessment of children’s development. The apparent overestimation and underestimation of many children's anthropometrics indicated the need to construct our own references. The objective of this study is to establish the national growth references for the Syrian population 2–20-year-old.MethodsA multicenter cross-sectional sample of 13,548 subjects, aged 2–20 years, were recruited from various kindergartens, schools, and universities across the Syrian Arab Republic between February and May-2019. Response variables (stature, weight, and BMI) were fitted against age using P-splines and three empirical distributions: Box-Cox T, Box-Cox Power Exponential, and Box-Cox Cole and Green. Residuals diagnostic Q-tests and worm plots were used to check the validity of fitted models.ResultsBox-Cox T provided the best fit for stature-for-age, whereas Box-Cox Power Exponential provided the best fit for weight-for-age and BMI-for-age. Residuals diagnostics revealed adequate models fitting. BMI cutoffs revealed an increased prevalence of obesity (4.5% and 3.66%) and overweight (20.1% and 19.54%), for boys and girls respectively, in our population.ConclusionsGrowth charts are available for use now in our hospitals and healthcare units. For 0–2-year-old children, we recommend using the World Health Organization’s standards.

Military cooperation of Russia with the Syrian Arab Republic as an instrument of the Russia's New Middle East Policy (2000-2008)

The article examines the key aspects of military-technical cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Syrian Arab Republic in the first two terms of Vladimir Putin's tenure as President of Russia. Relations between Moscow and Damascus in the sphere of arms and special equipment supplies are considered in the general context of the updated foreign policy of the Russian Federation, initiated by Vladimir Putin, and which implied, among other things, the return of Russia's position as an active geopolitical player in the Middle East. Having long-standing political and economic ties with Moscow, Syria was rightly considered by the Russian leadership as the most suitable ally in solving the task mentioned above. Analyzing the history of supplies to Syria of the main articles of Russian military products, the author comes to the conclusion that during the period under review, Moscow managed to lay a new solid foundation for bilateral relations, even though it had to be done to a certain extent with an eye to the position of other regional players and, above all, the countries of the collective West. When building its political course towards the SAR in the period under review, the Kremlin adhered primarily to the principle of restraint and pragmatism, taking into account the realities of international relations in the Middle East region and setting as its main goal the counteraction of the hegemonic claims of the United States, which sought to turn this already conflictogenic point of the planet into a zone of "controlled chaos".

THE CONFLICT IN SYRIA IN THE CONTEXT OF GERMAN DIGITAL PUBLICATIONS

Press coverage of military conflicts is aimed at directly informing about combat and conflict actions: wars, religious and ethnic conflicts, special operations. However, the military conflict affects all spheres of society, including the media, changing the media discourse. Therefore, a significant role is played by the way in which the media present the problem of the conflict. The military and politicians use the media to spread the ideas that may be beneficial to them. The media are becoming not just a means of information and communication, but become full-fledged mechanisms and instruments of politics. It is especially necessary to pay attention to this in the conditions of a military conflict, because most of the media are owned by the political and economic elite. The conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic was one of the main directions in German foreign policy. German diplomacy highly appreciates its contribution to the organization of the destruction of chemical weapons, financial assistance to the affected state. Today, Germany is the organizer of conferences and negotiations on the topic of the war in Syria on a permanent basis. The purpose of this work is to determine the semantic and emotional content of the agenda of German digital publications in the context of the military conflict in Syria. The study made it possible to identify key topics, socio-economic and political problems around the conflict in Syria, which through the media had a significant impact on the public agenda in Germany.

The Analysis of Trends of Preschool Child Stunting, Wasting and Overweight in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: Still More Effort Needed to Reach Global Targets 2025.

This study was undertaken to analyze and compare Eastern Mediterranean (EM) countries in achievement of WHO nutrition global targets for children growth indicators by 2025. A total of 108 national surveys from 20 countries in EM region were analyzed to estimate the prevalence of stunting and wasting and 93 surveys to estimate the prevalence of overweight/obesity in children. These data were obtained from national surveys included in the WHO Global Database on Child Growth and Malnutrition. In EM region, the prevalence of childhood stunting was estimated to have a 38% decline from 2000 (34.7%) to 2025 (21.2%). Only three countries in EM region (Iran and Jordan, Saudi Arabia) were anticipated to achieve the expected WHO target by 2025. From 2000 to 2020, the prevalence of wasting decreased from 6.9 to 5.3. Six countries were presumed to achieve the expected WHO target by 2025. Nine countries will presumably have overweight rates >5% (Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Syrian Arab Republic and Tunisia) in 2025 whereas five countries will have overweight rates above 10% (Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Syrian Arab Republic and Tunisia). Despite descending trends of child stunting and wasting and a secular trend of child obesity in EM region, it is expected that WHO targets will not be achieved by 2025. A diverse socio-economic condition in EM countries necessitates different action plans. International determination, political commitment and, above all, involvement of the families are needed to achieve 2025 targets for child stunting, wasting and overweight/obesity.

Potential adversary tactics of actions at conduction hostilities in a settlement

This research paper considers the potential enemy tactics of actions at conduction hostilities in a settlement based on the combat actions experience in the Middle East, precisely in the Syrian Arab Republic (further SAR). The research paper contains the facts as well as military specialists analyses. The hostilities real examples show that nowadays potential enemy is an illegal armed formation that conducts various types of actions. The research paper relevance derives from the fact that the basis of illegal armed formations (further IAF) are mercenaries who may take part in any armed conflict. Practice shows no one can defeat without sufficient information and knowledge of adversary condition and potential of possible nature of action. The research paper brings to light the real examples of warfare non-conventional methods of illegal armed groups against Syrian Arab Republic regular units.

Developing the Educational Program in Kindergartens in the Syrian Arab Republic in Light of the European Model (An Empirical Study on Female Kindergarten Directors and Teachers in the Damascus Education Directorate)

The study aimed to develop the education program in kindergartens in Syria in light of the European model. The sample of the study consisted of female kindergarten directors and teachers who were selected randomly from kindergartens in the city of Damascus. Also, the study used the descriptive analytical method in the study, in addition to building a tool to measure the development of educational programs in kindergartens in Syria. Where the questionnaire consisted of 19 items distributed on one axis: the first axis includes "the development of kindergarten in the light of the relationship of female teachers with children and their families." The study revealed that the development of education programs in kindergartens in the city of Damascus from the point of view of kindergarten female kindergarten directors and female teachers was generally large. The study also found that there are no statistically significant differences at the level of significance (α = 0.05) between female kindergarten directors and female teachers’ evaluation of their awareness of the areas of developing educational programs in kindergartens according to the work variable.

Improving the accuracy of tumor surgery by THz imaging and making the results of pathological anatomy faster by THz spectroscopy

BackgroundThe terahertz radiation is a specific part of the electromagnetic radiation spectrum and has multiple significant applications in multiple scientific researches such as the applications in the medicine. An important application of the terahertz is its use in tumor imaging which is very important in the tumor surgery; however, lots of physicians and workers in the medical field have little information or having no information at all, dealing with this significant part of the electromagnetic spectrum.ResultsIn this work, we interviewed a number of local surgeons in Syrian Arab Republic, who reported that they visually delineate the contour of tumors to be removed, and in order to reduce the number of future possible interventions, a large margin of healthy tissue is often excised. Furthermore, a number of pathologists who reported that preparing samples of excised tissues for examination takes a long period of time which may extend to several days, and that the results of histopathology indicate in some cases the integrity of removed tissues.ConclusionWe have found that a significant number of participants in the survey demonstrated that the importance of dealing with terahertz imaging and terahertz spectroscopy, encouraging to implement the technique in the Syrian Arab Republic.

An echocardiographic algorithm for predicting coronary artery disease: is it time to establish one?

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public hospital(s). Main funding source(s): Al-mouwasat University Hospital and University Heart Surgery Center in Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic. Background Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a major clinical issue. CAD affects left ventricular systolic, diastolic function and LV filling pressure. Echocardiography has been known as the best noninvasive way for the assessment of systolic, diastolic function and LV filling pressure. Finding a correlation between CAD and echocardiographic parameters may help in the early assessment, prognosis and treatment of CAD. Purpose Finding a correlation between coronary artery disease and echocardiographic parameters with cutoffs to use in a diagnostic algorithm. Methods 124 patients who accepted to participate for this study underwent transthoracic echocardiography immediately before their medically indicated left heart catheterization . An experienced echo cardiographer obtained mitral flow E velocity, A velocity, E/A, A duration, Av E/e", septal, lateral and mean e", pulmonary veins S velocity, D velocity, S/D, AR velocity, AR duration, AR-A duration, left atrial volume index (LAVI), tricuspid regurgitation (TR), inter ventricular septum (IVS), left inter ventricular diameter (LIVD), posterior wall diameter (PW) and some other echo parameters and assessed LV diastolic function and filling pressure according to EACVI/ASE 2016 guidelines. This study obtained angiography results and then analyzed and compared the results. Results Echo parameters that correlated with CAD were: EDT ≥ 160 (P = 0.0012 OR = 5.46), Av E/e" ≥ 7 (P = 0.0066 OR = 3.67), E ≥ 44 cm/s (P = 0.0026 OR = 10.00), A duration > 140 (P = 0.0256 OR = 10.50), E/A ≥ 1 (P = 0.0036 OR = 4.17) and AR duration ≥ 210 (P = 0.0001 OR = 85.00). When Cutoffs ≥ 3 present, the correlation with CAD was (P= < 0.0001 OR = 8.80) with diagnostic accuracy of (sensitivity = 0.76, specificity = 0.74, NPV = 0.68, PPV = 0.81). All the results are summarized in (Picture1:Tables 1 and 2). Conclusion Echo parameters (EDT, Av E/e", E velocity, A duration, E/A, AR duration) had strong correlations with the presence of coronary artery disease. The presence of three or more abnormal parameters had a significant diagnostic accuracy for CAD, and the more the abnormal parameters were positive, the higher the specificity and positive predictive value were for the diagnosis of CAD. The presence of only two abnormal parameters had a low specificity for CAD and the presence of 2016 EACVI/ASE diastolic dysfunction correlated with CAD with modest specificity which needs further assessment for the differential diagnosis. Furthermore, one or no abnormal parameters ruled out CAD with strong negative predictive value. Depending on the results of this study we kindly propose a resting echocardiographic algorithm for the diagnosis of CAD in (picture2: a proposed algorithm). Further studies should validate this algorithm and find other echo parameters especially strain echocardiography wether for resting or exercise algorithms. Abstract Tables of results Abstract Figure. A proposed algorithm

The correlation between coronary artery disease and left ventricular filling pressure: which correlates more LVEDP or LV pre-A wave?

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public hospital(s). Main funding source(s): Al-mouwasat University Hospital and Uneversity Heart Surgery Center, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic. Background Coronary artery disease (CAD) affects left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function. This results in high filling pressure which expressed by different waves and may be assessed by invasive and noninvasive methods. Validation and comparing the correlation between CAD and different LV filling pressure waves may add a step forward in CAD diagnosis, prognosis and treatment. Purpose This study invasively validates the correlation between coronary artery disease (CAD) and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) as well as left ventricular pre-A wave (LV pre-A wave) and compare the results. Methods 124 patients who accepted to participate for this study underwent left heart catheterization for medical indications. This study obtained the results of LV filling pressures (LVEDP and LV pre-A wave), as well as, coronary angiography results with assessing the severity and extents (if CAD presents) by vessels number and Gensini Score (GS). Spearman r correlation were used for continuous/continuous or continuous/ordinal variables and Chi square test for nominal/nominal variables. Then we compared the results. Results CAD presence with elevated LVEDP incidence (OR = 4.29, relative risk = 1.85 P = 0.0123). Vessel number, plaque number and Gensini score correlations with LVEDP were (P = 0.0038 r = 0.34, P = 0.0002 r = 0.44, p = 0.0002 r = 0.43 and p = 0.0622 r = 0.22) respectively. In the same way, CAD presence with LV pre-a wave (OR = 2.75, relative risk = 1.5, P = 0.0447). Vessels number, plaque numbers and Gensini score relations with LV pre-A wave were (P = 0.0379 r = 0.23, P = 0.0004 r = 0.39, p = 0.0002 r = 0.40 and p = 0.0568 r = 0.21) respectively. All the results are summarized in Tables (1 + 2+3). Conclusions LV filling pressure had a significant correlation with CAD presence, vessel number and plaque number but it did not have a correlation with Gensini score. LVEDP had a stronger correlation with CAD presence, severity, sensitivity and extent but lower specificity than LV pre-A wave. Abstract Tables of results (1 + 2) Abstract Table of result 3

The correlation of ESC 2016 diastolic guidelines with invasively measured left ventricular filling pressure

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public hospital(s). Main funding source(s): Al-mouwasat University Hospital, University Heart Surgery Center in Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic. Background left ventricular (LV) diastolic function and filling pressure assessment is a challenge. ESC 2016 diastolic guidelines handles with this issue. Validation of and comparing the correlation between this guidelines and invasively measured different waves may add a step forward in the assessment, prognosis and treatment of LV diastolic function by echo. Purpose this study validates of the correlation of ESC 2016 left ventricular filling pressure echo guidelines with invasively measured left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and left ventricular pre-a. Methods 124 patients who accepted to participate for this study underwent transthoracic echocardiography immediately before left heart catheterization. This study obtained echo parameters to assess LV filling pressure according to ESC 2016 algorithms. It also obtained left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and LV pre-a waves during catheterization. It analyzed the data and compared the results. Results Correlations of grading system (normal, abnormal parameters 1,2 and 3 present) with LV pre-a and LVEDP waves were (P= < 0.0001 r = 0.47, P = 0.0027 r = 0.41), respectively. After excluding group of patients with only one abnormal parameter as indeterminate group, pressure assessment guidelines correlations with the presence of LV pre-a and LVEDP waves were (P = 0.0009 OR = 31.76, p= 0.0170 OR = 36.00), respectively. Means difference of LV pre-a and LVEDP waves between pressure guidelines presence and absence two groups were (LV pre-a: 12.72, 7.52, P < 0.0001and LVEDP: 21.03 10.36, P = 0.0043), respectively. All results are summarized in (Table:1 + 2+3 + 4+5). Conclusion ESC 2016 guidelines pressure assessment correlated strongly with both LV pre-a and LVEDP waves which means that the higher the number of abnormal echo parameters is resulted by echo guidelines, the higher the LV pre-a or LVEDP is presented invasively. Different approaches had different diagnostic accuracy, the best specific was cutoff≥ 2 abnormal echo parameters and the best sensitive and overall accuracy was still cutoff≥2 but after excluding only one abnormal echo parameter group as indeterminate group. The difference between means between echo guidelines pressure assessment was more significant statistically in LV pre-a wave than in LVEDP. Abstract Figure. Abstract Figure.

A comparison between left ventricular filling pressure two waves: end-diastolic and pre-a for the correlation with echocardiographic parameters

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public hospital(s). Main funding source(s): Al-mouwasat University Hospital, University Heart Surgery Center Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic. Background left ventricular (LV) filling pressure has an important prognostic and therapeutic role. Echocardiography plays an essential noninvasive role in its assessment and diagnosis. Checking of the correlation between echo parameters and different LV filling pressure wave invasively measure may add a step forward in its diagnosis, prognosis and treatment. Purpose this study invasively measures left end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and left ventricular pre-a wave (LV pre-a wave) and validates the correlation of each wave with echo parameters obtained immediately before angiography. Methods 124 patients who accepted to participate for this study underwent transthoracic echocardiography just before catheterization. E/A, Av E/e", lateral and septal e", TR. LAVI, S/D, AR-A and other parameters were obtained to validate and compare the correlation with LVEDP and LV pre-a wave. Results Correlation of different echo parameters with LVEDP and LV pre-a wave are summarized in table. Conclusion Among these echo parameters of this study, there was a significant correlation between LVEDP and E, E/A, TR, S velocity, S/D, AR duration, AR-A duration and LVMI. LV pre-a wave had a significant correlation with LAVI, EF, FS, Av E/e", E velocity, A velocity, E/A, TR, S velocity, S/D, AR duration, AR-A duration, LVDd, RWT, LVDs and LVMI. LVEDP correlated more than LV pre-a wave with S velocity, S/D, AR duration, AR-A duration and LVMI. LV pre-a wave correlated more than LVEDP with TR and E velocity. E/A was equally correlated with LVEDP and LV pre-a wave. Abstract Table of results 1 Abstract Table of results 2

A check of the grading system among the 2009 and 2016 EACVI/ASE left ventricular diastolic function guidelines statistically and invasively

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public hospital(s). Main funding source(s): Al-mouwasat University Hospital and University Heart Surgery Center in Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic. Background Left ventricular diastolic function assessment undergoes continuous updates. EACVI/ASE 2016 guidelines handles with this case, which is an expert consensus and simplified update of the 2009 recommendations. As stated in the latest guidelines, studies need to check that the simplicity does not affect much the accuracy. Aim This study compares the corresponding subgroups between the 2009 and 2016 EACVI/ASE guidelines, for the assessment of left ventricular diastolic function statistically. Furthermore, it invasively validates of the relation between the grading results of each guidelines and the measured LV filling pressure during catheterization lab. Methods 124 patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography just before angiography. A trained echo cardiographer obtained E/A mitral flow, Av E/e", LAVI, TR, septal and lateral e" and other supportive parameters to assess LV diastolic function and filling pressure according to 2009 and 2016 EACVI/ASE guidelines algorithms and we compared the results with LV pre-a wave during catheterization with a cut-off >12mmhg considered elevated. Results EACVI/ASE 2016 resulted in {normal (46.77%), Grade I (29.03%), Grade II (10.48%), Grade III (7.26%) and indeterminate (6.45%)}, while EACVI/ASE 2009 resulted in {normal (39.52%), Grade I (25%), Grade II (13.71%), Grade III (7.26%) and indeterminate (14.52%)} with no statically significant difference between subgroups. EACVI/ASE 2016 vs. 2009 in assessment LV filling pressure (odds ratio =0.51 and p value = 0.034. EACVI/ASE 2016 sensitivity and specificity were (0.36, 0.94 ) respectively and EACVI/ASE 2009 sensitivity and specificity were (0.63, 0.80) respectively. All results are summarized in (tables: 1 + 2+3 + 4+5 + 6). Conclusion This study found that the updated and simplified 2016 EACVI/ASE guidelines algorithm did not affect statistically the grading results of 2009 EACVI/ASE. Even more, 2016 had a higher relation between diastolic subgroups and invasively measured LV filling pressure which reflects the higher specificity than 2009. On the other hand 2016 was less able to detect elevated LV filling pressure which reflects a lower sensitivity than 2009. 2016 was more specific but less sensitive than 2009. There were no statistically significant difference between the means of invasively measured LV filling pressures among both guidelines. Abstract Figure. Abstract Figure.

Invasive validation of the different echo parameters and cut-offs among the trilogy of left ventricular filling pressure assessment guidelines: EACVI/ASE 2016, ESC 2016, HFA 2019

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public hospital(s). Main funding source(s): Al-mouwasat University Hospital and University Heart Surgery Center in Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic. Background Left ventricular filling pressure assessment is a challenge. Three guidelines concerned about this are: EACVI/ASE 2016, ESC 2016 and the HFA 2019 guidelines. Echo assessment is a corner stone in their algorithms with different cutoffs and different parameters used depending on expert consensus that should be validated in an invasive manner as the authors stated. Aims This study validates and tests the accuracy of the different cutoffs and parameters used in echo LV filling pressure assessment in the three guidelines: EACVI/ASE 2016, ESC 2016 and HFA 2019 by direct measure in the catheterization lab. Methods 82 patients with EF ≥ 50%, signs and symptoms of HF underwent transthoracic echocardiography immediately before catheterization. Av E/e", TR, LAVI, LVMI, RWT, LV wall thickness, Septal, lateral and mean e" were used to assess LV filling pressure with respect to EACVI/ASE 2016, ESC 2016 and HFA guidelines algorithms" different cutoffs and parameters used. This study used LV pre-A wave with a cutoff >12mmhg defined high as a reference and then we compared the results. Results all the results of functional and structural echo parameters" diagnostic criteria (sensitivity, specificity, NPV, PPV and accuracy) are summarized in (Table:1 + 2). Conclusion From an echo view, each algorithm depends on modest to high specific but low to modest sensitive echo parameters. There is no single parameter makes a guidelines superior to others. Although that the fact of combining more echo indices make the diagnosis and eventually the algorithm more reliable as in HFA 2019, that was for the cost of simplicity and ease of application. Av E/e">13 was the best cutoff (ESC 2016). Orientation for the cause of use (sensitivity, specificity, NPV or PPV) should employ the echo indices and cutoffs in best benefit, as for mitral (e"), although that septal < 7 and lateral e"<10 (EACVI/ASE 2016 and HFA 2019) had an overall more accuracy than mean e"<9 (ESC 2016), sub analysis showed that the first is better used for specificity and NPV but the latter better for sensitivity and PPV. Same idea for LVMI≥145/122 (m/f)+RWT > 0.42 (HFA 2019 major criteria) which had more specificity than LVMI≥115/95 (m/F) cutoffs (HFA2019 minor criteria and ESC2016) but in the cost of lower sensitivity, furthermore, sub analysis showed this LVMI high cutoffs were more benefit in female than in men after taking the NPV, PPV and accuracy in consideration. Abstract Figure. Abstract Figure.

Impact of local finance and popular participation on local development. Comparative study between the Syrian Arab Republic and the Arab Republic of Egypt: أثر التمويل المحلي والمشاركة الشعبية على التنمية المحلية: دراسة مقارنة بين الجمهورية العربية السورية وجمهورية مصر العربية

Local finance and popular participation have a critical impact on local development, To illustrate this, the researcher studied this paper through two requests. In the first request, the researcher explained what local financing was and its conditions and the problems of local financing. The researcher explained some examples of the role of local finance and popular participation in local development in both the Syrian Arab Republic and the Arab Republic of Egypt through the second requirement. The researcher relied on the comparative analytical descriptive approach. The researcher has used several means to gather his information, including legal sources, scientific references, some academic studies and some practical examples applied within the local administration units.

Sober masculinity and nurturing femininity: a gendered analysis of the Syrian presidency Instagram account

Since July 2013, Syrianpresidency, the “official Instagram account for the Presidency of the Syrian Arab Republic” has featured a high percentage of photos of President Bashar al-Assad and of his wife, Asma. This article takes Syrianpresidency as an important aspect of the Assad government’s digital public diplomacy, because of its strong visuality. Using case study and content analysis approaches, it surveys a sample of Instagram posts from January 2016, when the Syrian military began retaking territory from ISIS, through March 2020, covering Syria’s initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It argues that Syrianpresidency frames the Assads for a regional and international audience through the lens of a ‘gendered modernity,’ portraying them as companionate spouses serving Syrians in complementary ways. Syrianpresidency aims its public diplomacy at domestic and foreign audiences, working to project a positive image as part of its efforts to manage and ultimately end the Syria conflict. In doing so, it engages in an updated form of what Wedeen terms ‘as-if’ politics and a politics of erasure, effacing the regime’s violence and citizen resistance through silence.

Digital Syria: Myth or Reality

The article presents the rationale for the author’s vision of activating one of the intensive tools of economic recovery in the Syrian Arab Republic – digitalization. It is shown that the restoration with the help of “traditional” methods – strengthening of foreign economic activity - for Syrian Arab Republic is very limited by Western sanctions. Therefore, it is important to search for non-traditional ways, which is technically possible in modern conditions. The author believes that this is also possible in practice.

ArmSpeech: Armenian Spoken Language Corpus

The Armenian language is an independent branch of the Indo-European language family and the official language of the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Artsakh. According to various reliable sources, an average of 3 million people in Armenia and 10-12 million people in the Armenian Diaspora use the Armenian language as their native language. The largest communities outside of Armenia are in the United States of America, Canada, the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the French Republic, the Syrian Arab Republic and the Lebanese Republic. This paper presents the ArmSpeech speech corpus. ArmSpeech is a collection of annotated Armenian speech intended for natural language processing (NLP) technologies research and development. ArmSpeech is designed for speech-to-text and text-to-speech purposes but can be used in other domains also (e.g. language identification). Corpus contains 6206 high-quality audio samples: 11 hours 46 minutes and 26 seconds (11.77 hours) of annotated native Armenian speech of multiple speakers of any age, gender and accent. According to the research results, this is the most extensive Armenian speech corpus in the public domain for speech recognition, speech synthesis and spoken language identification systems.

Турция и Сирийский конфликт

The article analyses Turkey’s policy towards the Syrian crisis. The author presents an overview of doctrinal principles of the Turkish foreign policy as a basis for its objectives and motivation. The “zero problems with neighbours” concept that had been integral to Ankara’s Middle Eastern policies in general was proven irrelevant amid the Arab Spring. In fact, Ankara strived to use the Arab revolutions to its own advantage by promoting Turkey’s modernization pattern and gaining clout in the whole region. This course seems to have shaped the informal doctrine of “neo- Ottomanism”, which glorifies the Ottoman imperial power and expansionism towards the nations that comprised the former empire. In addition, one of the main factors in Ankara’s policy in Syria is its aspiration to prevent a Kurdish autonomy there. Kurds were the major target of Ankara’s three illegal military operations (“Euphrates Shield”, “Olive Branch” and “Peace Spring”) on the Syrian soil, with the aim of pushing them away from the Turkish boundaries. Turkey’s aggressive policy towards the Syrian Kurds appears to be the clearest manifestation of “neo-Ottomanism”. Apart from that, the article considers Turkey’s balancing act between the US and Russia as part of its foreign policy in Syria. Following the “Euphrates Shield”, there was a rapprochement between Turkey and Russia when the former joined the Astana negotiations. Cooperation with Russia has become a consistent trend in Erdogan’s foreign policy in Syria, especially in Idlib. It has proven beneficial to Ankara with regard to achieving its policy goals in the Syrian Arab Republic.