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December

• U.S.: Washington Warns Iran, Syria Not To Interfere In Iraq, But Can The Charges Be Substantiated? RFE/RL 16 Dec 2004 -- Recent days have seen a mounting drumbeat of charges from Baghdad and Washington that Iran and Syria are actively seeking to undermine the creation of a new post-Saddam Hussein order in Iraq. The charges have been dramatic, but also vague, leaving observers uncertain of the evidence behind them. The latest charge came yesterday, as U.S. President George W. Bush warned both Iran and Syria not to interfere in Iraq as the country prepares for its 30 January elections.
• Analysis: U.S. Eyes Suspected Insurgents In Syria RFE/RL 14 Dec 2004 -- U.S. officials said last week that they are considering increasing pressure on Syria to crack down on former Iraqi Ba'athists who they believe are orchestrating and funding the insurgency from inside Syrian territory. The pressure is part of an overall effort to put an end to the insurgency in Iraq.
• U.S. / SYRIA / IRAN VOA 08 Dec 2004 -- The United States Wednesday expressed renewed concerns about Syrian and Iranian involvement in Iraq, accusing Iran in particular of what it calls "interference" in the Iraqi electoral process. Both interim Iraqi President Ghazi al-Yawar and Jordan's King Abdullah have expressed apprehension this week about Iran's intentions in Iraq.

  November

• Syria willing to negotiate with Israel, UN envoy says UN News Centre 24 Nov 2004 -- Syria is willing to negotiate a peace deal with Israel without conditions, the United Nations envoy for the Middle East said today.

  October

• Armitage Criticizes Syrian Interference in Lebanon Washington File 26 Oct 2004 -- Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage says the new Lebanese government under Prime Minister Omar Karami was "made in Damascus."
• Bush Administration Remains Skeptical of Europe's Iran Strategy Washington File 25 Oct 2004 -- Armitage says U.S. is receptive to improved relations with Syria
• UN / SYRIA-LEBANON VOA 19 Oct 2004 -- The U.N. Security Council has stepped up pressure on Syria to withdraw its 14-thousand troops from Lebanon.
• Syria has not withdrawn troops from Lebanon, Annan reports UN News Centre 07 Oct 2004 -- Syria has not withdrawn its troops from Lebanon as called for by the United Nations Security Council although Damascus said some 3,000 of its forces have been redeployed, Secretary-General Kofi Annan says in a report made public today.
• DAMASCUS BOMBING: LIKELY TO SPARK A 'FRESH CYCLE OF ASSAULTS' US Dept. of State IIP, Foreign Media Reaction 01 Oct 2004

  September

• Lebanon: Backed By UN Vote, Anti-Syrian Voices Grow Louder In Lebanon RFE/RL 30 Sep 2004 -- For almost 30 years, Syrian troops have been in Lebanon, with Damascus the de facto power broker in the neighboring country since its devastating civil war came to an end in 1990. But now, change may be in the air. This month, the UN Security Council passed a resolution that called on Syria to withdraw its 35,000 troops from Lebanon and allow the country to go ahead with scheduled presidential polls. While Syria ignored the election demand, last week it pulled out a handful of troops in a move seen as an attempt to appease the authors of the UN resolution -- the United States and France. Meanwhile, emboldened by international support, anti-Syrian voices in Lebanon are growing louder, presaging what some see as an eventual pullout. Yet concerns remain that a withdrawal by Damascus could send the fragmented country back into chaos.
• UNGA Syria VOA 27 Sep 2004 -- Syria's foreign minister has delivered a blistering attack on Israel at the U.N. General Assembly debate. Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara accused Israel of inciting the United States to go to war in Iraq.
• Syria-U.S. Relationship Facing 'Major Deterioration' AFPS 27 Sep 2004 -- If Syria doesn't reverse its counterproductive policy in Iraq, then the United States and Syria will have a "major deterioration" in relations, said a senior U.S. government official today.
• Syria: Killing Of Hamas Official May Have Broad Implications, But Few Repercussions RFE/RL 27 Sep 2004 -- Syria and the militant Palestinian group Hamas accuse Israel of planting the car bomb that killed Hamas official Izz al-Din al-Sheikh Khalil in the Syrian capital, Damascus, yesterday. In Jerusalem, Deputy Defense Minister Ze'ev Boim said Syria is not immune from Israeli operations against Palestinian militants. But Boim did not confirm Israel's involvement.
• ISRAEL/HAMAS/SYRIA VOA 27 Sep 2004 -- The car-bombing death of a Hamas leader in Damascus opens another front on the war against the Palestinian militant group. Syria blames Israel. Israel is not commenting. But analysts say the assassination sends a signal to Syria of the consequences of letting Hamas operate in its territory.
• Powell-Syria VOA 22 Sep 2004 -- Secretary of State Colin Powell met Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara Wednesday on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York. He said he detects a new attitude by the Damascus government with regard to patrolling the troubled Syrian-Iraqi border.
• SYRIA / LEBANON WITHDRAWAL VOA 21 Sep 2004 -- Lebanon's national news agency is reporting Syrian Army troops have begun redeploying from forward positions, along the Lebanese coast, to positions near the Lebanese-Syrian border.
• UN RESOLUTION 1559: A BLOW TO SYRIAN 'BULLYING' AND 'MEDDLING' US Dept. of State IIP, Foreign Media Reaction 14 Sep 2004
• ISRAEL / SYRIA VOA 14 Sep 2004 -- Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon says he rebuffed a U.S. effort last year to restart peace talks with Syria. He made the surprise revelation during an interview published today in a leading Israeli newspaper.
• U.S. Asks Syria for "Concrete Actions" Towards Regional Peace Washington File 13 Sep 2004 -- The time has come for Syria to take "concrete actions" to demonstrate its commitment to regional security, according to Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern affairs William Burns.
• Middle East: Tensions Build Between Syria, Israel As U.S. Pressures Damascus RFE/RL 08 Sep 2004 -- Tensions appear to be rising between Israel and Syria. Last week, the Israeli leadership threatened to retaliate against Palestinian targets in Syria following a suicide bombing in Israel. At the same time, Damascus is coming under heightened pressure from both the United Nations Security Council and the United States to withdraw some 17,000 troops from Lebanon and cease the Syrian "occupation" of its neighbor. Washington also seeks an end to Syrian support for Palestinian militants and greater efforts to prevent anti-American guerrillas from entering Iraq. Analysts expect pressure on Damascus to continue to build, with possible Israeli strikes in Syria, as the Bush administration seeks to carry through on its plans to reshape the political landscape of the Middle East.
• U.N. Resolution Presses for End to Syrian Interference in Lebanon Washington File 03 Sep 2004 -- U.S./French resolution supports free and fair elections in Lebanon
• U.N. Security Council Calls for Respect of Lebanese Sovereignty Washington File 03 Sep 2004 -- The U.N. Security Council adopted Resolution 1559 calling for Lebanese sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity and political independence to be respected.
• Syria Accused of Imposing Its Political Will on Lebanon Washington File 03 Sep 2004 -- U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Danforth said Syria has imposed its political will on Lebanon and is forcing the Lebanese government to amend its constitution and cancel elections.
• US / LEBANON / SYRIA VOA 03 Sep 2004 -- The United States says the Lebanese parliament's decision Friday to extend the term of pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud made a "crude mockery of democratic principles." The action came despite U.N. Security Council approval late Thursday of a resolution, backed by the United States and France, upholding Lebanese sovereignty.
• UN/Syria Lebanon VOA 02 Sep 2004 -- The U.N. Security Council has approved a veiled warning to Syria not to interfere in Lebaon's presidential election. The measure received the minimum nine votes needed for passage, with six countries abstaining.
• SYRIA / LEBANON VOA 02 Sep 2004 -- The Lebanese parliament is set to vote Friday on a constitutional amendment to allow President Emile Lahoud to stay in power for another three years, as is being demanded by Syria. But the U.N. Security Council is to vote (has voted) on a resolution demanding Lebanon's sovereignty be respected by Syria, which has dominated Lebanon politics since intervening during Lebanon's civil war in 1976.

  August

• U.S.-SYRIA-LEBANON VOA 30 Aug 2004 -- Officials say the United States may seek a U.N. Security Council resolution insisting that Lebanon be allowed to decide its political future without Syrian interference. Syria is behind a move to extend the term in office of Lebanese President Emile Lahoud.
• U.S.-Iraq-Lebanon VOA 28 Aug 2004 -- U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage is welcoming Friday's end of the three-week occupation of the Imam Ali Shrine in Najaf by Shiite militiamen as a great victory for Iraq's interim government. In an interview, he also criticized Syria's role in Lebanon.
• U.S.-Lebanon-Syria VOA 25 Aug 2004 -- The United States said Wednesday Syria and other outside powers should stay out of Lebanese presidential politics. The comments came amid reports that Lebanese President Emile Lahoud, a close ally of Syria, may seek a second six-year term if parliament amends the constitution to allow him to do so.

  July

  June

  May

• SYRIA SANCTIONS: 'COUNTER-FIRE TO DIVERT ATTENTION' FROM IRAQ US Dept. of State IIP, Foreign Media Reaction 17 May 2004
• Treasury Dept. Accuses Syrian Banks of Money Laundering Washington File 12 May 2004 -- The Treasury Department designated the Commercial Bank of Syria and its subsidiary, the Syrian Lebanese Commercial Bank, as financial institutions of "primary money laundering concern."
• SYRIA / SANCTIONS VOA 12 May 2004 -- Syrian officials Wednesday dismissed new U-S sanctions imposed on Damascus for allegedly supporting terrorism, and accused Washington of poisoning relations with the Arab world.
• Fact Sheet: Sanctions on Syria: Implementing the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003 The White House, Office of the Press Secretary via US Dept. of State 11 May 2004
• Sanctions on Syria: Executive Order Blocking Property of Certain Persons and Prohibiting the Export of Certain Goods to Syria Released by the White House, Office of the Press Secretary via US Dept. of State 11 May 2004 -- "I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, hereby determine that the actions of the Government of Syria in supporting terrorism, continuing its occupation of Lebanon, pursuing weapons of mass destruction and missile programs, and undermining United States and international efforts with respect to the stabilization and reconstruction of Iraq constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States and hereby declare a national emergency to deal with that threat."
• BUSH SYRIA SANCTIONS VOA 11 May 2004 -- President Bush has imposed economic sanctions on Syria.

  April

• CONGRESS/SYRIA VOA 28 Apr 2004 -- U-S lawmakers are urging President Bush to impose sanctions on Syria, four months after he signed a bill allowing such penalties against Damascus for supporting terrorism.
• SYRIA / TERRORISTS VOA 28 Apr 2004 -- Syrian television says officials are investigating whether members of the terrorist group al-Qaida were behind Tuesday's shootout with Syrian security forces in Damascus that left four people dead. Some Syrian analysts believe the attack was intended to send a message to the west, while others say no one in Syria should be surprised by Tuesday's incident.
• SYRIA/CLASH VOA 27 Apr 2004 -- Explosions erupted in the Syrian capital of Damascus, and a shootout between security forces and masked assailants late Tuesday has resulted in at least four deaths.
• U-S / SYRIA / IRAQ VOA 16 Apr 2004 -- The State Department says the United States has again urged Syria to tighten its border with Iraq to prevent insurgents bent on attacking U-S-led coalition forces from crossing into that country. U-S officials say Syria has taken some steps in that direction, but could do more.
• SYRIA/KURDS VOA 13 Apr 2004 -- A human-rights group in Syria says more than one-thousand Kurds have been arrested by Syrian authorities in recent weeks.

  March

• KURDS PROTEST VOA 21 Mar 2004 -- Protesters marched through the streets of Washington today, condemning the Syrian government for its treatment of ethnic Kurds. The demonstration came after a week of violence between Kurds and Syrian security forces left dozens of people dead. Protesters denounced Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and called for an end to Kurdish oppression in the Middle East.
• SYRIA/KURDS VOA 21 Mar 2004 -- A Kurdish official says more Kurdish prisoners have been released in Syria, after a week of clashes between Kurds and Syrian security forces left dozens dead. Kurds in Syria have declared a national day of mourning on what is traditionally a festive celebration of the Kurdish New Year.
• SYRIA/KURDS VOA 17 Mar 2004 -- At least 12 Kurds have been killed in northern Syria, in the latest in a series of clashes with police that began last Friday.
• State Dept. Protests Syria's Detention of U.S. Diplomat Washington File 10 Mar 2004 -- Following is the official answer to a question taken at the March 9 regular State Department briefing; the answer was posted later in the day
• SYRIA/U-S VOA 10 Mar 2004 -- A U-S official says the Bush administration will soon implement provisions of the Syria Accountability Act. The law was passed by Congress to provide sanctions in response to what the measure says is Syria's refusal to give up weapons of mass destruction and end support for terrorist groups. Assistant Secretary of State William Burns made the announcement at a hearing on Capitol Hill
• U-S / SYRIA PROTEST VOA 08 Mar 2004 -- The United States has filed a vigorous protest with Syria over the brief detention of a U-S diplomat who was monitoring a demonstration by human rights activists in Damascus. U-S officials say about 25 Syrians were also arrested in the rare public protest in the Syrian capital.
• SYRIA/ARRESTS VOA 08 Mar 2004 -- Syrian security officials have arrested a group of some 30 protesters who were demonstrating against the country's oppressive emergency laws. The protest marred the 41st anniversary celebrations of the Ba'ath party's rise to power in Syria.

  February

• Iran, Syria set to structure military cooperation IRNA 27 Feb 2004 -- Iran and Syria here Thursday night stressed the importance to organize defense and military relations.
• NUCLEAR FREE MIDDLE EAST VOA 02 Feb 2004 -- Faced with the possibility of United Nations sanctions, in late 2003 Iran agreed to suspend its uranium enrichment program and allow nuclear inspections. A few weeks later, Libya renounced its W-M-D aspirations and began to provide information to U-S, British and U-N officials about its suppliers. Arms control specialists say the outlook for a nuclear-free Middle East is much better than it was one year ago. But as V-O-A's Serena Parker reports, complicating matters is a double-standard in the region: Israel's possession of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons.

  January

• Powell Says No Hard Evidence Iraqi WMD Hidden in Syria Washington File 21 Jan 2004 -- Secretary of State Colin Powell says there is "no hard evidence" to suggest that Iraqi stocks of weapons of mass destruction were hidden in neighboring Syria before the U.S. and coalition forces attacked last year.
• Powell Urges Syria to Follow Libya in Ending WMD, Support for Terror Washington File 16 Jan 2004 -- Secretary of State Colin Powell has appealed to Syria to follow Libya's example of eliminating programs of weapons of mass destruction and ending support for terrorism as steps to rejoin the international community.
• Syria/Turkey: Common Interests In Iraq Help Rebuild Bilateral Ties RFE/RL 08 Jan 2004 -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad concluded a three-day visit to Turkey today that contributed to a growing rapprochement between the two countries.
• TURKEY / SYRIA VOA 06 Jan 2004 -- Syrian President Bashar Assad is in Turkey for a landmark official visit aimed at improving ties between the once hostile neighbors. Mr. Assad is the first Syrian head of state to visit Turkey.