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6/15/2005 - When the Press Gathers in Damascus by Andrew J. Tabler

ICWA LETTERS Since Institute Current World Affairs Crane Rogers Foundation provided fellowships enable outstanding young professionals outside United States write about international areas issues An exempt operating foundation endowed Charles R Crane Institute supported contributions minded individuals foundations TRUSTEES Bryn Barnard Joseph Battat Mary Lynne Bird Steven Butler Sharon F Doorasamy Peter Geithner Gary Hartshorn Katherine Roth Kono Cheng Li Peter Bird Martin David Z Robinson Carol Rose John Spencer Edmund Sutton HONORARY TRUSTEES David Elliot David Hapgood Pat M Holt Edwin S Munger Richard H Nolte Albert Ravenholt Phillips Talbot Institute Current World Affairs The Crane Rogers Foundation Four West Wheelock Street Hanover New Hampshire 03755 U S A AJT MIDDLE EAST Andrew Tabler Institute Fellow based Damascus Beirut studying Lebanese affairs Syrian reform When Press Gathers Damascus By Andrew Tabler JUNE DAMASCUS Syria As mobile phone began ringing repeatedly June I awoke realization finally opening Party Conference Syrian Ba Party regional command We waiting around outside Ministry Information badges Hugh Macleod assistant editor Syria Today monthly English language magazine I founded Syrian colleague There sched knows access conference center It chaos I hardly surprised In I purposely ignored Ministry Information instructions arrive front Dar Ba ministry build before boarding buses conference It laziness rather based experience covering official Syrian events About month before example I attended official visit Turkish Preside Ahmet Sezer Syria Arriving instructed I waited Syria press corps hours Information Ministry officials When finally arrived simply would Presi dential palace arrival ceremony No schedule available We would unable leave palace until talks The hours spent sitting getting fabulous punctuated brief press conference leaders permitted questions The June message would characterize attempts understand Ba Party Conference decisions potential authoritarian party reform itself under increasing foreign pressure Ahead conference opening expectations In lowing former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri assassination Beirut Syrian President Bashar Assad responded Lebanese accusations Syria involvement murder speech before Syrian parliament It Assad second speech before first being inaugural address July encouraged Syrians respect opinion other These words understood Syrians political opening causing discussion groups debate country President When I first arrived Syria early Syrians nothing short phoric regime apparent sudden change course authoritar Bashar father Hafez Ba Party which under Hafez become Syria dominant political party When discussion groups began suggesting changes constitution debated sectarian nature Syrian leadership these groups swiftly closed early Only group Jamal Atassi allowed remain The Dam ascus Spring called As outside pressures mounted United States Europe Arab World Damascus remove forces Lebanon reform domestically Syria hoped opening Once again Syrians looked their president guidance Af denying Lebanese accusations Syria involvement Hariri murder Assad finished speech saying government actively preparing June Ba Party conference A later spoke significant forward resulting conference Expectations immediately raised Dam ascus abuzz rumors April changes ahead One rumor political system would opened allow independent political parties Law outlawing Muslim Brotherhood pressed Hafez Assad 1980s would pealed Another conference would conclude recommendation party Article Syr constitution which Ba Party leads state should amended repealed Yet another about Kurds without citizenship Syria based census taken would granted rights Some Ba Party would change dissolve itself In May reform hopes faded Reform minded partici pants Party working committees dealing Arab nationalism unity socialism freedom mocracy reorganization party early Party elections meaning would attend Party conference forward their ideas Rumors Ba would dissolve itself dismissed analysts throughout Syrian capital became extremely pessi mistic As seeming harbinger things eight leading members Jamal Atassi discussion group remnant Damascus spring rested May reading press release issued outlawed Muslim Brotherhood An outspoken Kurdish She critical regime handling brewing Kurdish issue Mohammad Maashuq Khaznawi found May deliv family Syria authorities signs torture The interior ministry insists Sheikh captured killed criminal custody On June Samir Qassir Lebanon prominent Syrian journalists killed planted Ashrafiye Beirut Such another reason I failed report Ministry Information morning June Re turning morning workout Unity Club Ba athist sport complex Damascus I received another Hugh There badges after Hugh We sitting busses supposedly going conference media center The ministry people access center Bashar opening speech It pretty scene I Hugh words subsequent phone calls other foreign journalists turned Damascus conference conference proceedings understood Syrian international community It trick regime pulled again Allow journalists country greet kindly ministry information their hotels without about basics notably anything resembling schedule That exactly happened Finishing coffee I began receive telephone calls correspondents freshly arrived country Like Hugh journey conference center attending listening conference opening address President Assad In stead herded media center about kilometers Damascus Exhibition Cen The center chairs three computers hooked ADSL internet nection stand alone printers A number TVs broadcasting Syrian programs blaring No water coffee available All somehow supposed sustain about Arab foreign corre spondents When cameramen would access opening session correspondents poured media center boarded buses Damascus All disillusioned As Arab corre spondent How I write story running conference I nothing about I house short Syria Today offices Damascus Free Zone When I Damascus I normally office check magazine speed internet connection about magazine staff drink strong coffee Upon arrival I greeted Obaida member magazine editorial staff The Ministry Information opening begin Let television there Obaida usual cheerful voice News bulletins Syria satellite channel about upcoming conference raced across screen Listening carefully I discovered opening speech would aired minutes A later Hugh correspondent Los Angeles Times arrived looking haggard The finally We piled meeting readying notebooks record Assad speech As Hugh described appalling inadequacy media center TV commercial local brand cheese suddenly blacked A seconds later video graphic Ba athist Syrian flags appeared plete triumphal music blaring background Coverage smiling waving President Assad strolling stairway Ebla Cham AJT Conference Center As position podium everyone Syria Tod settled their chairs ready perhaps anticipated speech presidency Assad The speech lasted about minutes blink Arab World He began praising Ba Party Syr concerted efforts differ working committees running conference The Ba party mains vanguard force people country Assad Some writings proposals preceded congress caught attention Whether agree these proposi tions whether upbeat proach party whether appreciative critical party Ba Party popular force central Syrian Given reformers tions working committees I immediately assumed Assad opposed radical reform suggestions concerning changing nstitution I moved closer TV making I heard every Perhaps Assad going break course party himself It wasted effort Assad surprisingly began speech critique communications Infor mation Technology revolution This revolution theories projects lifestyles whelmed Arabs threatened their existence cultural identity increased doubts skepticism minds young Arabs The forces behind these events created illusionary virtual reality inspires feelings drives direction identified others This leads cultural political moral collapse Arab individual timate defeat without fight I immediately thought strange these words seemed coming President hailed father Syria IT revolution years The speech worse Assad tinued state mantra economic reform country progressing simply hamstrung personnel problems According Assad there wrong Ba Party ideology viduals rather responsible failings A initiative combat country rampant corruption problems given service President In conclusion President seemed heads those might cooperate United States efforts promote reform region I exercise coura geous responsible manner pointing limitations achievements addressing shortcomings suffer successes enjoy brining honest possible discussions posals about concerns aspirations public bearing every decision every recommendation should expres internal needs regardless consideration which pushing directions which national interests threaten stability Much interesting speech going around Syria Today meeting Hugh LA Times correspondent understand Arabic relied translation services Obaida magazine other editorial assistant Dalia As speech continued struggle emerged between Hugh Obaida spoke leagues about speech content Obaida begun translating speech which Hugh LA Times correspon wrote studiously After moments Obaida stopped attempt simultaneous translation silent switching summaries words following seemed speech sections Obaida translating Hugh asked visibly annoyed This major address President Obaida immediately answer continuing brief summaries At certain point Obaida stopped looked Dalia began translating Af INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS moments Dalia began summarize Hugh annoyed asked Obaida Dalia simultaneously translating speech This Obaida spoke There nothing substance translate Obaida There nothing Assad speech followed speeches parties National Progressive Front NPF loyalist opposition parties formed under umbrella Ba Party As leader delivered speech after speech praising Ba society speculated conference There going I Political limited outside pressures affect ternal reforms individuals problem Ba Party He mention trade See Oba Nothing Around evening I invited group corre spondents dinner Damascus Journalists Club institution sponsored supported Journal Syndicate Ba Party It place cheap beers mezze oriental salads grilled chicken staple course Damascus Sitting around table three correspondents New York Times Economist Christian Science Monitor Associated Press Reuters Ox Business Group After covering conference kinds stories would possible write little information All filed stories outlining Assad speech describing falling short pectations Throwing Barada Beer Syria staple which reminiscent weissbier wheat group shared frustration about derstanding exactly ference about A hours drinks later cided Incidentally eight persons drink whopping Syr Pounds While might understood Ba Party enjoyed subsidies Day TWO I awoke morning June wondering would informed going conference different working committees Isprang tried connect internet about dozen times before finally connected through I visited website Syrian State Information Service SANA during Syria Soviet leaning Cold War years search expect Only English language translation Assad speech available I early morning phone calls Arab journalist friends might information press conferences possible conference access times Not single swered Not I thought I tuned Syria satellite TV station The newscast extensively about president portant historic speech numerous snippets address The newscaster simply various working committee would begin their delibera tions No mention press conferences I turned BBC World hoping going elsewhere world Suddenly I still picture Syrian Vice President Abdel Halim Khaddam under which appeared reading resignation That attention BBC details Khaddam resigned party government affairs After brisk Syria Today offices I greeted Obaida Khaddam resigned I Really Obaida answered There nothing Syrian media about But remember members regional command resign first confer Maybe rumor staying I checked Al Hayat newspaper website tails Damascus correspondent Ibrahim Hamidi reported Kh addam indeed resigned first conference Some people saying yesterday there press conference Obaida Maybe details Bouthaina Shaaban apparently Perhaps other person Bouthaina Shaaban known ternational spokesperson Syrian affairs A former translator President Hafez Assad Shaaban member Syria Alawi Islam Assad group source aides With doctorate Uni versity Exeter complete multiple Fulbright fellowships Shaaban friendly proud manner favorite international journalists around US invasion Iraq March As spokesperson Syrian Min istry Foreign Affairs Shaaban excellent English regime landed telephone interviews CNN BBC other major English language services Followi reported Foreign Minister Farouq Shara Shaaban kicked upstairs President country first Minister Expa triates Charged bringing talented Syrians their homeland Shaaban ministry building Damascus neighborhood Dummar about minute Damascus traffic She travel world since human Syria mated million diaspora community In world Ba Party politics however Shaaban still carries weight member Ba member Central Committee immediately under party ruling Regional Command gional meaning Syria since Ba athist Pan Arab ideology considers Syria region Arab Nation Given experience position surprise Shaaban tapped party official spokeswoman conference I called Public Relations Office Ministry Information clarificati press conference times The assistant Ahed confirmed rumor about times conferences After I I looked Obaida Now I And As morning dragged I combed newspapers search details about Khaddam resignation information conference agenda The three state owned daily newspapers carried cepts presidents speech along spread photos No other information available other names working committees Around I switched TV tuned Syrian satellite channel The transmission quickly reporters greeting Shaaban table She short microphones positioned front nearly eclipsed Speaking Arabic Shaaban outlined points President speech previous She informed audience President ordered proceedings working committees would broadcast national TV stations When Syrian journalist asked which committees would broadcast Shaaban replied It nounced The conference discuss everything impor tance Syrian citizen Shaaban announced voice The slogan conference flexibility steadfastness Foreign journalists attending press conference already largely simulta neous translation services available Those major media relied their fixers local helpers translate questions answers After questions foreign journalist asked translation services could available press conference given number Arabic speakers Today question English I answer English Shaaban In press conference translations services available Shaaban asked about Khaddam ignation indeed permanent Laughing Shaaban replied Well yesterday conference Khaddam spoke When INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS asked speech while person allotted minutes replied because I member regional command Ba Party So I believe still party With strange answer minute press ference What answer about Khaddam We might something I guessed About minutes later Obaida called excited The all4syria service there fight between Khaddam Foreign Minister Shara terday Obaida Sure enough screen front details speech Shaaban spoke Apparently Khaddam declared Syria needs mocracy length about political system confront country problems Shara openly miffed K haddam statements asked VP submit criticisms political committee consideration But After Khaddam speech political committee Journalist Ali Jamalo stood asked Khaddam tough questions You calling democracy Jamalo reportedly You power almost years democracy power You complain about Syria handling Lebanon But established Syria presence Lebanon We market economy Why anything about When democracy young blood demand democracy What years Don bring faults frustrations That afternoon calls continued foreign correspondents wanting about possibility meeting having dinner Most added caveat would either attend monitor press conference So I appointments plans press conference myself In meantime I turned TV which committee proceedings being broadcast None featured Channel One running feature about At Syria satellite TV trans mission cover press conference Shaaban began giving small briefs about working committee The economic committee example discussed tourism projects better patriates about efforts combat corruption Shaaban added making state companies would priva tized recommendations State Planning Commission Shaaban political committee trying formula national participation framework national unity political parties No parties would tolerated based religion ethnicity She added political committee cussed media would change Syria image abroad The private sector would allowed satellite TV radio stations internet services other electronic media Last least Shaaban Ba Party would After making statements Shaaban barded questions about Khaddam resignation basic questions state My words earlier today clear about VP You answers tions On final everything DAYS Looking essentially major event until final press conference June following closing ceremony It I monitored Syria TV around The promised broadcasts committee sessions minute excerpts worth following first press conference canceled On June press conference convened Those conferences featured major announcements other creation Higher Media Council promote media expansion modernization through greater private sector participation And promised simultaneous translation services press conferences never appeared The effect coherent formation coming conference inability foreign respondents produce stories In center Wire services Reuters small stories decision privatize companies But major newspapers New York Times failed cover conference It correspondent missed event After write about something cannot understand Cut Thursday June conference final My mobile rings Ministry Information conference today Obaida referring speculation event might until Saturday The press confer scheduled Finally I thought Now internal debate whether attend conference After hours forthing myself I decided media center I chances press conference would delayed I number journalist friends working services attendance mandatory I asked journalist friend attending event That evening I living reading about recently returned Lebanese leader Michel Aoun I asleep around papers scattered around Around mobile It friend The awaited press conference about finally happen I tuned Bouthaina Shaaban strolled press confer table smiling greeting people By I could message short sweet We ground cover impossible everything Shaaban those attendance So promises everything would crystal clear These recommendations cover domains Shaaban The economic committee deliberations decided Syria would market economy We independent mission combat corruption order attract Arab international investment Women greater decisions indepen judiciary Shaaban statements continued broad vague A parties would issued would based national unity would permit parties based sects religion ethnicity Article constitu which Ba Party leads state touched The emergency place since Ba power installed Assad until milita attache Syria embassy Argentina chairman National Council would reviewed limiting certain issues state security The situation Kurds without citizenship country would reviewed toward granting their rights Concerning party powerful Regional Com position Prime Minister Speaker Parliament would Party Members In dividuals appointed Regional Command This Shaaban would enhance relations between Party government A Higher Media Council would established correct Syria distorted image abroad Last least Shaaban President pleased conference outcome Her statements lasted minutes She enter tained questions reporters which vided vague answers would outlined later And I sighed disgust switched TV INSTITUTE OF C URRENT WORLD AFFAIRS They understood I thought Shaaban slogan flexibility steadfastness correct describe Ba Party Conference The Ba making great forward president seemed indicate Syria withdrawal Lebanon rather simply stretching boundaries Since Article constitution touched whatever political opening permitted along sectarian ethnic religious lines Ba standing principle Syrians first foremost Arabs politically Assad regime power The dreaded emergency which justifies about anything state wants including detaining Syrians without charge reviewed tions remain about national security means today Syria Also define national security still remains leadership Syria media sector continue opened improving country image But formula cultivate properly functioning fourth estate Mak position Prime Minister Speaker Parliament members Re gional Command would surface significant Or guarantee Ba Party state event having pendent Prime Minister something promised years But anyone international community anything about For example correspondent New York Times Hassan Fattah filed story conference recommendations The foreign New York determined conclusions minor piece brief All service ignored event END OF AN ERA This strange behavior regime under intense international pressure always complains sunderstood But perhaps after given current conditions Syria The important outcome conference retirement major political figures emphasized regime ignored Syrian foreign media In conference marks transition period Ba marked struggle between generation President Hafez Assad commonly referred Bashar uncles genera president During transition generation guard often known hindered President Bashar reform efforts largely through loyalist networks formed throughout senior Assad three decades power These included Two presidents Abdul Halim Khaddam Zuher Masharqa Two regional command members Abdullah Ahmar Suleiman Qadah Former parliamentary speaker Abdul Kader Qadora former Defense Minister Mustafa Tlass Their party conference seems strength current President Assad power generation ability carry reform country The aging Foreign Minister Farouq Shara still around however reportedly appointed Vice president In final conclusions conference finally published state dailies after event President appointed reformer State Planning Commission Chief Abduallah Dardari Deputy Prime Minister Economic Affairs A later quietly removed Bahjat Sulieman erful General Security intelligence department While Ba Party conference might event something happening blackness behind scenes Syrian politics Perhaps flexibility steadfastness slogan conference reference President quiet efforts wrestle greater control regime Institute Fellows chosen basis character previous experience promise They young professionals funded spend minimum years carrying designed programs study writing outside United States The Fellows required report their findings experiences field month They write subject formally informally The result unique reporting analysis periodic assessment interna tional events issues Author Tabler Andrew J Title ICWA Letters Middle East North Africa ISSN Imprint Institute Current World Affairs Hanover NH Material Type Serial Language English Frequency Monthly Other Regions East Asia South Asia The Americas Europe Russia Sub Saharan Africa ICWA Letters ISSN published Institute Current World Affairs Inc exempt operating foundation incorporated New York State offices located West Wheelock Street Hanover NH 03755 The letters provided charge members ICWA available libraries professional researchers subscription Phone Fax E Mail valley Web address Executive Director Peter Bird Martin Program Administrator Brent Jacobson Administrative Publications Manager Ellen Kozak Institute Current World Af fairs The Crane Rogers Foundation The Information contained lication reprinted repub lished without express written consent Institute Current World Affairs