Syria

Syria has never participated in UN peacekeeping operations. The main reasons why Syria has not contributed troops is that “the political structure of the Baath government (which has created an authoritarian rule) and its foreign policy is focused on the Golan Heights,” as stated by Information Minister Dr. Mohsen Bilal (SANA News 2006, par. 1 quoting Bilal 2006). These two elements have created an unfavorable environment for UN peace operations. For example, “during the Peace Operations Committee on March 26 (1996), Fayssal Mekdad (Syria) affirmed that peacekeeping operations were not in themselves a solution to crises—they were only a temporary measure in the search for solutions to conflict” (Science Blog 1999, par. 12 quoting Mekdad 1996). Mekdad also stated that “the first United Nations peacekeeping mission had been stationed in the Middle East for more than 50 years” (Ibid.). The current situation in the Middle East (after the US invasion into Iraq) has questioned Syria’s isolation into regional issues, and also questioned Syrian aid to non-official armies fighting in neighboring countries, which does not facilitate the peace process in the region.

Syria has received the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), which was established by Security Council resolution 350 (1974) of May 1974 to maintain the ceasefire between Israel and Syria, to supervise the disengagement of Israeli and Syrian forces, and to supervise the areas of separation and limitation, as provided in the Agreement on Disengagement (UN 2005c, par. 1). The mandate of UNDOF has since been renewed every six months (Ibid.). The current mandate expires on December 2006, in accordance with Security Council resolution 1685 (2006) of June 2006 (Ibid.).

Initial variables of the data collection process:

UN/UN peacekeeping policy reform
No record.

Perception of peacekeeping
During the Peace Operations Committee on March (1996), Fayssal Mekdad (Syria) affirmed that “peacekeeping operations were not in themselves a solution to crises—they they were only a temporary measure in the search for solutions to conflict” (Science Blog 1999, par. 12 quoting Mekdad 1996). Thus Syria has stated in international forums that peace operations are not a full solution to crises.

Domestic political environment
Modern Syria gained its independence from France in 1946 but has lived through periods of political instability driven by the conflicting interests of these various groups (BBC 2006be, par. 1). This has created a non-fertile environment for UN peace operations.

Following the July-August [2006] war in Lebanon between Israel and Hizbullah, a Lebanese guerrilla group, and the subsequent ceasefire agreed in mid-August, Syria’s political outlook looks more uncertain and appears even more intimately connected to developments in Lebanon and the wider Middle East The Syrian regime will continue to attempt to capitalize on Hizbullah’s achievements, and Syria’s support for the group will be further entrenched, including firmer opposition to moves to disarm it. Although threats to the position of the president, Bashar al-Assad, have increased, it is unlikely that they will be of a magnitude that could unseat him over the outlook period, given the strength and ruthlessness of his regime and security services. (EIU 2006cn, 1)

Syria will continue to face intense international pressure to ensure that the supply of weapons from its territory to Hizbullah does not resume, and the regime faces serious consequences from the ongoing UN investigation into the 2005 assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister, Rafiq al-Harir (Ibid.). This has continued and will continue to press Syrian interests in the region. Assad also appears determined to continue to obstruct efforts by the Lebanese government to assert its sovereignty and will continue to try to foment further discord between Lebanon’s already fractious confessional groupings (Ibid.).

Domestic economic environment
In October 2006, Assad signed several decrees approving new legislation on taxation, the exchange rate regime, the budget, the management of the public sector and the proposed stock market, all part of a continuing effort to improve Syria attractiveness for private investors and to move towards a market-based economy (EIU 2006cn, 2).

Military affairs
Syria's armed forces have long played an important role in the country's political scene, leading coups d'état in the past, including the one that brought the then lieutenant-general, Hafez al-Assad, to power in 1970 (EIU 2006aq, 19). Budgetary problems resulted in deterioration of the quality of the armed forces (Ibid.). Nevertheless, this is not an obstacle to be involved in UN peace operations. The IISS states that Syria's total active armed forces are estimated to number 296,000, and the reserves (to age 45) 354,000 (Ibid. quoting IISS 2005). Of the total active armed forces, 200,000 are in the army, 7,600 in the navy and 35,000 in the air force (Ibid.).

Foreign policy
Information Minister Mohsen Bilal said that the Golan issue is a top priority in Syrian policy and strategy (SANA News 2006, par. 1 quoting Bilal 2006). This states why Syria is not involved in UN peacekeeping. In an interview given to Lebanese ANB Satellite Channel, Bilal added that the just-concluded Golan Media Forum, held in the Syrian southern city of Quneitra, aims at getting the world and the Arabs to shoulder their responsibilities regarding this issue, asserting the necessity of supporting Syria's right in restoring the occupied Golan (Ibid.).

He pointed out that the Forum also aims at highlighting Syria's right to restore the occupied Golan as endorsed by the UN 242 and 338 resolutions on the necessity of Israeli withdrawal to the June 4, 1967 line, as well as the Security Council resolution No. 497 for the year 1981 which considered the decision of the Israeli Knesset on annexing the Golan as null and void illegal. Syria considers the Palestinian issue as the Arab central cause, referring to the dangerous repercussions of the setback (Nakba) of 1967 on the Arab countries. He underlined that the Golan issue is of top priority, activity and policy for President Bashar al-Assad. The Minister also condemned the American double-standards policy in dealing with the Palestinian issue and the Middle East peace process, criticized the American strategic, political and military support to Israel, describing the US as non-objective and biased mediator. (SANA News 2006, par. 1-2 quoting Bilal 2006)

Additional variables found after the preliminary analysis:

Climate changes
No record.

Independent negotiations taken by DPKO to seek troops
No record.

Independent negotiations taken by contributor countries to engage non-contributor countries
No record.

Meetings organized by other international organizations to engage in dialogue about peacekeeping
No record.