India–Syria relations
India |
Syria |
---|
Bilateral relations between the India and Syria are historic where the two have ancient civilisational ties. Both countries were on the Silk Road through which civilisational exchanges took place for centuries. India has an embassy in Damascus.[1] Syria has an embassy in New Delhi. Both countries are members of Non-Aligned Movement.[2] Syria supports the Indian stance on the Kashmir conflict, while India supports the Syrian claim to the Golan Heights.[3][4]
History
Ancient
Modern
Both countries established diplomatic relations in May 1950.
On 14 July 1957, Indian first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru visited Damascus on his way to the United States. During the visit, a main street (where Umayyad Square is currently located) was named in his honour in order to "immortalise Syrian-Indian relations."[7]
A common nationalism and secular orientation, membership of NAM and similar perceptions on many issues further strengthened a bond between the two states. India supported "Syria’s legitimate right to regain the occupied Golan Heights." In turn, this was reciprocated with Syrian recognition that Kashmir is a bilateral issue as well as general support of India's concerns and even candidature at various international forums.[8]
The Indian Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting,
Syrian Deputy PM & Foreign Minister
Developing relations
This section needs to be updated.(June 2018) |
Beyond commercial ties, India and Syria also have professional exchanges. In addition to a large Syrian student population in India, each year five scholarships under the CEP programme are offered to Syrian students for pursuing higher studies in India, as well as 14 scholarships to Syrian scholars under the General Cultural Scholarship Scheme (GCSS). Syria also offers five scholarships to Indian students for studying Arabic language and literature.[8][needs update] The two countries have also signed agreements[when?] to cooperate in scientific and technical education.[9][needs update]
In 2007, Assad called on India to take a more active role in the
Commerce
This section needs to be updated.(February 2019) |
In 2017, The Indian Foreign Ministry described the two countries' economic relations as having "bright prospects and harbour great potential."[14]
Trade data | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Exports | Imports | |||
1995-96 | US$30 million | US$8.29 million | |||
1996-97 | US$48 million | US$21 million | |||
1997-98 | US$53 million | US$7.3 million | |||
1998-99 | US$60.76 million | US$17.89 million | |||
1999-00 | US$65.67 million | US$11.82 million | |||
2000-01 | US$72.91 million | US$6.5 million | |||
2001-02 | US$95.94 million | US$7.23 million | |||
2002-03 | US$122.02 million | US$8.9 million |
Before the
In the first decade of the 21st century, India and Syria also announced areas of mutual benefit to focus more attention on: rock phosphates and fertilisers, cement, the power sector, information technology, education and agro-industries were such areas.
Cultural relations
The first Christian presence in India was that of the
Bilateral visits
Bilateral visits[14] | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Title | Name | Nationality | Year | Reason | |
President | Shukri al-Quwatli | Syrian | 17 January 1957 | State visit | |
Prime Minister | Jawaharlal Nehru | Indian | 14 July 1957 | State visit | |
Prime Minister | Jawaharlal Nehru | Indian | 1960 | State visit | |
President | Hafez al-Assad | Syrian | 1978 & 1983 | State visit | |
Vice-President | Zuhair Masharqa | Syrian | 1991[20] | ||
Foreign Minister | Farouk al-Sharaa | Syrian | 1998[20] | ||
Law Minister | Arun Jaitley | Indian | January 2000[20] | ||
Human Resources Development Minister | Murali Manohar Joshi[20]
|
Indian | June 2000 | Funeral of Hafez al-Assad | |
Deputy Prime Minister | Khalid Raad | Syrian | July 2000[20] | ||
Deputy Prime Minister & Foreign Minister | Farouk al-Sharaa | Syrian | August 2002[20] | ||
Prime Minister | Atal Bihari Vajpayee | Indian | November 2003[20] | State visit | |
Deputy Foreign Minister | Farukh Taha | Syrian | April 2006[20] | ||
Industry Minister | Fuad Issa al-Jouni | Syrian | January 2007 | CII Business Partnership Summit, Bengaluru
| |
Minister of Petroleum | Murli Deora | Indian | April 2007 | With Public Sector Undertakings in the oil and gas sector on an exploratory bilateral visit (also first visit by a Cabinet Minister of an Indian economic ministry).0
| |
Foreign Minister | Walid Muallem | Syrian | August 2007 | State visit | |
Deputy Prime Minister | Abdullah Dardari | Syrian | January 2008 | Ministerial and business delegation, including Ministers of Electricity, Higher Education and Planning to attend the 1st session of the Syria-India Joint Commission and the CII Partnership Summit, | |
President | Bashar al-Assad | Syrian | June 2008 | State visit[21] | |
Deputy Foreign Minister | Ahmed Arnous | Syrian | February 2010 | Accompanied by the General Manager of the Syrian Investment Agency, Ahmad Abdul Aziz, visited Delhi to attend the 2nd Indo-Arab Investment Project Conclave[20] | |
Commerce and Industry Minister | Anand Sharma | Indian | June 2010 | Co-Chair the 2nd Session of the India-Syria Joint Commission[20] | |
Deputy Foreign Minister | Faisal Mekdad | Syrian | July/August 2011 | State visit | |
Political and Media adviser to Presidency | Bouthaina Shaaban | Syrian | March 2013 | State visit | |
Joint Secretary | Sandeep Kumar | Indian | December 2013 | Work visit | |
Joint Secretary | Sandeep Kumar | Indian | February 2015 | Work visit | |
Deputy PM & Foreign Minister | Walid Muallem | Syrian | 11-14 January 2016 | State visit | |
Minister of State for External Affairs | M. J. Akbar | Indian | August 2016 | State visit | |
Secretary (CPV & OIA) | Ausaf Sayeed | Indian | October 2022 | Scholarships for Study in India programme | |
Foreign Minister | Faisal Mekdad | Syrian | 17-22 November 2022[22] | State visit | |
Joint Secretary | Sridharan Madhusudhanan | Indian | 13 April 2023 | State visit | |
Minister of State for External Affairs | V. Muraleedharan | Indian | 12-14 July 2023 | State visit[citation needed] |
Consular exchanges
VP Haran, the Joint Secretary at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, was appointed as the Ambassador of India to the Syrian Arab Republic on 10 September 2008.[23] Mr. Vijay Pandey, the Second Secretary at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, was appointed as the Chargé d'affaires of India to the Syrian Arab Republic on 18 April 2023. On 15 November 2023, Dr. Irshad Ahmed was appointed as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of India to the Syrian Arab Republic.[24]
See also
References
- ^ "Embassy of India, Damascus, Syria". Ministry of External Affairs of India. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
- ^ "NAM Members & Observers". Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
- ^ "Syria on Kashmir issue: India has the right to solve it in any manner". India Today. 25 August 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
- ^ "India's president supports Syria's claim on Golan Heights". 27 November 2010.
- ^ India News Bulletin. Embassy of India. 1950. p. 6. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
- ^ "India - Middle East". Retrieved 17 April 2017.
- ^ "Fw-Magazine.com". Retrieved 17 April 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f "Syria". Archived from the original on 2005-07-18. Retrieved 2009-07-01.
- ^ MENAFN. "Business & Financial - International News, Currencies & Economic Indicators". Retrieved 17 April 2017.
- ^ "Syria backs bigger role for India in Middle East peace - News - Webindia123.com". webindia123. 15 August 2007. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
- ^ "India, Syria should intensify ties: Patil". The Indian. 18 June 2008. Archived from the original on 1 July 2017. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
- ^ JPOST.COM STAFF (2010-11-27). "India's president supports Syria's claim on Golan Heights". THE JERUSALEM POST. Retrieved March 9, 2011.
- ^ Haaretz Service (27 November 2010). "Indian president backs Syria's claim on the Golan Heights". HAARETZ. Retrieved March 9, 2011.
- ^ a b "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-13. Retrieved 2016-09-09.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Indo-Syria Economic and Commercial Relations". Archived from the original on 2009-01-09. Retrieved 2009-07-01.
- ^ India, Syria identify areas of mutual interest. - PTI - The Press Trust of India Ltd.
- ^ "India for expanding industrial relations with Syria - Express India". Archived from the original on 6 September 2009. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
- ^ "India, Syria sign oil exploration pact". Retrieved 17 April 2017.
- ^ "India, Syria bilateral relations: stepping on the gas". 25 June 2008. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "India–Syria relations".
- ^ رويترز, دمشق، باريس-أ ف ب،. "الرئيس السوري يزور الهند الثلثاء لبحث التعاون الاقتصادي". صحيفة الوسط البحرينية.
- ^ "Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad arrives on maiden India visit".
- ^ "14176". Archived from the original on 2009-04-10. Retrieved 2009-07-01.
- ^ "President al-Assad accepts credentials of new Ambassador of India to Syria". Syrian Arab News Agency. 15 November 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
Further reading
- The Saga of Relationship between India and Syria, biharprabha.com, September 2013.
- "Locating Syria in India's Diplomacy toward West Asia". Middle East Institute. 30 March 2017. Retrieved 18 February 2019.