Syria: (Al-Jumhuriyya ai-‘Arabiyya ai-Suriyya)

The Iraqi invasion of Kuwait on 2 August 1990 marked a watershed for Syria, as it did for other Arab countries. In foreign relations, Syria endeavored to strengthen its position in the inter-Arab arena, mainly in response to the growing threat posed by Iraq. With the mounting wave of criticism, the Syrian regime was forced to display at least a facade of greater democratization and liberalization in all areas. The elections to the People’s Assembly, held on 22 May, were the focus of the seeming democratization process in Syria. Syria was almost completely isolated in the inter-Arab arena for several years prior to 1990. Friendship with the Soviet Union had been the cornerstone of Syria’s foreign policy for years. Relations between Syria and the US had been undergoing a slow and gradual process of improvement since 1987, which continued and accelerated during the first part of 1990.