By Sami Moubayed
In April 1952, Syria’s Ambassador to Buenos Aeries, Zaki al-Jabi, marched into Casa de Gobierno to decorate the very charismatic and popular Argentinean First Lady Eva Peron with the medal of honour of the Syrian Republic, for her “extraordinary merit” in promoting humanitarian affairs.
Many in Syria back then, questioned the wisdom behind such a move, claiming that Argentina was too distant from complex affairs of the Middle East. President Adib al-Shishakli reportedly replied that this might be the case today, in 1952, but soon, Argentina would undoubtedly play a vital role in the region—if not political then economic—and Syria must always be at the forefront, hunting for potential allies and partners.
His words prove so true today, 58-years later, as President Bashar al-Assad lands in Latin America for a state visit that will take him to Venezuela, Cuba, Brazil, and Argentina.
Syrian-Latin American relations are not new. The late President Hafez al-Assad had been to Cuba back in 1979, where he had met with Fidel Castro, during the heyday of his power in Havana. Nine years ago, Castro himself landed in Damascus to meet with Bashar al-Assad, followed by Hugo Chavez, who came twice to Syria, the last being in September 2009, and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who came to Damascus in December 2003.
The most celebrated hero of Latin America, Ernesto Che Guevara, had himself been to Syria in 1959, praising its role as champion of the Third World against Western imperialism. Additionally during the 1950s, the Syrian press was filled with plenty of admiration for Colonel Juan Peron of Argentina—which explains Syria’s respect for Evita.
In the first phase of the current visit, Assad was warmly received by his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez, who promised to work with the Arab world to fight “America’s imperialist and capitalist interests.” Chavez, who stands out a thorn in the backside of the U.S., presented Assad with a gold-plated replica of a sword that once belonged to Latin America’s independence hero Simon Bolivar, who in turn inspired the Bolivian Revolution.
The two countries decided to boost bilateral trade and create a $100 million fund for development, along with 9 cooperation agreements, in addition to establishing a joint olive oil refinery. For his part, Assad praised his host saying: “There are few politicians who are courageous to speak out when it's necessary. Chavez has projected the image of a resistant Venezuela."
Assad added, "President Chavez and I utterly agree on supporting resistance and the right to resist for all peoples whose rights are violated and lands occupied.” In Brazil, the Syrian delegation is expected to sign technology agreements, in addition to boosting trade, given that Brazil is already involved in supplying sugar to Syria. In Argentina, the trade volume already stands at $158 million and the two countries are expected to sign agreements in tourism, culture, transportation, and prevention of double taxation.
Additionally, Argentinean exports to Syria have increased by 75% over the past two years. The Syrian community in Argentina, an estimated 2 million (13% of the residents of Buenos Aires), is fully backing the surge in bilateral relations.
Politically, one common denominator for all these countries is their vocal support for Syria’s right to restore the occupied Golan Heights. All of them, additionally, are loud supporters of the Palestinians. Chavez severed his countries diplomatic relations with Israel during the Gaza war of 2008 while does not even Cuba does not recognize the State of Israel.
These rising nations—Brazil in particular—have developed a newfound interest in the Middle East, and de Lula famously tried—and failed—to broker a uranium swap deal between Turkey and Iran last month, which was drowned by the US. The Obama Administration is unimpressed with these Latin American countries stepping into its own backyard in the Middle East and last December, Hillary Clinton famously warned these countries not to “flirt with Iran.” She added, “They should take a look at what the consequences might well be for them. And we hope that they will think twice and we will support them if they do.”
Apart from investing in these countries’ desire to venture into the Middle East, supporting causes dear to Syria’s heart, and building bridges with the Syrian émigré community in Latin America, Syria is clearly doing one more thing: keeping all doors to Damascus wide open.
Back in 2005-2009, it realized that the doors to the outside world do not end at the gates of London, Paris, and Washington DC. There is an entire universe out there, filled with heavyweight players willing to step into the oversized shoes of the Western world. At one point, the policy was to head East; to build bridges with Malaysia, China, India, and Russia.
These countries were willing—eager in fact—to engage with Damascus without preset political conditions like the US and EU. Now, although relations have been mended with the UK, US, and France, Syria does not want to put all its eggs in the same basket. It wants the international community to realize—especially the US—that it can have excellent relations with Iran and Saudi Arabia, the US and Cuba, all simultaneously.
Being close to one country—if it supports Syria’s aspirations—does not mean severing ties with another, only because that is a wish of the Obama Administration. This is very true, for example, for Syrian-Cuban relations, which are arousing a stir in Washington where many have asked in recent weeks: “We can understand Venezuela and Brazil; but why Cuba?” The reason, Syria seemed to be saying, is: why severe our relations with Cuba—or not invest in them—so long as Cuba has done nothing to anger us as a people and nation? The same argument, do doubt, applies to Brazil and Venezuela. The US cannot continue to warmly welcome Avigodor Liebermann to Washington DC, and then expect the Syrians not to maintain a historical relationship, for example, with someone like Fidel Castro.
-- Sami Moubayed is editor-in-chief of Forward Magazine in Syria.
