Syria - Modern Syria is situated in Asia along the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea.  Syria is an Arab Middle Eastern County that encompasses a total area of 185,180 sq. km (71,548 sq. mi.).  Syria has a coastline of 180 km (112) miles to the Mediterranean Sea.  Syria shares borders with, Lebanon to the West, Turkey to the North, Iraq to the East, and Jordan to the South.  Syria, also shares borders with Palestine and Israel to the south west.  This border is the main conflict of dispute between Syria and Israel.  This area is known as the Golan Heights.

Syria gained full independence on April 17, 1946 ceding from French Colonialism Rule.  Prior to French Occupation, Syria was part of the Ottoman Empire under Turkish Rule.  Today Modern Day Syria is a vital Arab Republic that stands for Arab and International Legitimacy Law.  Syria is a member of the United Nations, the Arab League, the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and many other International Organizations.

At the national level, the Syrian political body is represented by the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The president is the head of state and is directly elected every seven years. The 1973 Constitution gives the president executive powers to appoint all vice-presidents, the prime minister, and the council of ministers. The president is the commander in chief of the armed forces and the secretary general of the Baath Party.  President Dr. Bashar al-Assad is serving his first seven year term as president.