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<td colspan="2" align="left" valign="top" width="144"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'; color: purple; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: #0364ab; font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #808080;"><strong>General Facts</strong></span> <span style="color: #000000;">|</span> </span><a href="Template1.aspx?MenuID=123"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: #0364ab; font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">Geography</span></span></a></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #0364ab;"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 10pt;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">|</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="Template1.aspx?MenuID=125"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: #0364ab; font-size: xx-small;">Culture</span></span></a><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #0364ab;"><span style="color: black;"> | </span><span style="color: #810081;"><a href="Template1.aspx?MenuID=124"><span style="color: #0364ab;">Syrian Food</span></a></span><span style="color: black;"> <span style="color: #000000;">|</span> </span></span></span><a href="Template1.aspx?MenuID=126"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'; color: #810081; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: #0364ab; font-size: xx-small;">Shopping</span></span></a></span></span></span></span></td>
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<td align="left" valign="top"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Country name:</span></strong></td>
<td align="left" valign="top"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Syrian Arab Republic</span></td>
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<td align="left" valign="top"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Capital city:</span></strong></td>
<td align="left" valign="top"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Damascus</span></td>
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<td align="left" valign="top"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Government Type:</span></strong></td>
<td align="left" valign="top"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Republic</span></td>
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<td align="left" valign="top"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Borders:</span></strong></td>
<td align="left" valign="top"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">West: Lebanon &amp; Mediterranean Sea - North: Turkey - East: Iraq - South: Jordan </span></td>
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<td align="left" valign="top"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Geographical area:</span></strong></td>
<td align="left" valign="top"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">185.180 km2 (71.500sq. miles)</span></td>
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<td align="left" valign="top"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Highest point:</span></strong></td>
<td align="left" valign="top"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">2,814 m; 9,232 ft (Mount Hermon)</span></td>
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<td align="left" valign="top"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">National Airport:</span></strong></td>
<td align="left" valign="top"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Damascus International Airport - Aleppo: Aleppo International airport -Lattakia: Martyr Bassel Al-Asad Airport </span></td>
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<td align="left" valign="top"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Population:</span></strong></td>
<td align="left" valign="top"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">18.866 millions (2002 census)</span></td>
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<td align="left" valign="top"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Independence Day:</span></strong></td>
<td align="left" valign="top"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">17 April</span></td>
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<td align="left" valign="top"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Language:</span></strong></td>
<td align="left" valign="top"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">The official language is Arabic</span></td>
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<td align="left" valign="top"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Religion:</span></strong></td>
<td align="left" valign="top"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Islam and Christianity are the main religions. </span></td>
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<td align="left" valign="top"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Time Zone:</span></strong></td>
<td align="left" valign="top"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">GMT + 2 (winter: November to February)<br />GMT + 3 (summer: March to October)</span></td>
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<td align="left" valign="top"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Banks &amp; Currency:</span></strong></td>
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<p><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Currency Unit: Syrian Pound</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">1 U.S. Dollar = 51 SYP<br />Notes: 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000 SYP<br />Coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, 25 SYP</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">SYP are used widely throughout the country. Restaurants and stores often quote their prices in Syrian Pound. US dollars and Euro are used at the hotels. </span></p>
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<td align="left" valign="top"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Climate:</span></strong></td>
<td align="left" valign="top"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Continental in most of the country with four distinct seasons. Average temperature 37c. in summer, 10c. in winter and 22c. in spring and autumn.</span></td>
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<td align="left" valign="top"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Holidays:</span></strong></td>
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<p><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Friday and Saturday are the official weekend.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"> <br /><br />Although all banks, government offices, and schools are closed on holidays, it is often possible to find shops and restaurants open for business. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /><br />Holidays with Fixed Dates: (New Year's Day – January Mother’s Day – March 21, Evacuation Day – April 17, Labour Day – May 6, October Libratory War – October 6, Christmas – December 25, Eid Al Adha – Eid EL Fiter, al-Maulid an-Nabawī, Hijri New Year’s Day </span></p>
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<td align="left" valign="top"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Transportation:</span></strong></td>
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<p><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Damascus has frequent bus connections to other cities in Syria. Buses for all destinations in Syria leave from Pullman Station.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /><br /><em>By land:</em> Syria is connected by highways with Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Turkey.<br /><em>By Sea:</em> Through the two seaports of Lattakia and Tartous on the Mediterranean.<br /><em>By Air:</em> Damascus, the main gateway to Syria, Aleppo and Lattakia are connected with all continents by the national carrier (Syrian air) and major international airlines.</span></p>
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<td align="left" valign="top"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Business Hours: </span></strong></td>
<td align="left" valign="top"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Shops are generally open from Saturday to Thursday, 10:00-21:00 with 2 hours lunch break <br /><br />Banking hours are from Sunday to Thursday, 08:30-17:00 <br /><br />Government Offices and Organizational institutions are open from Sunday to Thursday, 09:00-15:00</span></td>
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<td align="left" valign="top"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Communications:</span></strong></td>
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<p><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><em>Telephones:</em> While the telephone system in Syria is well-developed, there are few public pay phones, and international phone calls are expensive. Most Syrian use mobile phones, and coverage extends throughout the country. <br /><br />The country code for Damascus 011, Nabk 012, Deir Ateya 012, Zabadani 013, Bloudan 013, Al-Qunaytra 014, Dar'a 015, Sweida 016, Aleppo 021, Raqqa 022, Jisr Shogour 023, Idleb 023, Homs 031, Palmyra 031, Hama 033, Latakia 041, Kurdahah 041, Jableh 041, Slenfeh 041, Kasab 041, Tartus 043, Banyas 043, Safita 043, Draykish 043, Mashta Helu 043, Deir-ez-zor 051, Hasakeh 052, Raselein 052, Malkieh 052, Kamishli 053.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /><br /><em>Internet:</em> There are Internet cafés available throughout Damascus, and many larger hotels now offer high-speed and wireless Internet access for free or for a small fee</span></p>
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<td align="left" valign="top"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Electricity:</span></strong></td>
<td align="left" valign="top"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Electric current is 220 Volts, 50 A.C.</span></td>
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<td align="left" valign="top"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Tipping: </span></strong></td>
<td align="left" valign="top"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">You usually tip porters, waiters, hotel staff, guides, doormen, etc. The average rate in restaurants is 10-12%, (depending on service and quality provided).</span></td>
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<td align="left" valign="top"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Clothing: </span></strong></td>
<td align="left" valign="top"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Generally there are no particular cultural rules for this matter in Syria. In general; Men can wear baggy long or short sleeved shirts. Women must wear modest clothing which includes long skirt or Pants that reach past the knees are also suitable… To visit religious places, modest clothing is required. Women need headscarves when visiting mosques, usually provided there.</span></td>
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<td align="left" valign="top"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Health &amp; Safety: </span></strong></td>
<td align="left" valign="top"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">No mandatory vaccinations are required for entry into Syria. The medical services in Syria are well developed. </span></td>
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