{"id":297,"date":"2006-02-18T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2006-02-18T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2010-10-01T20:26:49","modified_gmt":"2010-10-01T20:26:49","slug":"us-to-aid-syrian-democracy-groups","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ado-world.com\/en\/us-to-aid-syrian-democracy-groups\/","title":{"rendered":"US to aid Syrian democracy groups"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><P>&nbsp;<\/P><br \/>\n<P><br \/>\n<TABLE class=MsoNormalTable style=\"WIDTH: 152.25pt; mso-cellspacing: 0cm; mso-table-lspace: 2.25pt; mso-table-rspace: 2.25pt; mso-table-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-table-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-table-left: right; mso-table-top: middle; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm\" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=203 align=right border=0><br \/>\n<TBODY><br \/>\n<TR style=\"mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes\"><br \/>\n<TD style=\"BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; PADDING-RIGHT: 0cm; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; PADDING-LEFT: 0cm; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; PADDING-TOP: 0cm; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent\"><br \/>\n<P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-element: frame; mso-element-frame-hspace: 2.25pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-left: right; mso-element-top: middle; mso-height-rule: exactly\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana\"><?xml:namespace prefix = v ns = \"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml\" \/><v:shapetype id=_x0000_t75 stroked=\"f\" filled=\"f\" path=\"m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe\" o:preferrelative=\"t\" o:spt=\"75\" coordsize=\"21600,21600\"><v:stroke joinstyle=\"miter\"><\/v:stroke><v:formulas><v:f eqn=\"if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0\"><\/v:f><v:f eqn=\"sum @0 1 0\"><\/v:f><v:f eqn=\"sum 0 0 @1\"><\/v:f><v:f eqn=\"prod @2 1 2\"><\/v:f><v:f eqn=\"prod @3 21600 pixelWidth\"><\/v:f><v:f eqn=\"prod @3 21600 pixelHeight\"><\/v:f><v:f eqn=\"sum @0 0 1\"><\/v:f><v:f eqn=\"prod @6 1 2\"><\/v:f><v:f eqn=\"prod @7 21600 pixelWidth\"><\/v:f><v:f eqn=\"sum @8 21600 0\"><\/v:f><v:f eqn=\"prod @7 21600 pixelHeight\"><\/v:f><v:f eqn=\"sum @10 21600 0\"><\/v:f><\/v:formulas><v:path o:connecttype=\"rect\" gradientshapeok=\"t\" o:extrusionok=\"f\"><\/v:path><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = \"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office\" \/><o:lock aspectratio=\"t\" v:ext=\"edit\"><\/o:lock><\/v:shapetype><IMG height=152 alt=\"Condoleezza Rice\" hspace=0 src=\"http:\/\/newsimg.bbc.co.uk\/media\/images\/41340000\/jpg\/_41340118_rice_story_ap.jpg\" width=203 border=0><o:p><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><br \/>\n<P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-element: frame; mso-element-frame-hspace: 2.25pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-left: right; mso-element-top: middle; mso-height-rule: exactly\"><SPAN lang=EN-GB style=\"FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt; COLOR: #666666; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB\">Ms Rice has also requested funds to back dissidents in <\/SPAN><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = \"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags\" \/><st1:country-region><st1:place><SPAN lang=EN-GB style=\"FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt; COLOR: #666666; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB\">Iran<\/SPAN><\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region><SPAN lang=EN-GB style=\"FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt; COLOR: #666666; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB\"><o:p><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD><\/TR><\/TBODY><\/TABLE><\/P><br \/>\n<P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><B><SPAN lang=EN-GB style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB\">The <\/SPAN><\/B><st1:country-region><st1:place><B><SPAN lang=EN-GB style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB\">US<\/SPAN><\/B><\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region><B><SPAN lang=EN-GB style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB\"> has announced it is to give $5m (?2.87m) in grants to pro-democracy groups in <\/SPAN><\/B><st1:country-region><st1:place><B><SPAN lang=EN-GB style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB\">Syria<\/SPAN><\/B><\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region><B><SPAN lang=EN-GB style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB\">. <\/SPAN><\/B><SPAN lang=EN-GB style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB\"><o:p><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><br \/>\n<P><SPAN lang=EN-GB style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB\"><FONT face=Verdana>The funds are aimed at &#8220;accelerating the work of reformers&#8221;, a State Department statement said. <o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/P><br \/>\n<P><SPAN lang=EN-GB style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB\"><FONT face=Verdana>A website has been set up for groups to apply for the grants &#8211; which will range from $100,000 to $1m. <o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/P><br \/>\n<P><FONT face=Verdana><SPAN lang=EN-GB style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB\">On Wednesday the Bush administration asked Congress for $75m to increase TV and radio broadcasts to <\/SPAN><st1:country-region><st1:place><SPAN lang=EN-GB style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB\">Iran<\/SPAN><\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region><SPAN lang=EN-GB style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB\"> and fund dissident groups there. <o:p><\/o:p><\/SPAN><!-- E SF --><\/FONT><\/P><br \/>\n<P><FONT face=Verdana><SPAN lang=EN-GB style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB\">The move is part of the Middle East Partnership Initiative (Mepi) launched by the <\/SPAN><st1:country-region><st1:place><SPAN lang=EN-GB style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB\">US<\/SPAN><\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region><SPAN lang=EN-GB style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB\"> in 2002 to promote reform in the <\/SPAN><st1:place><SPAN lang=EN-GB style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB\">Middle East<\/SPAN><\/st1:place><SPAN lang=EN-GB style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB\">. <o:p><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/P><br \/>\n<P><FONT face=Verdana><SPAN lang=EN-GB style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB\">Announcing the grants, State Department official Elizabeth Cheney said the <\/SPAN><st1:country-region><st1:place><SPAN lang=EN-GB style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB\">US<\/SPAN><\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region><SPAN lang=EN-GB style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB\"> stood firmly with those &#8220;struggling for their freedom across the <\/SPAN><st1:place><SPAN lang=EN-GB style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB\">Middle East<\/SPAN><\/st1:place><SPAN lang=EN-GB style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB\">&#8220;. <o:p><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/P><br \/>\n<P><FONT face=Verdana><SPAN lang=EN-GB style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB\">&#8220;The people of <\/SPAN><st1:country-region><st1:place><SPAN lang=EN-GB style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB\">Syria<\/SPAN><\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region><SPAN lang=EN-GB style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB\"> deserve the opportunity to build a better future and to live in freedom,&#8221; she said. <\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/P><br \/>\n<P><FONT face=Verdana><SPAN lang=EN-GB style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB\">Ties between Syria and the US are tense. The US has accused Damascus of interfering in neighbouring Lebanon and Iraq. Syria denies the allegations.<\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/P><br \/>\n<P><FONT face=Verdana><SPAN lang=EN-GB style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB\"><STRONG>BBC News<\/STRONG><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/P><br \/>\n<P><FONT face=Verdana><SPAN lang=EN-GB style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB\">&nbsp;<FONT size=1>(Tribunus)<\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/P><SPAN lang=EN-GB style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: FR; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA\"><br \/>\n<P>&nbsp;<\/P><\/SPAN><!-- E IIMA --><!-- S SF --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; Ms Rice has also requested funds to back dissidents in Iran The US has announced it is to give $5m (?2.87m) in grants to pro-democracy groups in Syria. The funds are aimed at &#8220;accelerating the work of reformers&#8221;, a State Department statement said. A website has been set up for groups to apply for &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-297","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","","category-assyrian-news"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ado-world.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/297","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ado-world.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ado-world.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ado-world.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ado-world.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=297"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ado-world.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/297\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ado-world.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=297"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ado-world.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=297"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ado-world.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=297"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}