Syrian Ambassador Visits CQ University
Published on 17 October, 2009

CQ University hosted the Syrian Ambassador to Australia and New Zealand, His Excellency Mr. Tammam Sulaiman, who addressed a forum on education as the main tool for peace in the Middle East.
The Ambassador introduced his presentation by informing his audience of some of Syria's historical connections with the West, particularly in the area of religion and faith. He pointed out that, in his country one's religion is not the most dominant social factor. Arabs, Muslims, Jews and Christians live amicably together in Syria, where Aramaic, the language of Jesus Christ, is still spoken and taught in small enclaves.

His Excellency Tammam Sulaiman, Syrian Ambassador to Australia & New Zealand

A major problem, according to the Ambassador, is what he describes as "extensive misunderstanding" of what is happening in the region, principally occupation of the Syrian Golan, about which the worldwide public, and particularly Australians know little. "We believe that education is very important [for this issue particularly] because it will assist establishment of real mutual acceptance amongst peoples of the region."

Ambassador Sulaiman indicated that the path to settlement of the dispute should be unitary for both sides under the current UN convention. "Syria, for its part accepts Israel's right to exist, but we also want Israel to accept the Arab right to exist and to return that land to its rightful owner."

On educational relations with Australian Universities, His Excellency said, "Currently we have relations with various Australian Universities, but we want CQ University to be included in the picture." The Ambassador met with the University's Chancellor and Vice Chancellor and identified many potential collaborations, particularly in areas such as water, aquaculture and agricultural research.

"Universities in (Syria) would greatly benefit from exchanges with CQUniversity at all levels. The Ambassador said an invitation would be extended for CQUniversity staff to visit Syria, and its centres of higher learning, to better appreciate his nation's approach to education.

"In Syria [education] is a portfolio the government is focusing very much on," Ambassador Sulaiman concluded.

Retrieved from; http://www.uninews.cqu.edu.au/UniNews/currentEdition.do

Ambassador of the Syrian Arab Republic to Australia and New Zealand

His Excellency Mr. Tammam Sulaiman

His Excellency Mr. Tammam Sulaiman has been the Ambassador of the Syrian Arab Republic to Australia since February 2005. He was also the Chargé d’Affaires of the Syrian Embassy in Canberra (Nov 2005-Feb 2005). Before that, he was Counselor in the Office Director for the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Syria. His Excellency has anticipated in Foreign Ministry Delegations to the Arab Summit conferences of Amman 2001, Beirut 2002 and Sharm Al-Sheikh 2003, and periodical Arab foreign ministries meetings; Durban conferences of the Non-Aligned Movement Summit and Anti-Discrimination in 2001, Euro-Mediterranean meeting in Crete 2003 and the Tenth Summit of the Organization of Islamic Conference in Kuala Lumpur in 2003.
Mr. Sulaiman was Second Secretary of the Permanent Mission of the Syrian Arab Republic to the United Nations in New York. He has participated in the United Nations General Assembly 49th – 55th sessions (1994-2000), Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty Review Conference in New York 2000. Prior to that he has worked with the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) and the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) in the Syrian Golan.

Source; Centre for Muslim States and Societies, UWA.

Several Public Appearances;

Press Conference - for Arab Ambassadors in New Zealand - PDF Format
Source: Article: The Scoop Team
6 December 2006

ABC News Radio - PDF Format
By: Marius Benson

Middle East - New Zealand and the Arab Israeli Conflict - PDF Format

Public Lecture - Finding Peace in the Middle East: Syrian Views
Source; UWA- Centre for Muslim States and Societies
21 August 2006

Public Lecture - A Syrian view on current Middle Eastern conflict
Source; University of Queensland; UQ News Online
28 August 2006

Public Lecture - The Quest for Peace in the Middle East – A Syrian Perspective
Source: The University of Queensland - The Australian Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies
30th August 2006

Syrian Viewpoint - Arab Summit - Syria
Syrian viewpoint of the results of the Arab Summit
Source; SBS Arabic Radio

Community - Syrian Ambassador Visits our Community
Source; Armenian Catholic Church
18 June 2005

"Triumphal Arch Palmyra (Tudmur)" at the Green Cockington Gardens in Canberra -Australia