Messages of peace, love and appreciation to
our President from the Syrian-Aus Students of NUSS and the
Syrian-Aus Community
Syria's rich cultural and traditional
heritage
Miscellaneous
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.
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.
