10 Syrian Christmas wishes to Obama

Syrians have no illusions that the president-elect is going to be a savior for the Arabs. They hope that he will be more fair and evenhanded when it comes to the Arab-Israeli con_lict, and end the tension that started between Damascus and Washington under the Bush administration. They realize, however, that his election shows just how far America has come in terms of racial equality, and everybody in Damascus - young and old - is impressed. Syrians were especially thrilled when Obama refused to praise the US strike on Syria in October, unlike his Republican opponent Senator John McCain. What the Syrians are expecting seven weeks from now when Obama is sworn in as president is:

1. A willingness to sponsor Syria’s indirect peace talks with Israel, currently on hold in Turkey, for the sake of restoring the occupied Syrian Golan Heights. Syria is determined to regain the occupied Golan Heights, and Obama must help Syria achieve that if he is sincere about change in the region.

2. Lifting of the sanctions imposed on Damascus and abolishment of the Syrian Accountability Act.

3. Appointment of a US ambassador to Syria would be highly welcome. The post has been vacant since Margaret Scooby was withdrawn, when relations plummeted over Lebanon in 2005.

4. Ending the anti-Syrian rhetoric coming out of the White House and State Department since 2003, which would automatically reduce the anti-Syrian sentiment in the US media, would in turn make Syrians more open to dialogue.

5. Recognition of Syria’s cooperation on border security with Iraq.

6. Cooperation with Syria to deal with the 1.5 million Iraqi refugees in Syria is a must, as it would show America taking responsibility for their actions.

7. No problems can be solved in the Middle East without Syria with regard to the Palestinians, Iraqis and Lebanese. Bush launched his famous “roadmap” for peace between Israel and Palestine, but bypassed the Syrians. If another roadmap were to be launched, Syria would have to be included.

8. Help Syria combat Islamic fundamentalism that has been flowing into its territory from north Lebanon and Iraq. The deadly September 27 attack in Damascus - which left nearly 40 Syrians dead and injured - should have been a wake-up call for the Americans that unless cooperation is forthcoming from the US, Syria might become a battleground for extremists, as in the 1980s. Intelligence cooperation and technical assistance with the Americans is needed to curb and combat this Islamic threat.

9. Normalize relations between Syria and America on a people-to-people level, which have been strained since Bush came to power in 2001. This would involve giving Syrians visas to work and study in the US.

10. Most importantly, an apology, compensation, and explanation for the air raid on Syria that left eight Syrian civilians dead in October 2008.

When all this is done, Syria would be willing to open its arms to Barack Obama, receiving him perhaps as a guest of honor in Damascus, the way it did with Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton.