- Title: SYRIA: Celebrate 64 years of independence
- Date: 20th April 2010
- Summary: SYRIAN MAN TAKING A PHOTO OF MAJDAL SHAMS VILLAGE VARIOUS OF SYRIANS ON THE SYRIAN SIDE VARIOUS OF MAJDAL SHAMS VILLAGE
- Embargoed: 5th May 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
- Reuters ID: LVAE5IM34RFXW42ZB1SJ8B58A9PC
- Story Text: Hundreds of Syrians gathered on the Syrian side of the Golan heights to celebrate the 64th anniversary of Syria's independence from French rule on Saturday (April 17).
People on both sides celebrated the day and greeted each other using loud speakers mounted on both sides.
Syria gained its independence from France in 1946 after 26 years of occupation.
Safwan Kassam, a student and member of the Syrian National and Social Party, said everybody should come together in order to get the occupied territories back.
"The 17th of April is the date of liberation and freedom. We hope that we get back all the territories of the nation," said Kassam.
Syrians living in the occupied part of Golan wished to join with their families after years of separation due of the Israeli occupation.
"Today we came here to see our homeland. We wish we can reach it with our children," said Khadra, a Syrian woman who left her village 43 years ago.
Israel captured the Golan Heights in the 1967 Middle East war and Syria wants it back as a condition to establish peace with Israel.
Israel and Syria held four indirect rounds of peace talks under Turkish mediation in 2008 but they were suspended following the resignation of then Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in September of that year.
During the height of the Israeli offensive on Gaza in 2008, Syria said it ruled out any resumption of talks.
The Syrian government wants an Israeli commitment to withdraw from the whole of the Golan Heights. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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