Political situation 2. Most of the country is flat, but has mountains towards the border of Lebanon . The east is desert, the western coast has a mediterranean climate. Syria can get very cold in the winter, and snow in the mountains is normal. Summer can get very hot.
Syrian economy is relatively weak, but there has recently been many initiatives to open it up.
Syria has during the recent years become more open towards Western powers, and there has been ease on internal opposition. Still, Syria is a country with heavy state control on all sectors of life. Syrian foreign politics involve initiatives to get the Golan Heights back. Antakya region is not subject for any active politics.