be known as its “jihad,” and defeat the Soviets. In addition to Russia’s position on the armament of Iran on both the conventional and the nuclear levels, let me also remind you that it was the Russian-made Scud missiles that Gaddafi used against his people in his desperate attempt to survive. Meanwhile, the Russian ambassador and the Russian news agency became the only source of news for the Libyan and Syrian regimes which are both exterminating their people. Sympathy for Russia in comparison with the West goes back to the Socialist-Communist camp in the Arab world at the time when the Soviet Union enjoyed for decades close military, economic, and ties with several repressive regimes in the region like Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and others. Intellectuals and the media were the best way to promote the Socialist ideology during this era and the sympathy we can see now for Russia is a remnant of that time. However, it looks like the old story is about to end soon. (The writer is Head of Media at Al Arabiya. This article was first published in Al Jazira newspaper on Aug. 28, 2011 and was translated from Arabic by Sonia Farid.) Rocking the boat of Syrian religious tolerance Published: 30 August, 2011, 10:04 Edited: 30 August, 2011, 10:04 With more than 4,000 years of history, Damascus, like the rest of Syria, has been home to multiple faiths. But with the recent political unrest, many are starting to wonder whether this delicate balance of religious tolerance may soon be gone. Protests in Syria started out with political slogans. But when violence breaks out, people come to blows over issues of faith, not politics. For now, Huda is enjoying the quiet comfort of her home. Like most Christians in the country, it is a life she has been used to since her childhood. “I was growing up in a place with Christians, Jews, Muslims, and everyone got along just fine. We still do, actually,” she says. But it is not like this everywhere. More than 70 per cent of the Syrian population is Muslim, and just like Christians, most Muslims here belong to different branches of the religion.
residence, are expected to address the ethnic issues during the campaign and Medvedev urged them to be cautious. "We agree with Medvedev that this issue is a real powder keg in our country which has over 100 nationalities and where 28 million Muslims live," said Gennady Semigin, leader of Patriots of Russia party, after the meeting with Medvedev. REFLECT PREFERENCES Steered into the presidency in 2008 by Putin, who faced a constitutional bar on a third straight term, Medvedev has loosened electoral laws, making it slightly easier for other parties to field candidates and win seats. "I would very much like the makeup of the future Duma to reflect the preferences of the broadest circle of our citizens to the maximum extent possible," Medvedev told party leaders. Critics say the changes are cosmetic adjustments designed to appease critics of United Russia while keeping the political system intact. The vote is by party list with no races between individual candidates. The parties are now expected to compile the lists and those parties not represented in the Duma will also have to collect 150,000 signatures. Medvedev's talk of plurality seemed aimed at appealing to Russians who are tired of the primacy of United Russia, which holds a two-thirds Duma majority, large enough to change the constitution, dominating politics nationwide. United Russia's senior official, Duma speaker Boris Gryzlov, said in remarks published on Monday the party's aim is to preserve its constitutional majority. With opinion polls and regional elections showing flagging support for the 'party of power', Putin established a broad 'People's Front' earlier this year in a bid to improve its chances in the parliamentary vote. Putin has hinted he is trying to decide whether to run for a return to the presidency in March or endorse his protege Medvedev for a second term. Analysts say he may not make a decision public until after the parliamentary election. Read more: Election campaign starts in Russia Today at 09:35 | Interfax-Ukraine Moscow, August 30 (Interfax) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's decree addressing the December 4 parliamentary elections in the country was published in the Rossiiskaya