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Syria and Brazil - Mutual History Paves Way to the Future

Global Arab Network - - Maha Karim

Tuesday, 22 June 2010 00:10

Syria (Damascus) – The social and cultural aspects of Syrian-Brazilian relations date back to the last two decades of the 18th century and the early decades of the 19th century, during the reign of Emperor Pedro II of Brazil.

In 1876, Emperor Pedro II toured the capitals and cities of the Middle East, visiting Syria, Lebanon and Palestine and invited their people to travel to Brazil to work and live there.

According to historic sources, the first Syrian expatriates arrived in northern and eastern Brazil during the end of the 18th century. At the onset of World War I, these expatriates encouraged their relatives to travel to Brazil and helped them get into trade and commerce. The arrival of Syrians to Brazil increased prior to World War II.

Syrians in Brazil worked diligently in the field of free commerce, establishing private social and sports establishments to strengthen the bonds between them and form a refuge to their cultural and intellectual wealth.

They also built hospitals and nursing homes and maintained good relations with the European expatriates and the locals, which motivated them to enter the industrial field, all while their children advanced in the fields of science, engineering, medicine, law and eventually politics, which helped them occupy prestigious positions.

Syrian and Lebanese expatriates in Brazil formed a unique cultural unity that set them apart from other communities, which caused Brazilians to use the term "SيrioLibanês" to refer to Arab expatriates in general. This term has become known across Brazil and in all Latin American countries.

Sources estimate that the Syrian community in Brazil amounts to around 4 million ranging from expatriates to Brazilians of Syrian descent. This community's dedication to work and the complexity of economic life in Brazil caused them to lose touch with events in their home country and their mother tongue as well, limiting their cultural heritage to music, expatriate literature and cuisine.

At the dawn of the new millennium, the Syrian Ministry of Expatriates adopted a methodical policy for revitalizing the latent cultural heritage of the Syrian community.

Syrian-Brazilian relations entered a new stage after the Brazilian Workers' Party assumed office in 2003, the historic visit of President Luiz Inلcio Lula da Silva to Syria and his meeting with President Bashar al-Assad, and the ensuing Brazilian initiative to host the first Arab-South American Countries Summit in May 2005.

These developments helped boost bilateral relations, with the two sides exchanging visits, leading to increased political coordination between them, particularly regarding Middle East issues, the peace process, and Israel's obstinacy and constant aggression against the Palestinian people.

This level of coordination is evident in the statements of the Brazilian Foreign Ministry and its affirmation of Syria's pivotal role in the Middle East peace process and its right to restore its occupied land, in addition to Brazil's condemnation of the aggressions on Gaza Strip and the construction of Israeli settlements.

Syria always comes first during President Lula da Silva's visits to Arab countries due to the special attention given by Brazil to the Syrian role in the region, particularly in the efforts to change unipolar international policies and the global and regional financial crises.

The Syrian community's strong presence in Brazil's legislative bodies resulted in forming the Syrian-Brazilian Parliamentary Friendship Association, which will be officially announced during President al-Assad's visit to Brazil.

Ten percent of the members of the National Congress of Brazil (which consists of the Federal Senate and the Chamber of Deputies) are of Syrian or Lebanese descent, including President of the Chamber of Deputies Michel Temer who is of Lebanese origin, and Senate member Romeu Tuma who is of Syrian descent.

Other notable Brazilians of Syrian origin include Minister of National Security Gen. Jorge Armando Felix, and Joao Jorge Saad, owner of Rede Bandeirantes which is the third largest mass media network in Brazil, in addition to several ministers, directors and judges.

Despite the best efforts, economic and commercial relations remain below goals and aspirations, with Brazilian exports to Syria amounting to USD 303 million in 2009, while Syrian export to Brazil in the same year amounted to only USD 4.1 million.

It is expected that President al-Assad's visit to Brazil will help revitalize commercial relations.

The two countries also signed a cooperation agreement to provide Syria with Brazilian expertise in the field of sports. (SANA)

Global Arab Network

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