The unrest in North Africa has focused the world\u2019s attention on an underlying cause of discontent in the region; that for many ordinary people, life remains so very hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The political events that have unfolded in Tunisia serve as a stark warning to other regimes that providing a good standard of living should be a top priority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Syria, where life for ordinary Syrians is difficult, the patience of the people seems limitless. I have worked hard in London to raise awareness of the harsh political realities that my countrymen endure. My team and I hold regular meetings with Members of Parliaments to discuss issues such as censorship, arbitrary arrest and the suppression of democratic freedoms. In light of recent events, I thought I would turn my attention to look at the quality of living in Syria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m afraid it is not a pleasant picture. High food prices, corruption, a lack of personal freedom and a troubled economy all combine to make life for ordinary people a daily struggle. A rising budget deficit, water shortages, declining oil production and rising unemployment all conspire to create a society that is held back by both a lack of social development at the bottom and a concerted effort from the top to reduce political and economic freedoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
L'Istituto Legatum, un think-tank con sede a Londra che si occupa di prosperit\u00e0 e sviluppo globale, classifica la Siria all'83\u00b0 posto nel mondo per qualit\u00e0 della vita nel suo acclamato Global Prosperity Index. L'Istituto classifica la Siria come:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2013 71\u00b0 al mondo per libert\u00e0 economiche<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2013 79\u00b0 per la buona governance<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2013 92\u00b0 per imprenditoria e opportunit\u00e0, e<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2013 99\u00b0 per la libert\u00e0 personale<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Regionalmente, la Siria si colloca dietro molti altri paesi arabi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
L'Istituto conclude che:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cL'economia della Siria mostra deboli fondamenta per la crescita\u2026. Una scarsa infrastruttura ICT e elevati costi di avvio ostacolano l'imprenditorialit\u00e0 e l'innovazione\u2026. Il governo siriano \u00e8 autoritario e impone severe restrizioni ai diritti politici dei cittadini\u2026. La Siria non consente ai propri cittadini di esercitare la libert\u00e0 di espressione, credo, associazione e autonomia personale.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Transparency International classifica la Siria al 125\u00b0 posto nel mondo nel suo rispettato Indice di percezione della corruzione 2010, che misura la percezione della corruzione nella vita pubblica. Assegna al mio paese d'origine un punteggio di 2,5 su 10, posizionandola dietro paesi come la Mongolia, il Kosovo e la Bolivia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These are huge and vital issues for the Syrian regime to address. The basic needs of the people must be a priority. While we must all choose our words carefully, and would never wish to see the levels of public unrest that Tunisia has endured, it is worth noting that British media commentary of the North African situation is beginning to ask whether there will be a domino effect on other regimes. The flagship current affairs programme, Newsnight, featured such a discussion last week, and Syria and Iran were openly discussed as candidates for popular discontent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I would urge the Syrian regime to do all in its power to ease suffering, promote social development, liberalise its economy and set itself on a path towards democracy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ribal Al-Assad<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Founder & Director, The Organisation for Democracy and Freedom in Syria<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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