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It is hard in a few minutes to describe the country called by archaeologists and historians "the cradle of civilizations". As the Syrian poet Nizar Quabbani has said:
"I cannot describe Damascus without the scent of jasmine wrapping around my finders.
And I cannot pronounce its name without my mouth being filled by the juice of apricots, pomegranates, mulberries and quinces.
And I cannot remember it without a thousand doves landed on the walls of my memories and a thousand more beginning their flight"
Till nowadays I haven't got the slightest idea how to describe Syria -
the country of contrasts combined in great harmony,
of inspiring transparent-blue shores, fertile land, mountains covered with carpets of greenery, showered with olive trees;
land, carrying the hot sand of the desert and the thousand castles of collapsed civilizations.
Hence, understand if I miss a significant event, or one of the thousands of facts connecting this country with the development and progress of humanity till modern days.
I decided to start my speech with the words of the French archaeologist and director of the Louvre, Andre Parrot,
who without any hesitation stated that "every person has two homelands - his own and Syria".
These are the words that continue, not only to inspire me with their strength and veracity, but make me feel like a genuine citizen of the world and heir of more than one great civilization.
When Mark Twain visited Damascus in 1860
he was baffled
saying that the city "measures time not by days, months and years, but by the empires she has seen rise and prosper and crumble to ruin."
And how could it be any different when Syria is the country witnessing the empires of Sumerians, Assyrians, Phoenicians, Babylonians, Persians, Macedonians, Romans, Byzantines, Ottomans and Arabs.
The land, through which have passed the caravans from Mecca to Damascus and the silk road from China through Palmyra and Aleppo.
And isn't it on one of these journeys when Prophet Muhammad refused to enter the city saying that "a person should enter paradise only once"
and the great traveller ibn Batuta, left with no words used those of his Moroccan predecessor ibn Jubair,
who described the city as "decorated with flowers and sweet, fragrant herbs. Surrounded with gardens as the moon is surrounded by its radiance."
Not in vain has Syria enchanted the minds of ancient travellers and modern explorers.
But, could one expect anything else from the country that has given the world the oldest alphabet ever, or the first musical notes known to humanity.
The place from which saint Paul started preaching Christianity across Europe
and in towns such as Maaloula one can still hear Aramaic, the language of Jesus.
How can one describe Syria. The homeland of queen Zenobia -
the only warrior woman that dared to stand against the might of ancient Rome,
as well as the homeland of four Roman emperors.
Syria is also the country that has witnessed the epic battles
between Alexander the Great and Darius 3,
between Khaled ibn al-Waleed and emperor Augustus,
between Richard the Lion Heart and Salah ad-Deen.
Therefore, we should not be surprised when the admiration towards Syria has led to memorable gestures, with no precedent in human history.
"To kiss the soil of the homeland is like kissing your mother's hand".
These are the words of the most memorable pope in the contemporary history of Rome - John Paul 2,
who during his visit in 2001 in Damascus, not only fell on his knees and kissed the Syrian soil,
but became the first pope in history to visit a mosque.
Yes - the same mosque of the Omayyads, where Christians and Muslims shared the prayer hall for years.
An evidence of the high morality, open mindedness and hospitality of the Syrian people lies not only in the glorious past.
Ugarit, Apamea, Palmyra, the Roman dead cities, the citadels of Aleppo, Basra, Masyaf, Jabar, Al-Markab
are not only names of the glorious past, but symbols
that keep the national identity of the contemporary Syrians,
but also stand as a heritage that has left an amazing imprint on the population of modern Syria.
Therefore, history continues to witness the love and hospitality of the Syrian people
who opened the borders of their homeland to welcome millions of refugees from Palestine and Iraq.
It is that openness and sociability that have given cities like Aleppo the title of "culinary capital of the Middle East",
combining Armenian, Circassian, Greek, Jewish, Kurdish and Turkish cuisine.
It is that openness that is celebrated on a yearly basis with the Silk festival,
gathering artists, musicians and dancers from all the countries through which the ancient road of the silk has passed.
Therefore, I am sure that history will appreciate the Syrian people with their cultural, religious and linguistic heritage,
without doubting the will and power of such a nation to forge their destiny, without external interference and influence.
And continue asking - "How can once describe Syria"
But every time I come to the conclusion that words don't suffice.
As Gibran Khalil Gibran has said -
"all our words are but crumbs that fall down from the feast of the mind."
Hence, Syria cannot be described...
she can only be felt...