Damascus diary : an inside account of Hafez Al-Assad's peace diplomacy, 1990-2000 / Bouthaina Shaaban.

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Library Journal Review

Hafez al-Assad, Syria's president from 1971 until his death in 2000, was one of the shrewdest Arab leaders in the latter 20th century. Throughout his presidency, he brought a degree of political stability that modern Syria had not experienced since independence (1946). He also made Syria into a pivotal state in its region and an essential cog in the machinery of the Arab-Israeli peace diplomacy. Notwithstanding Syria's importance, there are few reliable books that inform us about the country's foreign-policy decision-making and decision-implementation processes during Assad's presidency. Shaaban's (English, Damascus Univ.) fascinating study goes a long way in filling the gap in our knowledge of Syria's multidimensional diplomacy in the context of Arab-Israeli relations. The author served both as a personal interpreter for President Assad and as an active participant in the various rounds of the Middle East peace process. What makes this book unique are the vignettes by someone who had close connections with and direct participation in some of the most important diplomatic decisions made by Syria during the period 1990-2000. Verdict Anyone interested in gaining a fuller understanding of Syria's position in Arab-Israeli negotiations during the last decade of the 20th century will benefit immensely from this book.- Nader Entessar, Univ. of Southern Alabama, Mobile (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.