For years, Syrian policy, and Syrian importance, was based on its rejection of various American diplomactic schemes.

But there are dangerous contradictions in Syrian policy.

Syrian policy, in the end, will rise and fall on the whims of one man, President Assad, diplomats contend.

His Syrian policy would be continued by his successor Tancrède Auguste.

Since independence in 1946, ties have remained strong but relations are sometimes strained because of differences over the Syrian policy in Lebanon.

No shift in Syrian foreign policy was expected.

Syrian policy is to vaguely accept the Lebanese claim, while refusing any binding demarcation until Israeli forces withdraw from the area.

But when she sat with others, she continued, one volunteered to repeat official Syrian policy for her microphone.

But recently Syrian policy has seemed to ease.

He was also a senior figure in the March 14 Alliance, a Lebanese parliamentary coalition critical of Syrian policies.