Siret
—  Town  —
Downtown Siret
Coat of arms
Siret Location of Siret
Coordinates: 47°57′11″N 26°4′21″E / 47.95306°N 26.0725°E / 47.95306; 26.0725Coordinates: 47°57′11″N 26°4′21″E / 47.95306°N 26.0725°E / 47.95306; 26.0725
Country	Romania
County	Suceava County
Status	Town
Government
• Mayor	Adrian Popoiu (National Liberal Party)
Area
• Total	43.40 km2 (16.76 sq mi)
Population (2011)
• Total	8,118
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
• Summer (DST)	EEST (UTC+3)
Website	Official site

Siret (Romanian pronunciation: [siˈret]; German: Sereth, Polish: Seret) is a town in Suceava County, Romania. It is situated in the historical region of Bukovina. Siret is one of the oldest towns in, and a former capital of, the former principality of Moldavia. At the 2011 census, Siret had a population of 8,118 inhabitants. The town administers two villages, Mănăstioara and Pădureni.

Geography[link]

The town of Siret is located at the north-eastern limit of Suceava County, 2 km from the border with Ukraine, being one of the main border passing points in the North of the country, having both a road border post and a rail connection.

The rail is on a standard gauge on the Romanian side and continues as a Russian-style broad gauge into Ukraine. Siret (actually a nearby village called Vadul Siret) is one of the few places in Romania which provides a gauge change equipment, allowing transportation without transfer.

Siret is situated at the half distance between Chernivtsi and Suceava, on the right banks of Siret River. The European route E85 crosses the city.

Twin towns – Sister cities[link]

Siret is a member of the Douzelage, a unique town twinning association of 24 towns across the European Union. This active town twinning began in 1991 and there are regular events, such as a produce market from each of the other countries and festivals.^[1][2] Discussions regarding membership are also in hand with three further towns (Agros in Cyprus, Škofja Loka in Slovenia, and Tryavna in Bulgaria).

References[link]

External links[link]

• (Romanian) Local Authority Website from Siret
• (Romanian) Unofficial Siret Website

v t e Suceava County, Romania Cities Suceava (county seat) Câmpulung Moldovenesc Fălticeni Rădăuţi Vatra Dornei Towns Broşteni Cajvana Dolhasca Frasin Gura Humorului Liteni Milişăuţi Salcea Siret Solca Vicovu de Sus Communes Adâncata Arbore Baia Bălăceana Bălcăuţi Berchişeşti Bilca Bogdăneşti Boroaia Bosanci Botoşana Breaza Brodina Buneşti Burla Cacica Calafindeşti Capu Câmpului Cârlibaba Ciocăneşti Ciprian Porumbescu Comăneşti Cornu Luncii Coşna Crucea Dărmăneşti Dolheşti Dorna-Arini Dorna Candrenilor Dorneşti Drăgoieşti Drăguşeni Dumbrăveni Fântâna Mare Fântânele Forăşti Frătăuţii Noi Frătăuţii Vechi Frumosu Fundu Moldovei Gălăneşti Grămeşti Grăniceşti Hănţeşti Hârtop Horodnic de Jos Horodnic de Sus Horodniceni Iacobeni Iaslovăţ Ilişeşti Ipoteşti Izvoarele Sucevei Mălini Mănăstirea Humorului Marginea Mitocu Dragomirnei Moara Moldova-Suliţa Moldoviţa Muşeniţa Ostra Păltinoasa Panaci Pârteştii de Jos Pătrăuţi Poiana Stampei Poieni-Solca Pojorâta Preuteşti Putna Rădăşeni Râşca Sadova Satu Mare Şerbăuţi Siminicea Slatina Straja Stroieşti Stulpicani Suceviţa Şaru Dornei Şcheia Todireşti Udeşti Ulma Vadu Moldovei Valea Moldovei Vama Vatra Moldoviţei Vereşti Vicovu de Jos Voitinel Volovăţ Vultureşti Zamostea Zvoriştea

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Michel Emile Kfoury (born September 15, 1974 in Hawch al Oumara, Zahlé, Lebanon), known by his stage name Wael Kfoury ( وائل كفوري), is a well-known Lebanese singer, musician and songwriter.

Beginnings[link]

After graduation in secondary school, Wael Kfoury enrolled at Université Saint-Esprit de Kaslik and the Conservatoire libanais national supérieur de musique. He had his breakthrough when he took part in Studio El Fan, the popular musical competition programme at the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation, for the 1992-1993 season, and took the gold medal for best male singer.

Career[link]

After winning the Studio El Fan music competition, he had a first successful single in "Ma Wa'adtak bi Njoum el Leyl" ( ما وعدتك بنجوم الليل ), immediately followed by "Meen Habeebi Ana" ( مين حبيبي أنا ), a duo with another Studio El Fan winner Nawal Al Zoghbi.

Wael Kfoury signed with the Music Box music label and released three albums in 1994, 1995 and 1996 with the label, and that year^[specify] was chosen as Best Singer in Lebanon.

He had to suspend his musical career for one year to do his mandatory military service in the Lebanese Army from September 1996 to September 1997. Prior to joining up, he released the popular single "Rayeh 'al Jeysh" ( رايح عالجيش - I am Going to the Army) encouraging other youth to enrol in military service. During that period, he was highly publicised by the Lebanese Army as a role model for Lebanese youth, with frequent musical appearances in the media.^[1] He was also seen performing to other Lebanese conscripts on national occasions including Lebanese Independence Day, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and Lebanese Army Day, and at the end of his service he released a full album of songs recounting his experience in an album entitled 12 Months, the duration of obligatory military service in Lebanon.

Immediately after his release, he took part in the Jerash Festival in Jordan and Nahr el Founoun Festival in Lebanon. in 1998 he signed exclusive broadcasting rights with Arab Radio and Television Network (ART) for his Gulf song "Al Shawq" after a fallout with Simon Asmar, the owner of Studio El Fan. After a highly publicized rift, there was a public reconciliation between the two during the Lebanese Music Festival in August 1999 when Kfoury appeared in the 14th anniversary celebrations of the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation directed by Simon Asmar.

In 2000 Wael Kfoury signed for Rotana Records, a highly successful pan-Arab music label, and largely due to the success of his first album with Rotana called Sa'alouni, won the Murex Lebanese Award for Best Male Singer.

In his following album Shou Ra'yak, and for the first time in his musical career, he took part in writing and composing of some of the songs. The album went platinum in the Arab World. He remains popular throughout the Arab World as well as the Arab diaspora in North America, Europe, Africa and Australia with frequent sold-out tours.

In addition, in 2003, Wael Kfoury released his most successful song ever, "Omri Killo". In the following years, Kfoury released further albums that achieved international success with songs such as "Osset Oshaq", "Bhibbak Ana Ktir", "Bhinn", "Mista'a Ktir", "Tabkil Toyour", "Arrib Layyi", and "Hobbak Azab". His songs are noted for his mawwal style and a romantic element.

Commercial deals[link]

Wael Kfoury signed a publicity campaign deal for PepsiCo's PepsiArabia affiliate^[2][3] as well as a famous brand of Swiss watches.^[specify]

Kfoury was one of the major stars of PepsiCo sponsored "Bahr el Noujoum" (meaning of Sea of Stars)^[4] with a number of other Arab music stars and resulted in a movie with the same name.

In February 2009, he announced cooperation with LG Electronics for a search for future music stars.^[5]

Albums[link]

• 1994: Shafouha w Sarou Y'oulou ( شافوها وصارو يقولوا)
• 1995: Mayyet Fiki ( ميت فيكي)
• 1996: Ba'd el Sentayn ( بعد السنتين)
• 1997: Tna'shar Shaher ( اتنعشر شهر)
• 1998: Shubbak el Houb ( شباك الحب )
• 1999: Hikayat 'Asheq ( حكاية عاشق)
• 2000: Sa'alouni ( سألوني)
• 2001: Shou Ra'yak ( شو رأيك)
• 2003: Oumri Killo ( عمري كلو)
• 2005: Qorb Liyya ( قرب ليى)
• 2006: Bhebak ana ktyr ( بحبك أنا كتير)
• 2007: Byihenn ( بيحنّ)
• 2010: Kfoury Classic

References[link]

External links[link]

• Wael Kfoury Official site
• Wael Kfoury Official Fanclub