Syria’s Assad Swears in Gov’t: Security, Reconstruction Top Priorities

Local Editor

Syria's President Bashar Assad swore in his new government on Sunday, saying security and reconstruction would be top priorities and urging ministers to tackle corruption.

Assad urged the new government to "provide a new vision" and to avoid the "negatives of the previous stage,"
state news agency SANA reported.

He said the government's success would depend on "earning the trust of citizens through transparency and credibility," SANA said.

He acknowledged that security remained the primary concern for the country, which has been faced with violence after the 2011 protests  turned into battles against extremist militants from Arab and foreign nations in Syria.

"This issue is being addressed by the defense ministry and the army... At the same time, it is important to continue with national reconciliation."

Meanwhile, the new government includes 11 new ministers, with most of the changes involving finance and the economy.

Assad selected the new cabinet after being elected in the country's first multi-candidate presidential vote earlier this year in 2014.

Moreover, Assad said on Sunday that the country's key economic challenge was reconstruction in areas "where security has been restored" but also urged ministers to combat price-fixing and profiteering as well as corruption.

The government "must be decisive in the fight against corruption and hold the corrupt accountable," SANA quoted him as saying.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team