Assad Urges Decentralization Through Practice and Actual Participation

By Staff, Agencies

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met on Wednesday members of the Higher Council of Local Administration, stressing the importance of the council as the local administration, with all its bodies, as the direct link between the citizen and the state.

Assad underscored that the council is the most capable body to give facts on the ground and connect them together in a way that enables the government to take right decisions according to priorities required by the needs of citizens.

The Syrian president said that decentralization which will be discussed by the meeting of the council is “important and necessary”, considering that decentralization should start through practice and actual participation, before beginning by law, through the role played by governors and the provincial councils in moving society and inspiring it to participate in setting perceptions for the problems and crises.

He then added that role sets off from the continued communication with citizens transparently and directly, giving them information and clarifying facts to them in a way that makes them capable of taking part in finding possible solutions that suit available potentials.

The President went on to say that decentralization should start through differentiation between the role of the governor and the role of the Municipality Chief and the clear specification of the capacities and tasks.

Assad also pointed out to the importance of studying laws that govern the work of local administration bodies and putting strict regulations to curb corruption and combat infringements, including those which largely affect the urban construction system.

He also stressed that medium and micro-enterprises play key role in establishing a genuine economy, particularly in light of the blockage and war conditions.