Cabinet discusses bills on real estate transactions and fees

Damascus – The Cabinet discussed and approved in its weekly session on Tuesday a bill on amending some provisions of law no. 41 for 2005 on real estate transactions.

The amendments are based on using the current market value of real estate properties for calculating taxes as well as the price differences for real estate different areas as well as the types of property (residential, commercial, land), all of which aims at achieving justice in taxes, preventing tax evasion, and simplifying procedures, SANA reported.

The cabinet also discussed and approved a bill on real estate fees which includes amendments designed to link real estate fees to the current market value of properties.

 Chairing the session, Prime Minister Wael al-Halaqi directed all ministries to evaluate their performance and production during 2015, and to work to alleviate the burdens that affect the Syrian people, stressing the importance of revising the regulations, legislations, and laws that govern ministries’ work to suit the nature of the current stage and the future.

The Premier also pointed out to the need to monitor prices in markets, calling on the Electricity Ministry to ensure justice in rationing electricity.

In turn, Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign and Expatriates Minister Walid al-Moallem briefed the Cabinet on the results of his recent visit to China which dealt with enhancing bilateral relations in economic, trade, industrial, scientific, and cultural fields, as well as discussing opportunities for establishing joint investment projects and the possibility of Chinese businessmen and companies contributing in reconstruction stage.

Al-Moallem affirmed the Chinese government’ keenness on enhancing cooperation with Syria, noting that the two countries have mutual viewpoints in all political and development issues, particularly in supporting Syria in combating terrorism and in asserting that the political solution in Syria can only be based on the will of Syrians themselves.

For his part, Deputy Prime Minister for Services Affairs, Local Administration Minister Omar Ghalawanji briefed the Cabinet on the state of services in the Syrian provinces, pointing out to the improvement of the water supplies situation in Damascus and the provision of drinking water to the city of Aleppo, as well as the exerted efforts to provide supplies and oil products to Deir Ezzor city.

Health Minister Nizar Yazigi said that the flu cases which are reported in some areas, especially in Aleppo, are ordinary flu cases that are natural a result of the weather change, confirming that there is no epidemics, and in the same context, Premier al-Halaqi said that all rumors about the existence of abnormal flue cases in Aleppo are baseless.