Deputy Premier : Economic Blockade on Syrian People Unjust

DAMASCUS, (ST) – Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection,  Dr. Qadri Jamil, underlined that the unjust economic blockade imposed on the Syrian people is one of the main reasons for the high prices of goods and food in addition to the lack of bank transfers and high transport fares, pointing out that the government has taken several measures to alleviate the impact of the crisis on citizens.

During the seminar, which was organized by the National Council of Media on Sunday at Dar al -Baath about “Economic Policy at Times of War and the Role of Media”, Dr. Jamil pointed out that the solution to the economic crisis in Syria from now on requires “the development of the government statement and mapping clear economic policies instead of urgent actions.”

He explained that the government is making great efforts with friendly countries to prevent outside interference in the internal affairs of Syria and let the Syrian people solve its internal problems by himself, pointing out that we are at a critical stage requiring exceptional measures based on “government and an economy of war.”

“The government and after the approval of the draft law Supply and pricing is currently working on the passage of the administrative pricing law during a maximum period of two weeks which would be 80 percent of the goods and commodities priced in all regions and governorates pointing to the need to support and strengthen the tools to intervene positively to cope with such crises,” Dr. Jamil clarified.

He explained that the government, since it was formed, had been involved in crisis management, where its statement did not include strategic economic policies, but “urgent action towards citizens’ basic issues” such as bread, flour and fuel in light of the unjust economic blockade imposed on the Syrian people.

“There is no radical solution to the economic crisis without a political comprehensive solution,” he added.

He stressed the need to “hit the web of corruption with an iron fist and fight the corrupts” because they steal the bit of the citizen under these difficult circumstances and preparing a suitable ground for terrorists in addition to raising the slogan of “justice in the deprivation of all citizens” at all levels and to mobilize all the resources of the state and its energies towards supporting the army.

 For the high exchange rate of the dollar against the Syrian pound, Dr. Jamil thinks that the dollar exchange rate will fall to its lowest level if the government could ensure all basic materials for citizens and intervene in all outlets calling to “maintain a cash reserve of foreign exchange until the state can finance imports and sell to citizens at the subsidized price”.

Dr. Jamil called on to assist the economic national media to take its role in the eradication of corruption and the fight against corrupt with the participation of all living forces of society, especially the fight against corruption is part of the grand national battle in Syria.

For his part, Head of the National Media Council, Dr. Mohammed Razzouk, pointed out that Syria is facing the fiercest and toughest war in its history, especially that this war in its own economic side is trying to demolish the Syrian state and its construction so that it becomes y unable to carry out its duties towards its citizens.

Sharif al -Khatib