9th party regional congress discuss political, economic, organization reports
Syria, Politics, 6/20/2000

For the third running days, the 9th regional congress of the ruling Baath Party in Syria on Monday continued discussions of its submitted political, economic and organizational reports.

Chaired by Vice President Abdul Halim Khaddam, the political committee was attended by the assistant secretary general of the Baath Party Abdullah al-Ahmar. Khaddam answered all questions made by the conferees relating to the political report during the two past days. He stressed the need for freedom of expression with a high sense of responsibility in all walks of life.

Khaddam said that the Baath Arab socialist party leads the state and the society. It is the national project for the masses of the Arab nation. The new party regional leadership which will be elected will have numerous tasks, first and foremost looking for means to strengthen the party bases and consolidate its leading role because " we are in need of change and modernization and we need to cope with developments taking place in today's world."

Khaddam added, the establishment of the National Progressive Front was a great achievement of the Correctionist Movement ( in 1970), led by the late President Hafez al-Assad. Khaddam continued that this front should be strengthened by drawing a comprehensive economic program that ensures balance among the various social strata of the society, strengthens the role of the private and public sectors, encourages investment and improves banking services.

As for the current Arab conditions, Vice President Khaddam expressed concern about the state of Arab affairs, noting Syria's support for Arab solidarity and its efforts to improve inter-Arab relations.

On the ME peace process, Khaddam stressed Syria's unwavering position towards achieving a just and comprehensive peace, if Israel responds to the Syrian principles set by the late President Hafez al-Assad. He explained that these principles are the realization of a just and comprehensive peace based on international legitimacy resolutions, the land for peace formula and Israel's withdrawal to June 4, 1967 border lines.

Concerning relations between religion and nationalism, Khaddam said that Islam is a religion and a heritage. It is part of our political and cultural life. It is a creed for Muslims and a culture and heritage for non-Muslims in the context of the national unity.

However, inter-discussions made by members of the organizational committee chaired by Faez al-Nasser stressed the 9th congress is a new breakthrough towards continuing " correction" of the Baath party march of struggle led by Lt. Gen. Bashar al-Assad.

They stressed the need to preserve the Baath party organizational structure as a backbone for the party, through preserving the great achievements realized on all levels and building the country under the leadership of Bashar al-Assad.

Meanwhile, members of the economic committee chaired by Prime Minister Muhammad Mustafa Miro, called for strategies for economic reforms, from which other strategies emerge, according to various industrial, agricultural, education, tourism and tax-developing sectors.

They also called for sub-strategies to deal with reforming the law, modernizing economic legislation and creating a proper atmosphere to attract investment.

The conferees confirmed the need for tackling the problems of the public sector, since this sector is the leading one in the country's development process especially industry.

They also called for encouraging the private sector to increase its competitive capability, developing the government bodies, eliminating administrative corruption, adopting administrative transparency principle, applying the principle of collective and institutional management in the decision-making and applying information technology in its practical and up-to-date form.

Members of the committee viewed Syria's joining the free-trade zone and the partnership agreements necessitate bringing about a change in economic infrastructures, increasing export capacity and committing to global standards of high quality.

They stressed the need of giving attention to land reclamation, adopt modern irrigation methods, reconsider a number of agricultural laws and working out a pricing policy for farm products.

A number of proposals were made on education, environment pollution especially in industrial areas.

The conferees emphatically pinned hopes and aspirations on the new leadership of Lt. Gen. Bashar al-Assad.

On Monday's evening session, the organizational subcommittee of the Baath Arab Socialist party approved the recommendations of the organizational report and presentations submitted by members of the committee on subjects included in the report.

Chaired by the prime minister Muhammad Mustafa Miro, the economic committee held a session and approved the recommendations of the economic report and the presentations made by the committee's members on it.

Previous Stories:
  Bashar al-Assad confers with Kuwaiti FM, Fe-Arab delegation   (6/19/2000)
  Syria's foreign minister discusses developments with Lebanese, Iranian counterparts   (6/19/2000)
  The 9th Baath party regional congress   (6/19/2000)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search