Al-Assad demands the Baath party to discuss reforms views, fighting corruption
Syria, Politics, 6/6/2005

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad demanded participants in the 10th regional Baath congress for discussing all ideas and proposals conducive to reform.

But al-Assad stressed in his speech at the inauguration of works of the congress said that any proposals, decisions or recommendations to be issued should reflect internal needs away from foreign trends or thoughts that violate national interests.

Al-Assad said that development and progress is not just a need for the party rather "a greater national need to which is linked the development of various political works performances." He said that the slogans and thinking of the Baath party "are still a reflection to the hopes and ambitions of the Arab people," stressing the continued basic role played by the party.

The Syrian president said that dramatic regional developments which have been taking place for the past five years imposed what he called the state of vagueness in the vision and the mixing of concepts and conflicts in values and thinking. He added that these developed besieged the Arab citizen with the aim of achieving a fundamental objective. It is the taxation of the Arab identity by what he called those who target the Arab nation who aim at converting the Arab states into a negative bloc, that does not have the will and accepts what is imposed on it blindly.

He said that the economic situation is a priority in the current phase and should take its due right in the discussions. He also stressed the need that government performance should be developed to eliminate violations in performance and promotion of the reform project.

The Syrian president also stressed the need of fighting corruption, noting that corruption constitutes a moral, economic and social problem needs more effective fighting mechanism.

The congress is being held under regional and international conditions that constituted a sort of pressure on the Syrian leadership. The American forces invaded Iraq and toppled the Baath government, and Washington continues its pressures over what it called reform and democracy in the region.

Damascus is facing American accusations of interfering in the Iraqi affairs and of not making enough efforts to control its borders so as to prevent the infiltration of foreign fighters into Iraq. Syria was recently exposed to American and European pressures over its role in Lebanon that ended up in the withdrawal of the Syrian forces after 30 years. However, accusations continue against Damascus of interfering in the Lebanese internal affairs.

During its four- day deliberations, the conference will discuss several topics including reforms, choosing several new leaders.

Press sources expected the party's regional leadership to be left by what are called the old guards, especially the two vice presidents Abdul Halim Khaddam and Muhammad Zuheir Masharqa, the second man in the Baath party Abdullah al-Ahmar and the former defense minister lt. Gen. Mustafa Tlass.

Many expect the Party to lift embargo on opposition parties on the ground they will not be based on religious or ethnical grounds, in addition to decisions for more economic openness and declaring a corruption fighting plan.

Previous Stories:
  Killers of Sheikh Khaznawi admit their crime   (6/4/2005)
  Reforms in Syria: Baath party national congress furnishes for the regional congress in June   (3/29/2005)
  Al-Assad's speech before the People's Assembly   (3/7/2005)
  Petition for reforms collected the signature of 7,000 persons; Damascus: releases the detainees   (3/10/2004)

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