On new changes in Syria

The London-based al-Sharq al-Awsat said on Tuesday that Syrian circles speak about the possibility of assigning a Syrian diplomatic figure to the post of the foreign ministry in succession to the foreign minister Farouk al-Shara who is expected to be appointed as vice President after Bashar al-Assad will assume the post of the President.

This comes amid expectations of having a ministerial reshuffle in Syria after Bashar's assumes power.

Meantime, the Syrian minister of the information Adnan Omran told the paper that he expects a reshuffle in the Syrian government led by the Prime Minister Muhammad Mustafa Miro after the taking oath ceremony of the new President. Minister Omran said this matter is to be decided by the elected president who might keep the government as it is, make changes or reform a new government.

The minister explained when a new president for the country is elected or a general referendum is made to renew his rule, the government is considered as resigned and it has to take the constitutional oath before the elected President who will then enact a decree to form a new government.

The paper commented that while Syrian officials abstained from talking into details about the possible amendment, rumored news in Damascus say that the reshuffle will target several ministers.

Concerning criticism which usually occupies Arab referendum to choose a President at a rate of 99% of people's backing, minister Omran the misunderstanding taken place here in not making a distinction between the rates the citizens who cast their votes and the total numbers of voters at the age of voting. He explained that in Syria there are almost 9.5 million citizens at the age of voting and it might happen that only 90% of those who are eligible will vote while the others abstain from voting and here in this case they are almost one million.

The minister highlighted the role of the media in focusing on those who abstain from voting for many reasons, which means there is a certain segment of people who showed their reservation on choosing Bashar al-Assad as President. This segment he added should be given the utmost interest and should not be alienated while announcing that the majority said " yes," because the homeland " is for all its citizens," the minister said.