News in Damascus of nearby resignation of Miro government; focus on reform

Well-informed sources in Damascus said that the government of the prime minister Muhammad Mustafa Miro will submit its resignation in the few coming days. This government was only formed one year before by the late President Hafez al-Assad after March 8, 2000 and took its oath on March 21st.

Miro's government came to succeed the government of Mahmoud al-Zou'bi, the prime minister for the longest in the history of the country who committed suicide just two months after his resignation because of charges of corruption addressed to him.

The government carried big slogans about economic and administrative reforms and fighting of corruption. Its beginning was marked by active and field moves in various areas. However, this project started to slow down after rumors have been surfaced on its non- harmonized performance. Therefore the sources noted, that the coming Cabinet will include at least 10 new names of " Young and pragmatic academics" with concentration on almost full change of the old cadres except the main ministries like the ministries of foreign affairs, oil and the defense. Worthy mentioning Miro government includes 26 new ministers among the 36 ministers of its members.

The Syrian leadership has set a grace period of one year to evaluate the performance of the government, as the late President explained the challenges this cabinet had to withstand in the reforms and development project and to embark on the language of modernity in various areas of progress and to concentrate on transparency and fighting corruption, At that time the government of al-Zou'bi failed to meet these demands.

Well-informed sources did not rule out that Miro will, form the new government. Miro had worked a governor for three Syrian provinces, with Aleppo as the most remarkable from which he came to be the prime minister and later he was promoted in the Baath Party to the membership of the Regional Leadership, the higher political commission in the country.

News reports also noted that a meeting for the Baath Party central committee will be held after the mid of March at a time when sides concerned started to prepare necessary reports to be debated before the committee for discussions. This will be in the course of a program of changes the Syrian leadership has started in several sectors in the country.