Al-Assad chairs the first session of Baath regional congress

President Bashar al-Assad underlined importance of discussing the issues presented to the Congress frankly, objectively, courageously and transparently with an active participation of the Congress' members to come up with results that boost the state's role and serve the citizens.

"In the past few years we have achieved a great deal in our economic life and our service sector, which has improved the living conditions of our citizens, although we have fallen short of our ambitions. We have also carried out significant financial and monetary reforms, improved the investment environment and passed the necessary legislation in order to accelerate economic and social development," al-Assad said in his speech before the Party Congress on Monday.

During the first session which was chaired by President al-Assad, Members of the Congress elected Suleiman Qaddah, al-Baath Arab Party Assistant Regional Secretary, as Chairman of the Congress and Waleed al-Bouz as Deputy Chairman.

They also elected Naji Otari as Chairman of the Economic Committee, Farouk al-Shara Chairman of the Political Committee and Ghiath Barakat as Chairman of the Organizational Committee, while Mohammad Said Bkheitan and Majed Shaddoud as Deputy Chairmen of the three Committees.