Al-Halqi Calls for Speedy Implementation of Agreements Signed between Syria and Iran

Prime Minister Dr. Wael al-Halqi called upon Ministers to follow up and implement what has been agreed upon between Syria and Iran, particularly in oil, power, health and financial sectors and goods exchange.

Chairing the Cabinet’s meeting on Tuesday, al-Halqi underlined the strong Syrian-Iranian cooperation, stressing the importance of upgrading bilateral relations in trade and economic fields and overcoming obstacles that hider their expansion.

The Premier appreciated Iran’s standing by Syria in the face of all challenges and its support to the political program to solve the crisis in Syria through dialogue and achieving national reconciliation.

Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign and Expatriates Minister Walid al-Moallem, briefed the Cabinet on the latest political developments and press statements on solving the crisis in Syria through dialogue and the Syrian attitude towards such statements.

The Cabinet also discussed the economic situation in the country and other issues related to electricity, oil and provisional materials.

Minister of Electricity Imad Khamis presented a review on the terrorist attacks against power plants and lines, referring to the Ministry’s efforts to repair damaged plants.

Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Minister of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection Qadri Jamil, reviewed procedures taken by the Ministry to meet the citizens’ needs and the difficulties hindering mechanisms of delivering and distributing them.

In order to deal with flaws in the distribution of fuel in provinces, the Cabinet to decide to scrap the current distribution mechanism and task governors with reforming distribution committees to suit each province’s specific nature and situation.

State Minister for National Reconciliation Affairs Dr. Ali Haidar briefed the Ministers on the results of the dialogue meetings held by the State Ministry during the past week and its upcoming meetings schedule.

The Cabinet passed a number of bills, including a bill exempting taxpayers from the fines and interests for overdue income taxes for 2011 and before it if they pay the taxes by June 30th, 2013, in addition to similar exemptions for overdue consumer spending fees, taxes, and other direct financial fees if they pay their dues by June 30th.

The bill also covers real estate sales taxes and tourist facility taxes.

The Cabinet also approved amendments to some articles in the consumer protection law no. 2 for 2008, in addition to adopting the document of the national program for quality.

The Ministers agreed to take necessary steps to provide all the requirements of pharmaceutical production to guarantee that local factories will continue produce medicine.