Syrian PM: Unjust Economic Sanctions Affected Livelihood of Syrians

Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi on Monday asserted that the government is working to carry out its governmental duties, develop state performance, confront the conspiracy facing Syria, and provide all the needs of the citizens.

Premier al-Halqi, in a speech at the 17th session of the 2nd regular session of the first legislative term of the People’s Assembly, pointed out to the exceptional circumstances in Syria which call for carrying out extra efforts and boosting cooperation and integration.

He said that the government is carrying out its duties despite the current conditions and difficulties, working to find solution and take steps to provide citizens’ needs and carry out essential plans and projects.

Al-Halqi stressed that the unfair economic sanctions against Syria hindered the imports and exports process, while the security situation had a negative impact on agriculture and industry, with these factors raising prices and affecting exchange rates, and subsequently affected the Syrian people’s livelihood directly.

He affirmed that the government supports the Armed Forces and security forces, in addition to caring for the families of martyrs and restoring security and stability across the country.

The Prime Minister said that the acts of terrorism and the sanctions affected all economic, development and services sectors, citing the oil sector which was exposed to unfair sanctions and terrorist attacks that affected production and imports process negatively and led to a crisis in providing diesel and gas.

He said that the government signed contracts with friendly countries to procure diesel fuel, adding that 75% to 80% of the country’s diesel needs are available and that distribution is underway according to a methodical program, despite continuing terrorist attacks on transport vehicles.

Al-Halqi asserted that Syria has a reserve of wheat that can supply the country for 377 days as of Monday, and that recent flour shortages were due to attacks on power stations and distribution networks, which affected mills and bakeries and thus reduced the amount of produced bread, asserting that the flour and bread shortages are over in most areas.

He also added that sugar and rice reserves are stable and that new shipments of flour, sugar and rice are coming soon.

The Prime Minister moved on to the electricity sector, detailing the terrorists’ attacks against Syria’s power grid and reviewed the government’s continuous efforts to counter their effects and maintain electric power.

He also discussed the communication sector which was also targeted by the terrorists, damaging landlines, mobile phone networks and internet services.

Regarding the health sector, al-Halqi said that terrorism also targeted this sector and caused 25 state hospitals out of 124 to be put out of commission, in addition to 111 health centers out of 1921 and 147 hospitals, yet the government continues to provide health services across the country, including the recent inoculation which benefitted over 1.5 million child.

He noted that the pharmaceuticals sector was also affected, with 25 pharmaceutical factories having been targeted by terrorists in Aleppo, Damascus and Homs provinces, yet most types of medicine are still available in the market despite terrorism and sanctions, asserting that rumors of medicine shortages are part of the misleading media campaign against Syria.

The Premier also tackled the effects of the crisis on education and higher education, saying that around 2326 schools were damaged and 2000 of them are out of commission, 1600 of them being used as housing centers for displaced citizens.

He pointed out that the government provided 25,000 job opportunities via the youth employment program.

Al-Halqi said that overall damages to public and private establishments and properties, not counting the ones in Aleppo and Deir Ezzor, are estimated at SYP 855 billions, and that the damages in areas that haven’t been surveyed is estimated at around 2000 billion.

He went on to review the government’s efforts to help the people affected by terrorism and the displaced, providing them with housing, food, clothes, medicine, and support, with estimates showing that 624,000 families gave been affected by the crisis and terrorism.

The Prime Minister said that around 100,000 families returned to their original homes after they were cleared of terrorists and repaired, adding that SYP 2 billion has been allocated to compensate affected families, and that 1.3 billion of it has already been distributed, with SYP 30 billion allocated for compensation.

Al-Halqi also addressed the government’s continuing efforts in administrative reforms and combating corruption, adding that the Justice Ministry is also pursuing judicial reforms and working to develop and reform the judiciary.

He stressed that the challenges and sanctions imposed on the Syrian people didn’t dissuade them from their national stances, affirming that the Syrian economy and solid and cohesive due to its versatility and low debts and that there’s enough foreign currency to provide all the citizens’ basic needs.

The Prime Minister reviewed his tours to Tartous, Lattakia, Homs and Aleppo provinces during the past four months, pointing out that some of the homeland’s enemies believed that Aleppo was out of the national control that the government will not be able to go there.

He stressed that the enemies control just few meters every now and then because of the painful strikes they receive by the Syrian Arab Army.

On the agricultural production requirements for season 2012-2013, Dr. al-Halqi said the government has accomplished 43% of the annual agricultural plan so far, adding that the highest percentage of plan accomplishment has been in al-Raqqa province with 53%.

As for the procedures made by the government to maintain foreign exchange, the Prime Minister said, “There is no fear of depletion of foreign exchange savings” as there is a balance in the Central Bank’s policy.

Concerning the issue of population and development, Dr. al-Halqi stressed that the Syrian Commission for Family Affairs and all ministries concerned are working to find tools to cut down on population growth as the percentage of population growth decreased from 2.8% to 2.4%.

As for the Higher Committee for Relief, the Prime Minister pointed out that Minister of State for Red Crescent Affairs and Minister of Social Affairs and Labor have a lot of numbers and indications, pointing out that humanitarian aid reach not only the affected families in the temporary residential centers which amount to 614 centers with over 146,000 Syrian citizens , but also reach all affected citizens inside and outside these centers.

The Prime Minister said that the government is working to support the national reconciliation project and will respond to any regional or international initiative to solve the current crisis through dialogue, peaceful ways, preventing foreign interference in Syria’s internal affairs and considering what is happening as a Syrian issue that can be solved by the Syrians themselves without any foreign dictations or pressure.

He stressed that Syria is going ahead to the historical moment when it declares its victory against the enemies to rebuild a new international system that boosts the conception of national sovereignty and the principle of international law.

The MPs discussed a variety of issues in relation to the livelihood of citizens, their needs and the services offered to them, indicating that the government draws strength from the citizens’ trust and its ability to cater to their needs.

They also underlined the importance of restoring security and stability to the homeland, hailing the steadfastness of the Syrian Arab army in defending the country against the terrorist groups.

The MPs stressed the significance that ministers and MPs make field visits to the provinces to get in touch with citizens as to be enlightened to their basis needs and demands.

Earlier, the National Reconciliation Committee at the People’s Assembly elected its office chaired by MP Omar Auosi.

The People’s Assembly session was adjourned until February 17th, 2013.