Syria Formulates New Comprehensive Security Roadmap

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (SANA)
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (SANA)
TT

Syria Formulates New Comprehensive Security Roadmap

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (SANA)
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (SANA)

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad chaired a meeting for commanders of the security apparatus in the army and the armed forces to formulate a comprehensive security roadmap.
The chief of the National Security Office and the Security Affairs Advisor in the Presidency General Secretariat attended the meeting.
The presidency said in a statement that the meeting focused on the expected impact of restructuring the security sector and fortifying coordination between different security agencies.
It also addressed the development of counter-terrorism tools.
The presidency added that the meeting formulated a comprehensive security roadmap that aligns with strategic visions to address international, regional, and domestic challenges and risks, ensuring a profound impact on the nation's security, citizens, and the armed forces.
Assad emphasized the proactive and preventative roles that security agencies must play in the fight against terrorist organizations.
The meeting also stressed the need to maintain continuous surveillance and tracking of cells attempting to undermine the nation's security and safety.
The meeting comes a few days after unofficial Syrian media reported sudden security changes targeting sensitive security institutions in Syria.
According to unofficial information, Major General Ali Mamlouk was appointed a presidential advisor for security affairs, and Major General Kifah al-Moulhim was appointed head of the National Security Office.
Major General Kamal Hassan was appointed head of the Military Intelligence Division, succeeding Moulhim.
Conflicting reports addressed the transfer of Mamlouk, whether it was a decision to remove or promote him.
Russian "Sputnik" agency reported, quoting a Syrian security source, that the appointment of Moulhim as head of the National Security Office to succeed Mamlouk came after the latter's illness and admission to the hospital.
According to the information, these changes come as part of Damascus's efforts to restructure its security and political forces.
Unofficial sources also indicated that the security services became warring powers during the war.
However, this clashed with Damascus's rapprochement with Arab countries, as it hindered the activation of the Arab initiative and the step-for-step approach to reconstructing the regime with the Arab system.



Syrian Caretaker Government to Hike Public Sector Salaries by 400% Next Month

 Graffiti of the Syrian revolution flag is painted on a mosaic of former Syrian President Hafez al-Assad after the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria January 2, 2025. (Reuters)
Graffiti of the Syrian revolution flag is painted on a mosaic of former Syrian President Hafez al-Assad after the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria January 2, 2025. (Reuters)
TT

Syrian Caretaker Government to Hike Public Sector Salaries by 400% Next Month

 Graffiti of the Syrian revolution flag is painted on a mosaic of former Syrian President Hafez al-Assad after the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria January 2, 2025. (Reuters)
Graffiti of the Syrian revolution flag is painted on a mosaic of former Syrian President Hafez al-Assad after the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria January 2, 2025. (Reuters)

Syria's finance minister said on Sunday the government would hike salaries for many public sector employees by 400% next month after completing an administrative restructuring of ministries to boost efficiency and accountability.

The increase, estimated to cost 1.65 trillion Syrian pounds, or about $127 million at current rates, will be financed by existing state resources plus a combination of regional aid, new investments, and efforts to unfreeze Syrian assets held abroad.

"(This is) the first step towards an emergency solution to the economic reality in the country," Mohammed Abazeed, the finance minister in Syria's caretaker government, told Reuters, adding that this month's wages for public sector staff would be paid out this week.

These measures are part of a broader strategy by Syria's new caretaker government to stabilize the country's economy following 13 years of conflict and sanctions.

Salaries of Syria's public sector employees under toppled President Bashar al-Assad's regime were around $25 a month, putting them below the poverty line, along with the majority of the country's population, Abazeed said.

The hike would follow a comprehensive evaluation of up to 1.3 million registered public sector employees to remove fictitious employees from the payroll and would affect those with sufficient expertise, academic qualifications, and the necessary skills for reconstruction.

Syria's state treasury is facing liquidity challenges emerging from a war. The majority of money available in the central bank is Syrian currency, which has lost much of its value. However, the new government was promised assistance from regional and Arab countries, the minister said.

"The launch of investments in the country in the near future will also benefit the state treasury and allow us to finance this salary increase," he said, adding the central bank currently has sufficient funds to finance the next few months.

The government expects to retrieve up to $400 million in frozen Syrian assets abroad, which could co-finance the initial government expenses.

Syria's caretaker government is also discussing exempting taxpayers, as much as possible, from penalties and interest and working on overhauling the tax system within the next three months to achieve tax justice for all taxpayers, with a first draft expected within four months.

"By the end of this year, we expect having a well-designed tax system that takes the interests of all taxpayers into account," he added.