In video: France Protester chant for Syria President Bashar Al-Assad

The protester was saying: long live Bashar Assad, long live Hafez, long live his entire family. Hope he liberates Syria from terrorism. We the people have nothing to do with sending bombs. We want Syrians to live in Syria in peace

President al-Assad swears in new ministers, affirms that priority is to combat corruption

President Bashar al-Assad on Thursday swore in the newly- appointed Ministers , Lieutenant general Mohammad Khaled al-Rahmoun as  Interior Minister, Mohammad Rami Ridwan Martini as Minister of Tourism, Imad Mwafak al-Azab as Education Minister, Bassam Bashir Ibrahim as Minister of Higher Education, Suheil Mohammad Abdullatif as Minister of Public works and Housing, Eyad Mohammad al-Khatib as Minister of Communications and Technology and Mohammad Ma’an Zein al-Abiden Jazba as Minister of Industry.

Later, the President chaired a meeting for the Cabinet with all members, talking about the priorities of work in the next stage, most importantly, combating corruption.

“We should look at corruption through a comprehensive vision, because it is not limited to using authority to achieve private interests, but, any defect in the state is a corruption, like wasting money, striking institutions and the retreat in the quality of services are faces of corruption that lead to the culture of chaos and frustration, so a lot of people consider corruption and terrorism as two faces for one coin,” President al-Assad said.

The President considered that punishing the corrupt is necessary, but most importantly is deterrence and prevention, affirming that the prevention starts from structure, legislations and laws.

President al-Assad made clear that the biggest part of corruption comes from some gaps in the laws, indicating that the common denominator among the majority of laws is putting exceptional items in them, and that leads to corruption, affirming that all ministries must work immediately to abolish the exceptions in the laws.

“All Ministers should take immediate procedures that achieve tangible outcomes to be touched upon by the citizen,” President al-Assad said, adding that not only the corrupt must be punished, but we should strike the corrupt environment to decrease those corrupt officials in a way to have a more simpler punishment process.

The President went on to say that combating corruption also comes through facilitating and simplifying the dealings and daily measures needed by the citizen that open the door for corruption, pointing out to the importance of expanding the centers that offer services for citizens.

President al-Assad affirmed that the people, with all spectrums, have offered sacrifices and were patient, on top of them, the armed forces, adding that it is the right of all who had offered and were patient to see the results of this patience, they made sacrifices for a precious price-which is the best Homeland-and they have the right to see the best and it is our duty to make them see these results, mainly, combating corruption.

At the conclusion of the meeting, President al-Assad considered that there is a conviction which should be consolidated in any person who assumes a post, which is that the field where he works is the public service, which means he or she should be in the service of the citizen, not the contrary.

Assad Promises to Pardon Political Prisoners, Fighters From Jordan

Syrian President Bashar Assad has agreed to pardon fighters from Jordan if Amman submits a list of persons whose release it wants to negotiate, the head of the Jordanian parliamentary delegation to Damascus, Abdul Karim Doghmi, told Sputnik on Tuesday.

"The talks were very positive… Assad told us, give me the list of detained Jordanians and we will pardon them, including those who rose against the state," Doghmi said.

The Jordanian delegate said relatives of Jordanians who went missing in Syria had been reporting their names to Amman. He added he was convinced that "the majority, if not everyone" would be released soon.

Only the release of political prisoners and suspects held on terror-related charges will be on the table, Doghmi emphasized.

Sputnik

In Pics: President al-Assad participates in religious festival on the occasion of Prophet Mohammad’s birthday

President Bashar al-Assad on Monday participated in a religious festival held by Ministry of Endowments on the occasion of Prophet Mohammad’s birthday at Sa’ad bin Mo’az mosque in Damascus.

The President performed al-Isha’a prayers led by Imam Mohammad al-Bizm, Mufti of Damascus.

Minister of Endowments Mohammad Abul-Sattar al-Sayyed delivered a speech in which he pointed out to the life of Prophet Mohammad and his message which has started with combating unenlightenment, raising the flag of science, education and civilization and concluded by the announcement of the human rights in life, freedom and equality.

“Syria has paid a precious price in order to preserve its independence and maintain the dignity of its people whose army has defended the homeland and achieved their interests against terrorism,” the Minister added.

The event included religious chants by the band of Sheikh Salim Akkad.

Russia supplied Syria with most ‘modernized’ S-300 system – report

Moscow has delivered advanced S-300 air defense missiles to Syria to protect the country’s troops deployed in the war-torn Arab country in the wake of last month’s downing of a Russian reconnaissance plane during an Israeli airstrike in Latakia.

The three battalion sets of S-300PM-2 air defense missile handed over to Syria by Russia are more advanced compared to their conventional counterparts, the newspaper Izvestiya wrote, citing Defense Ministry sources in Moscow.

The S-300PM-2 system is equipped with a more advanced radar station, an improved target illumination and guidance station (firing radar) and a mobile command post.

Launchers have also been upgraded enabling the use of more advanced, powerful and long-range missiles, compared to the “classic” S-300.

Unlike conventional S-300s, the modernized air defense system can fire medium-range tactical ballistic missiles, while retaining its ability to destroy aerial targets up to 250 kilometers (155 miles) away.

The S-300PM-2 also boasts improved anti-jamming capability allowing it to operate in conditions of electronic warfare.

Contrary to media reports, the S-300PM-2 currently deployed in Syria will not be operated by Iranians because the only specialists who can operate this system are in Russia, the source told the newspaper.

Video: “You Are Life” Marathon in Damascus to raise awareness about breast cancer early detection

The city of Damascus witnessed on Friday the holding of a marathon to raise awareness about the early detection of breast cancer amid civil and youth participation.

The marathon which is held under the title of “You Are Life… Our Strength is Yours” kicked off from al-Jalaa Sports Club in Damascus and ended up at the Sheraton Hotel with artistic and recreational activities.

The month of October is linked to the pink color to raise global awareness of breast cancer, the most common cancer among women, with 2 million new cases worldwide in 2018, according to figures from the Global Fund for Cancer Research.

In Syria, a national campaign to raise awareness about the early detection of breast cancer coinciding with the month of global awareness of the disease provides free medical examinations and tests in dozens of health centers distributed in the provinces.

President Assad receive Russian President’s Special Envoy to Syria

President Bashar al-Assad received on Friday Russian President’s Special Envoy to Syria, Alexander Lavrentiev, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Verchinen and the accompanying delegation.

During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on the developments in Syria, especially on the political track and the process of forming a committee to discuss the current constitution.

For his part, Lavrentiev said that the Russian side is satisfied with the positive attitude shown by Damascus and its openness to everything that would contribute to moving forward and achieving the desired progress on this path.

He stressed that such attitude helps in withdrawing excuses from some countries that exert great pressure in order not to achieve any progress in the political process with the aim of blaming Damascus and its allies for this later.

In turn, President al-Assad affirmed that some countries in the region and many Western countries continue to interfere in the political path and exert pressure to impose their will on the Syrians, which may hinder any progress.

He stated that Syria continues to work with all those who have the real will to eliminate terrorism and restore stability while at the same time adhering to the right guaranteed by the international conventions stipulating for not allwoing any outside party to interfere in its internal affairs.

The meeting also dealt with the issue of the return of the Syrians, who were forced by the circumstances of the war to leave their country, where President Assad stressed that the return of the Syrians to their home is a fundamental objective and is a priority for the work of the Syrian government that continues to work to secure all necessary measures for their return.

Lavrentiev briefed President al-Assad on the outcomes of his tour which included a number of Arab countries before his visit to Damascus as he stressed that Russia seeks through this diplomatic movement to exchange views on the issues of the region, especially the political process in Syria and moving ahead with the battle to eliminate terrorism in order to restore security and stability and preserve the unity and independence of Syria.

The meeting was attended by Chief of the National Security Bureau Major General Ali al-Mamlouk, Assistant Foreign and Expatriates Minister, Ayman Sousan, and Russian Ambassador in Damascus.

Source: Sana News Agency

Syria President Assad plans to visit Crimea

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said at a meeting with a delegation from Crimea that he plans to attend the Yalta International Economic Forum (YIEF) in April 2019, if circumstances permit, member of the Crimean delegation and Co-Chairman of the YIEF Organizing Committee Andrei Nazarov told reporters on Tuesday.

“He said that he would be sure to take part [in it], if nothing prevented him from doing so,” Nazarov said.

“Bashar Al-Assad said it was a great honor for him to be invited, and he would certainly come, if circumstances permitted. He added that he would like to visit Crimea and take part in such a major event as the YIEF,” Nazarov added.

According to a member of the Crimean delegation, the Syrian president linked the possibility of his participation in the forum to the situation in Syria.

“He said, if we liberate everything by that time, there will be no obstacles for my trip to the Yalta forum. As far as I understand, they [Syrians] want to tackle all issues here during this time,” Nazarov added when asked whether Assad mentioned plans for Idlib, the last remaining major militant stronghold in Syria.

The Crimean delegation’s meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was held on Tuesday morning in Damascus.