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Syria... Ministers of Transitional Government Take Oath Amid Promises of Reform
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The ministerial composition indicates an attempt to satisfy some societal components while excluding others, raising questions about the inclusiveness of representation and prospects for national reco
Syria's interim transitional President Ahmed al-Shara announced on Saturday the formation of Syria's interim caretaker government, emphasizing the country's intention and commitment to addressing social and economic issues and human rights concerns in the state.
This step comes amid significant internal and external challenges, as Syria faces unprecedented economic and humanitarian difficulties.
During the ceremony announcing the formation of the new government, al-Shara emphasized efforts toward "building the nation and overcoming challenges and difficulties." This statement raises questions about the interim government's ability to achieve these goals in light of internal divisions and external interventions.
He committed himself to "building a strong national army to protect Syria," in addition to working to build "a homeland worth sacrificing for." These promises reflect an attempt to enhance local legitimacy but clash with the reality of multiple military forces controlling different regions of the country.
He also noted that he would seek to "attract Syrian human resources from abroad" and "establish an effective response system for any emergency." However, the process of recovering emigrated Syrian talents faces several challenges, most notably the absence of security and economic stability and the lack of guarantees for rights and freedoms.
Al-Shara added: "Our future plan will be based on developing human resources," which is viewed as an attempt to rebuild institutional capabilities that have been severely affected during the long years of conflict.
For his part, the Foreign Minister in the interim government, Asaad al-Shaibani, began his speech after taking the constitutional oath by saying that "the new government will reflect the will of the Syrian people," noting that the country is witnessing "the first government with free will."
These statements contradict the reality of the absence of free and fair elections and the lack of transparent mechanisms to ensure representation of all segments of Syrian society.
The Defense Minister in the interim Syrian government, Murhaf Abu Qusra, explained that "the Ministry of Defense will be a support for every Syrian." However, forming a unified military institution faces major challenges in the presence of multiple armed factions and sharp political and geographical polarization.
Justice Minister Mazhar al-Weis stated after taking the oath before al-Shara: "We will work to achieve justice and do justice to the victims." Transitional justice and national reconciliation issues are considered among the most sensitive and complex files after years of conflict and human rights violations.
The interim government included limited diversity in ministerial positions, with one ministry divided equally between Christians and all Syrian women, while a pro-transitional government Druze minister opposed to Sheikh al-Hajri was appointed, in addition to a Kurdish minister not affiliated with the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria.
This distribution reflects a specific vision for the future political composition, considering that certain areas may be subject to special administrative arrangements outside the central government's authority.
The ministerial formation included a number of personalities in various positions, including Anas Khattab as Minister of Interior, Nidal Shaar for Economy, Raed al-Saleh for Emergency and Disasters Ministry, Hind Qabawat as Minister of Social Affairs, in addition to Marwan al-Halabi as Minister of Higher Education.
This government faces enormous challenges in restoring basic services and rebuilding destroyed infrastructure amid resource scarcity and lack of widespread international recognition.
