New head of the Syrian interim government Jawad Abu Hatab said that the interim government will work to provide services to the civilian population in the liberated areas, adding that he is keen to form a non-partisan technocratic government whose work will not be affected by political affiliations.
In a news conference in Idlib on Thursday following a meeting with representatives of local councils of Aleppo, Idlib and Hama, Abu Hatab said that the meeting discussed the formation of the new government, criteria for the selection of ministers, as well as the role of FSA groups in facilitating the work of the government.
Rather than ruling the Syrian people, the new interim government will work on serving the needs of the Syrian people and re-activating state institutions, Abu Hatab said. He pointed out that the new government will give special focus on education and help graduate students complete their higher education in order to create qualified cadres who will be essential to rebuild Syria.
Abu Hatab went on to say that the new government will prioritize rebuilding the health service and education institutions as well as supporting local councils.
“We will seek to secure funding for the new government. Our capabilities and our work will be key in securing the funds. Funding might be small to start with, but when the new government sets about working to implement clearly defined plans and programs, funding will be secured much more easily. We will seek to achieve financial independence. Regardless of the amount of financial support we manage to get in the beginning, we will continue to work hard as the Syrian people are able to find sources of funding,” Abu Hatab stressed.
Abu Hatab also said that “the FSA and rebel fighters will be our partners on the ground as they are giving their lives for the sake of the homeland. They also work hard to serve the needs of the people, and I am sure they will support the government and its work.”
The Syrian Coalition’s General Assembly elected Jawad Abu Hatab head of the Syrian interim government in a special meeting held on Monday. Abu Hatab will be forming a new government to be based in Syria to better serve the needs of the civilian population. (Source: Syrian Coalition + Alahd Newspaper)