Legislative Decree on Establishing General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research Issued
DAMASCUS, SANA_ President Bashar al-Assad on Thursday issued Legislative Decree No. 24 for 2012 on establishing the General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research, with its headquarters in Damascus.
According to the decree, the Commission is tasked with drawing up the general policy of scientific agricultural research, in addition to specifying priorities or implementing them to serve agricultural development plans and contribute to reducing agricultural problems and conduct agricultural research.
The Commission enjoys body corporate and financial and administrative independence and is directly linked to the Minister of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform.
The legislative decree is published and comes into effect one month after the date of its publication in the official gazette.
President al-Assad also issued law No. 8 for 2012 on the profession of real estate expert and conditions for practicing it.
Syria Vehemently Condemns Terrorist Bombings Hitting Iraq
DAMASCUS, (SANA)- Syria vehemently condemned the terrorist acts and bombings which took place in Iraq on Thursday and simultaneously hit different regions in the capital Baghdad and other places, causing at least 32 deaths and tens of injuries.
Foreign and Expatriates Ministry, in a statement issued by its official spokesman, offered its deepest condolences to brotherly Iraq, government and people, over the martyrs.
The statement expressed the Ministry’s solidarity and consolation to the victims’ families, voicing hope for stability and security to prevail in brotherly Iraq.
On Thursday morning, 32 Iraqis at least were killed and ten others were injured in a series of terrorist attacks which targeted different regions in Iraq, particularly the capital Baghdad.
Iraqi security sources said that attacks, in which explosive devices, machineguns and booby-trapped cars were used, targeted at least five regions in Baghdad and in different areas in the cities of Salaheddin, Diyala and Kirkuk.
Russia, China Renew Rejection of Interference in Syria’s Affairs
MOSCOW, SANA_ The Kremlin announced on Thursday that the Russian President Dimitri Medvedev stressed that foreign interference and attempts of determining the legitimacy of the leadership of any state from outside contradict with the rules of the international law and undermine the regional and international stability.
The Kremlin pointed out that President Medvedev explained in a phone call with President of the United Arab Emirates the Russian stance on the situation in Syria and the necessity of ending violence from all sides, launching a dialogue with a wide participation from all sides and commitment to the Syrian sovereignty.
The Kremlin’s statement pointed out that the phone call comes in a series of phone calls on the situation in Syria as President Medvedev made phone calls with King of Saudi Arabia, President of Iran and Prime Minister of Iraq.
Russia and China on Thursday renewed rejection of any foreign interference in Syria’s affairs, calling for dialogue between the Syrian leadership and opposition without preconditions.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi stressed, in a phone call, their firm and unified stance on the situation in Syria which calls for ending any violence and launching internal dialogue between the government and the opposition with no preconditions as to reach a peaceful settlement and rule out any foreign interference in Syria’s affairs,the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The Ministry pointed out that the two ministers discussed the possible measures that might be taken to achieve the aforementioned goals.
Chinese Foreign Ministry: Beijing will not Attend So-Called Friends of Syria Meeting
The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday that China will not attend the so-called “Friends of Syria” meeting due to be held in Tunisia because its function and mechanisms need more study and understanding.
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Hong Lei, said that the international community’s measures should help ease tension, boost political dialogue and preserve peace and stability in the Middle East.
The spokesperson expressed his country’s support to all efforts exerted in solving the crisis in Syria peacefully, adding that China is ready to work with all sides concerned to play a constructive and active role in this regard.
Foreign Ministry Calls on Foreign Journalists to Respect Journalistic Work Laws in Syria and Not Enter It Illegally
DAMACSUS, (SANA)- Foreign and Expatriates Ministry on Thursday stressed the necessity for foreign journalists to respect the laws regulating journalistic work in Syria and avoid breaching laws and entering the Syrian territories illegally to access turbulent and unsafe places.
The Ministry’s spokesman said in a statement that respect of journalistic work-regulating laws in Syria will allow the visiting journalists to get facilitations and the Information Ministry’s care and advice about the situation on the ground before heading to any place.
“The Information Ministry is making significant efforts and has granted entry permits for about 200 media delegations over the past two months,” the statement added, stressing that “these permits are authenticated for those who have doubts about allowing journalists to enter Syria.”
“On the human level, we offer condolences to the media institutions and the families of the journalists who died on the Syrian territories,” said the Foreign Ministry spokesman, rejecting, however, “all statements that hold Syria accountable for the death of journalists who infiltrated Syria at their own risk without the Syrian authorities’ knowledge of their entry and whereabouts.”
8 Law-Enforcement Personnel Martyred in Idleb, Hama and Daraa, Armed group brutally massacres a family in Homs
GOVERNORATES, (SANA)- Three law-enforcement personnel on Thursday were martyred and seven others were injured when a primed explosive device, planted by an armed terrorist group, went off at the southern entrance of Idleb city, northern Syria.
SANA correspondent reported that the military engineering units dismantled three explosive devices in Jiser al-Shughour in Idleb countryside.
Armed group brutally massacres a family at al- Arman al-Janoubi neighborhood in Homs
An armed terrorist group on Thursday brutally massacred a family at al- Arman al-Janoubi neighborhood in Homs.
The armed group hand-cuffed Mohammad Riyad Dawish, his wife and his four children, stabbing them with knifes, killing and mutilating their bodies as well as writing evil words.
Authorities in Damascus Countryside arrest several terrorists, kill and wound others
Competent authorities in Damascus Countryside arrested a number of terrorists, killing others and seizing their weapons in the framework of hunting the remnants of the armed terrorist groups and the efforts to restore security and stability to the countryside.
In Harasta, security forces clashed with an armed terrorist group, killing and injuring several of them while the others surrendered with their weapons, ammunitions, military uniforms and stolen governmental cars.
In Qara, the law-enforcement members stormed a den for one of the terrorist gangs, finding a field hospital, a number of rifles, computers and communication sets.
In Saqba and Hamourea, the competent authorities dismantled a number of explosives planted by the terrorists along the road sides in order to hit a big number of innocents.
Authorities Release 7 Citizens Abducted by Terrorists in Idleb
Meanwhile, the Authorities succeeded in “a qualitative operation” in releasing 7 citizens in the southern neighborhood in Maaret al-Numan in Idleb, who were abducted by an armed terrorist group.
SANA reporter said the authorities clashed with the armed group and killed two terrorists and injured 12 others.
Border Guards Prevent Terrorist Group from Infiltrating Syria through Turkish Borders
In another context, Border Guards Forces, in cooperation with the authorities concerned, foiled Wednesday night an infiltration attempt of an armed terrorist group into Syrian territories from Turkey near al-Nassereh site and al-Hassanieh town in Jisr al-Shughour.
An official source in Idleb Province told SANA correspondent that the authorities and the border guards prevented a group of terrorists from infiltrating into Syria after clashing with them, killing and wounding a number of them, while the others fled towards the Turkish territories.
2 Law-enforcement Members Martyred, 2 Others Abducted in Hama
In the central province of Hama, two law-enforcement members were martyred and another was injured by the gunfire of an armed terrorist group that attacked the police station of Mahardeh in Hama countryside.
An official source told SANA correspondent that the members of the armed terrorist group, who were driving cars, targeted the aforementioned station with grenades and machineguns, causing the martyrdom of the law-enforcement members Bashar al-Ton and Basem al-Ahmad and the injury of another.
The source added that the armed group also kidnapped Second Lieutenant Iyad al-Mikdad and Warrant Officer Mohammed Danawer, and stole the contents of the police station and destroyed its furniture.
In the same context, the source said that the military engineering units dismantled an explosive device planted by the armed terrorist group near the police station.
Three law-enforcement members Martyred, 5 Others Injured in Daraa
Three law-enforcement members were martyred and other five were injured in an attack by an armed terrorist group in al-Sad area in Daraa city.
An official source told SANA correspondent that the authorities clashed with the terrorists, killed some of them including one of the most dangerous terrorists Ali al-Masalmeh and arrested few others.
The competent authorities in Daraa also seized big amounts of weapons and materials used for manufacturing explosives.
Authorities in Idleb carries out a special operation at Sanqul town in Ariha
The competent authorities in Idleb today carried out a qualitative operation at Sanqul town in Ariha in the framework of hunting remnants of armed terrorist groups.
An official source in Idleb told SANA that the authorities pursued the terrorists in the town’s mountains and forest, killing a number of them, arresting others and confiscating their weapons.
Health Ministry: Media Channels Reports on Babies Died in Hama Countryside Because of Power Outages Untrue
DAMASCUS, (SANA) – Health Ministry said on Thursday that the news aired on some provocative channels that 7 babies died in a hospital in Hama countryside because of power outages is untrue.
The Ministry stressed in a statement that no babies died in Hama hospitals because of power outages, adding that all hospitals are equipped with power generators.
The Ministry added that the systematic misleading campaigns will increase the determination of national health institutions in serving all patients.
Sixteen Army, Law-Enforcement Martyrs Laid to Rest
DAMASCUS/ LATTAKIA, (SANA) – Sixteen army and law-enforcement personnel martyrs on Thursday were escorted from Tishreen Military Hospital in Damascus and Zahi Azraq Military Hospital in Lattakia to their final resting place.
The martyrs were killed in the line of duty by armed terrorist groups in Homs, Daraa, Damascus Countryside, Hama and Sweida.
Solemn processions were held for the martyrs, as the music of “The Martyr” and “The Farewell” was playing.
The martyrs are:
Captain Ghufran Abdul Latif Ahmad, from Lattakia.
Captain Yamin Youssef Hassan, from Lattakia.
Warrant Officer Mohammed Hammoud Jahjah, from Idleb.
Sergeant Abdul Karim Ahmad al-Aswad, from Deir Ezzor.
Corporal Firas Ali al-Huwair, from Hasaka.
Conscript Abdullah Mikhlef Salameh, from Deir Ezzor.
Conscript Mustafa Mohammed Saleh Atrash, from Aleppo.
Conscript Mohammed Sabah al-Khaled, from Deir Ezzor.
Conscript Hussein Ibrahim al-Khalaf, from Raqqa.
Conscript Saeed Ali Dablan, from Hama.
Conscript Ahmad Khaled al-Hammoud, from Hama.
Conscript Mohammed Bashir Ja’rash, from Damascus Countryside.
Conscript Mamdouh Abdul-Shana’a, from Raqqa.
Conscript Maysam Hashim Qaddar, from Hama.
Policeman Ahmad Youssef Jumaa, from Lattakia.
Policeman Mahmoud Mohammed Taha Bandi, from Aleppo.
The martyrs’ families expressed pride in the martyrdom of their sons, asserting that the blood of the martyrs will protect Syria and make it stronger in the face of challenges.
The martyrs’ relatives hailed the role of the Syrian army in maintaining the security and stability of the homeland, expressing confidence of the ability of the Syrian people to overcome the crisis through their unity and rallying around their leadership, asserting that Syria will foil all the conspiracies hatched against it.
Syria’s Right to Self-Defense against Terrorist Groups Underscored
CAPITALS, (SANA)_ The states and sides to meet in Tunisia for the so-called ‘friends of Syria’ meeting are NOT friends for Syria but they are the friends of the United States, underscored Viacheslav Matuzov, the well-known Russian writer and political analyst.
Interviewed by Syrian Satellite TV yester night, Matuzov pointed out that Russia rejected to participate in this meeting because its program is not in the interest of the Syrian People, but it aims to protect the US interests in the region.
Matuzov added that the projects of military and political intervention in Syria’s domestic affairs continue under different names and ideas, including the idea of ‘humanitarian corridors’, blasting the US calls for arming the opposition through smuggling of weapons across the borders with Lebanon, Iraq and Turkey.
The Russian outspoken analyst reiterated Russia’s solidarity with Syria, where the majority of the Syrians support the government and reforms against the terrorist attacks by terrorist groups which kill army personnel and civilians.
In Tunisia, the National Board for Resistance Support, Anti-normalization with Zionism, and the Tunisian Association for Tolerance organized a symposium in rejection to the so-called ‘friends of Syria’ meeting.
More than 100 political, syndicate and law figures participated in the symposium, blasting the meeting as another move to internationalize the crisis in Syria aiming at supporting armed groups in implementation for a foreign agenda.
The speakers asserted the meeting and its members are but the enemies of the Syrian People, lashing out at the anti-Syria stances taken by the League of Arab States and at the continued media war of lies and provocations against the Syrian Arab people and their Government.
The speakers criticized the role played by the current temporary president of Tunisia, al-Marzouqi, and his government in calling for and hosting the meeting, calling for its cancellation and for an apology by al-Marzouqi to the Syrian People.
In another development, 25 Jordanian MPs asked the government of their country to deport members of the Syrian opposition present on the Syrian-Jordanian borders.
The Jordanian MP’, in a parliamentary memo to Jordanian Premier, underscored their rejection to any form of foreign interference in Syria’s domestic affairs, calling on the Government of Jordan as not to turn blind eyes to the practices of those who work to inflame conditions on the Jordanian-Syrian borders through the so-called human aids.