Press conference for the Syrian Minister of Information: A new era begins with comprehensive reform plans.

Minister of Information, Dr. Hamza Mustafa, affirmed during a press conference held at the ministry building that Syria has completed the confidence-building phase and is now entering a new phase aimed at restoring its regional and international status. He emphasized that this phase requires extensive reforms in both the economic and institutional sectors. The Minister explained that Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shibani highlighted the ministry's achievements in the recent government session, including the lifting of US sanctions on Syria, noting that this step was taken without any preconditions, and that the relationship with the United States has just begun. The Minister conveyed President Ahmad Al-Shar'a's emphasis on the necessity of creating an attractive environment for investment, undertaking deep financial reforms, enhancing inter-ministerial cooperation, adopting modern management methods in government, and giving top priority to combating corruption. He pointed out that regular government meetings are ongoing to develop detailed plans, formulate medium and long-term strategies, and mentioned that the President meets daily and around the clock with ministers to follow up on various issues. The Minister reported that the Governor of the Central Bank of Syria discussed a new project to print Syrian currency during the meeting, clarifying that the banking sector crisis is related to citizens' trust rather than cash liquidity. On the media front, Dr. Mustafa revealed preparations for launching a new phase in the work of the Syrian Arab News Agency "SANA" following the launch of the news channel, by activating media offices in the provinces and expanding cooperation with the private sector. He confirmed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues its efforts to reactivate diplomatic missions and open new consulates in several countries, as a step towards diplomatic re-engagement. The Minister stated that the government prioritizes refugee camps, indicating that the upcoming period will witness an acceleration in the return of refugees to their original areas, supported by government programs and reconstruction plans. He also explained that the Minister of Finance announced during the government session that the 2025 budget will include a significant increase in salaries and wages, with details to be announced soon. The Minister concluded the conference by emphasizing the Ministry of Information's openness to all media platforms committed to national work, welcoming objective content even if critical, stating that "the key in the Ministry of Information is: as long as the content focuses on objectivity, we welcome it even if it is critical."