Syrian Government Deals With Currency Collapse
The Syrian government has increased public sector employees' salaries and has kept its monthly ration coupons to counter the effects of war and sanctions on the economy.
Syria is facing an economic war today, along with the political and military war that has already victimized the Syrian people. Syrian Prime Minister Wa el al-Halki said on June 19 that his government confronts a “media and economic war” that attemps to weaken the country's currency.
On June 22, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad ordered the salaries of all government employees to be raised.
Syrian Deputy Minister of Finance Hayyan Salman said in an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor that the recent salary increase is a “national decision that came at a time when some expected the collapse of the Syrian economy. But today Syria is starting to win economically — after its political [Geneva II conference] and military [Qusair battle] victory — despite the harsh conditions caused by acts of criminal gangs, such as attacking the infrastructure and destructing economic facilities as well as cutting off roads."
Salman, who spoke to Al-Monitor in a phone interview on June 25, was referring to the Syrian armed opposition and the foreign fighters whom the Syrian regime refers to as “terrorist groups” or “criminal gangs.”
