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Will Turkish lira save economy in Syria's opposition-held areas?

As Syria's currency plunges against the dollar, the opposition's Syrian Interim Government plans to replace the Syrian pound with the Turkish lira in the areas it controls.
A merchant counts Turkish lira banknotes at the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey, March 29, 2019. REUTERS/Murad Sezer - RC1DD8429180

ALEPPO, Syria — The Syrian pound's staggering loss in value has renewed talk of replacing the currency with the Turkish lira in the northern areas under control of the opposition's Free Syrian Army (FSA).

The opposition’s Syrian interim government took a step in that direction Dec. 9 by holding a symposium on the subject. The symposium, held at the headquarters of International Sham University in Azaz, was attended by Abdel Hakeem al-Masri, the interim government's economy and finance minister, and by Maarouf al-Khalaf, the dean of economics and management.

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