Syria's transitional government has announced new standards for the media, pledging freedom of speech, expression, and a free press after decades of strict control under the Assad regime.
In an interview with AFP, Syria's Minister of Information, Mohamed al-Omar, addressed the government's commitment to reforming the country's media landscape. The announcement was reported by Ukrinform with reference to Hurriyet Daily News.
"We are working to consolidate freedom of the press and expression, which were severely restricted in areas controlled by the former government of Bashar al-Assad," said al-Omar.
Breaking Free from the Past
For decades, the ruling Baath Party and the Assad family tightly controlled all aspects of life in Syria, using the media as a tool to maintain power and enforce censorship.
"There was a serious restriction of freedom of the press and expression during the regime that practiced censorship," al-Omar stated. "In the future, we aim to create a media landscape that is free, objective, and professional. We do not want to continue with official media that merely serves to polish the image of the ruling authorities."
The minister has already held discussions with dozens of Syrian journalists to outline the transition to new media standards. These efforts reflect the government’s broader goals of fostering transparency and professionalism in journalism.
Strengthening International Relations
Separately, Ukrinform reported that Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga recently visited Syria, meeting with Ahmed al-Sharaa, the leader of the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and the de facto leader of Syria.
Following this, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani expressed intentions to develop a strategic partnership with Ukraine across political, economic, and social spheres.
