Damascus, (SANA) – Prime Minister Mohammad Naji Ottri chaired on Tuesday the weekly cabinet meeting during which a number of draft laws and decrees were approved.

The cabinet approved a draft law on establishing the Regional Planning Higher Council and the General Commission for Regional Planning. This draft law aims to implement integrated plan for economic, social, cultural, tourist and environmental policies using a scientific approach which would achieve balanced, sustainable regional and local development.

The other draft laws approved included establishing a new public department for developing and protecting fish, a draft law for endorsing the agreement signed between Syria and Tajikistan on mutual encouraging and protection of investment.

The Cabinet also discussed a number of memos, including one from the Ministry of Agriculture on the state of agriculture in 2007-2008 and the damages caused by latest bad weather conditions, a memo from the Ministry of Finance on proposals for granting health insurance to state workers, and a memo from the State Ministry of the People's Assembly Affairs on issuing a stamp to support cancer patients.

The Cabinet approved the suggestion of the Ministry of Electricity to begin daylight savings time on Friday April 4th, advancing clocks one hour ahead on midnight of Thursday April 3rd.

H. Sabbagh, Ahmad Fathi Zahra