Syrian President Bashar al-Assad presented a critical review of the Baath party’s performance, stressing that one of the priorities of the party is to enhance the national unity.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad presented a critical review of the Baath party’s performance, stressing that one of the priorities of the party is to enhance the national unity.

At a lengthy meeting held by al-Baath Arab Socialist Party’s Central Committee on Monday, President Assad gave an analytical political review on the war waged against the Syrian people and the latest developments, and the Arab and international stances, in addition to the Party's role at the current stage.

The party announced that during the meeting a new leadership was chosen.

''One of the party's top priorities at the next stage is enhancing national unity, which cannot be done except through organizations and unions as they form the popular base,'' President al-Assad said, according to official news agency, SANA.

He pointed out that al-Baath Party's history of struggle should be the basis of a continuous development process, which necessitates staying in touch with reality and consolidating the culture of dialogue and popular volunteer work.

President al-Assad stressed the importance of laying down accurate standards of party hierarchy and effective mechanisms in selecting the Party's representatives in the state institutions as to enable them to realize the interests of the broader segments, including workers, farmers and craftsmen, SANA added.

He added that the most important step is to find channels of communication between al-Baath party leaders and the popular base as to deepen interaction with citizens.