Sharaa repalces Abdul Halim Khaddam who resigned last June and currently lives in Paris, France.

Walid al Moallem was appointed as the new Foreign Minister to replace Sharaa. Prior to this he served as the deputy foreign minister.

“Mr Sharaa will be responsible for executing foreign and media policy under the directions of the president,” the SANA agency said.

Sharaa, who has a degree in English literature from the University of Damascus, has been foreign minister since 1984.

Assad also issued a decree in which he made changes in the government: Here is composition of the new government:

Mohammad Naji Otari- Prime Minister
Abduallah Dardari - Deputy PM, Economic affairs
Dr. Mohammad al Hussein, Minister of Fiance
General Emad Hassan Turkmani, Minister of Defence
Dr. Ghayyath barakat, Minister of Higher education
Eng. Hilal al Atrash- Minister of administration and environment
Dr. Saad Allah Agha Al Kalaat- Minister of tourism
Dr. Ghassan al Lahham- Minister of presidential affairs
Dr. Adel Safar- Minister of Agriculture and Land reforms
Dr. Butheina Shaaban , Minister of Emigrants
Dr. Ali Saad- Minister of Education
Eng. Nader al Banna- Minister of Irrigation
Youssef Suleiman al Ahmad- Minister of State
Dr. Bashar al Shaar- Minister of State
Eng. Ghayyath jura'atly , Minister of State
Dr. Amer Husni Lutfi- Minister of Economy and Trade
Dr. Mohammad Maher al Husama , Minister of Health
Mohammad al Ghufari- Minister of Justice
Dr. Ziad el Dine al Ayouby- Minister of religious affairs
Dr. Diala al Hajj Aref, Minister of Labor & social affairs and
Walid al Moallem , Minister of Foreign Affairs
Eng. Sufian Alao, Minister of oil and mineral resource
General Bassam Abdel Majid , Minister of Interior
Dr. Mohsin Bilal, Minister of information
Dr. Riad Naasan Agha, Minister of Culture
Dr. Ahmad Khaled al Ali, Minister of Electricity
Eng. Hammoud al Hussein, Minister of Housing and urban development
Dr. Yaarab Suleiman Badr, Minister of Transportation
Dr. Fouad Eissa Johnny, Minister of Industry
Dr. Omrou nazir Salem, Minister of commuications
Eng. Hussein mahmoud Farzat, Minister of State
Joseph Suaid , Minister of State
Hassann el Sari , Minister of State

Source: Ya Libnan, SANA