Minister of Finance, Mohammad Jleilati, today dismissed media reports that claimed that he defected as "untrue". He said "I am a Syrian citizen before being a minister," during a telephone call with our reporters stressing that he was speaking from his office and that he is carrying out his duties freely and transparently; adding that he did not defect. He added that the media disinformation has spread similar baseless rumors before, noting that he was just at an economic meeting at the prime ministry before he made the phone call with our reporters. The minister affirmed that the aim of spreading such rumors is destroying the national economy while on the other hand the Syrian government is doing all it can to protect the economy and this make up rumors to shake the citizens trust in the economy. The minister also condemned the criminal act that was carried out against the Radio and TV station saying that it is an indescribable criminal act that aims at shaking up the stability in Syria.