New Syrian government the beginning of a new phase, but no change in mainlines
Syria, Politics, 3/15/2000

Analysts in Damascus see the internal dimensions as the most remarkable indicator of the governmental reshuffle carried out in Syria in preparation for a coming phase of "reforms."

The analysts say that Syrian policy "will keep on its main headlines despite the already made change in the government," due to the fact no change was made in important ministries like defense, the foreign ministry, the ministry of the interior, economy, oil, electricity, and agriculture.

They added this indicates that there are "no fundamental changes in the general framework of the Syrian policy." But they indicated one remarkable exception, which is that the ministry of information went to the former deputy minister of foreign affairs, the former assistant secretary general of the Arab league and the former Syrian ambassador in London, Adnan Omran.

Omran has been known as a stubborn negotiator in the Syrian- Mediterranean partnership association talks.

Farouk Al-Shara still having the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reveals "the inclination towards al-Shara's dedication of full time to the file of the Syrian- Israeli negotiations."

Although the Syrian officials stressed that the "change is of mere internal inclinations," observers have unanimous stances toward the "link between the change to the file of the deadlocked negotiations on the Syrian track."

With the concentration of the Syrian street, following the declaration of the new government on the possibility of improving economic conditions and the living situation, member of the central command of the National progressive Front Safwan Qidsi (who gave his party's ministerial seat to his wife, Baria al-Qidsi, as minister of labor and social affairs) said that this new government is called on "to renovate the state and deal with living conditions and to improve the performance of the Syrian economy, while sticking to the principles inspired especially from the public sector and to develop enforced rules and regulations on the grounds of the speech addressed by President al-Assad before the Parliament by the beginning of his recent fifth constitutional term of office."

After this Cabinet reshuffle in Syria, another step is awaiting with the convening of the conference of the ruling Baath Party regional leadership following a cessation of 15 years-- a matter which will avail the son of the Syrian president to ascend to a ranking political position, added to his current military duties as a colonel in the Syrian Army.

Al- Qidsi, on the other hand, denied that the possibility that the current government is "provisional" just for several months as has been rumored. He stressed that there is "no connection between forming this new government and paving the way for the son of the president."

Previous Stories:
  New government formed in Syria   (3/14/2000)
  Keeping 15 ministers in the new Syrian government   (3/13/2000)
  Washington looks forward to work with new Syrian government   (3/10/2000)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search