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Syria Government 1996
Al Jumhuriyah al Arabiyah as Suriyah
United Arab Republic (with Egypt)
republic under leftwing military regime since March 1963
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Administrative divisions:
14 provinces (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Hasakah, Al Ladhiqiyah,
Al Qunaytirah, Ar Raqqah, As Suwayda', Dar'a, Dayr az Zawr, Dimashq, Halab,
Hamah, Hims, Idlib, Rif Dimashq, Tartus
17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration)
National Day, 17 April (1946)
based on Islamic law and civil law system; special religious courts; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
18 years of age; universal
President Hafiz al-ASAD (since 22 February 1971 see note); Vice Presidents
'Abd al-Halim ibn Said KHADDAM, Rif'at al-ASAD, and Muhammad Zuhayr
MASHARIQA (since 11 March 1984); election last held 2 December 1991 (next to
be held NA December 1998); results - President Hafiz al-ASAD was reelected
for a fourth seven-year term with 99.98% of the vote; note - President ASAD
seized power in the November 1970 coup, assumed presidential powers 22
February 1971, and was confirmed as president in the 12 March 1971 national
elections
Prime Minister Mahmud ZU'BI (since 1 November 1987); Deputy Prime Minister
Lt. Gen. Mustafa TALAS (since 11 March 1984); Deputy Prime Minister Salim
YASIN (since NA December 1981); Deputy Prime Minister Rashid AKHTARINI
(since 4 July 1992)
Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
People's Council (Majlis al-Chaab):
elections last held 24-25 August 1994 (next to be held NA); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (250 total) National Progressive Front
167, independents 83
Supreme Constitutional Court, High Judicial Council, Court of Cassation,
State Security Courts
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Political parties and leaders:
National Progressive Front includes:
the ruling Arab Socialist Resurrectionist (Ba'th) Party, Hafiz al-ASAD,
President of the Republic, Secretary General of the party, and Chairman of
the National Progressive Front; Syrian Arab Socialist Party (ASP), 'Abd
al-Ghani KANNUT; Arab Socialist Union (ASU), Jamal ATASSI; Syrian Communist
Party (SCP), Khalid BAKDASH; Arab Socialist Unionist Movement, Sami SOUFAN;
and Democratic Socialist Union Party, leader NA
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Other political or pressure groups:
non-Ba'th parties have little effective political influence; Communist party
ineffective; conservative religious leaders; Muslim Brotherhood
ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,
IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WFTU,
WHO, WMO, WTO
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Diplomatic representation in US:
2215 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
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US diplomatic representation:
Ambassador Christopher W. S. ROSS
Abou Roumaneh, Al-Mansur Street No. 2, Damascus
[963] (11) 333-2814, 714-108, 333-3788
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with two small
green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band;
similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band and of Iraq,
which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal
line centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt, which
has a symbolic eagle centered in the white band
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