Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|
00DAMASCUS2976 | 2000-06-10 17:19:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Damascus |
O 101719Z JUN 00 FM AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS TO SECSTATE WASHDC NIACT IMMEDIATE 1404 INFO ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE |
C O N F I D E N T I A L DAMASCUS 002976 |
1. (C) SYRIAN RADIO AND TELEVISION AT 1800 BROADCAST THE OFFICIAL SYRIAN GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENT TO PARLIAMENT THAT PRESIDENT HAFIZ AL-ASAD HAD DIED. THE SPEAKER OF THE PARLIAMENT ABD AL-QADIR QADDURA ANNOUNCED A FEW MINUTES LATER THAT A SPECIAL PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE HAD BEEN FORMED TO DISCUSS AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION. AT APPROXIMATELY 1900 AN AMENDMENT WAS PASSED UNAMIMOUSLY WHICH AMENDED THE CONSTITUTION TO SAY THAT A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE MUST BE A SYRIAN ARAB OF AT LEAST 34 YEARS OF AGE, BUT DID NOT NEED TO BE A MEMBER OF THE BA'TH PARTY. PREVIOUSLY THE CONSTITUTION REQUIRED THE PRESIDENT TO BE A SYRIAN ARAB MUSLIM AT LEAST FORTY YEARS OF AGE AND, IF NOT RECEIVING AN ABSOLUTE MAJORITY IN A NATIONAL REFERENDUM, BE SELECTED BY THE BA'TH PARTY FOR FORMAL NOMINATION TO THE PEOPLE'S COUNCIL. 2. (C) IT WAS THEN ANNOUNCED THAT THE PARLIAMENT WOULD RECESS UNTIL JUNE 25. THE AMENDMENT IS CLEARLY INTENDED DRAFTED TO ALLOW PRESIDENT ASAD'S SON BASHAR TO BE NOMINATED AS PRESIDENT, BUT HIS NAME HAS NOT BEEN MENTIONED IN ANY OFFICIAL CONTEXT. THE CONSTITUTION STATES THAT IN CASE OF THE PRESIDENT'S "DISABLEMENT" THE VICE PRESIDENT--IN THIS CASE VP MUHAMMAD KHADDAM--WOULD BECOME ACTING PRESIDENT AND THAT IN CASE OF THE PRESIDENT'S DEATH, A REFERENDUM MUST BE HELD WITHIN 90 DAYS TO ELECT A NEW PRESIDENT. HOWEVER, THERE HAS BEEN NO OFFICIAL ANNOUNCMENT THAT VP KHADDAM HAS ASSUMED THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT. THE ARAB SATELLITE STATION AL- JAZIRA IS REPORTING THAT IT HAS BEEN DECIDED THAT DEFENSE MINISTER MUSTAFA TALAS WILL ASSUME CHARGE TEMPORARILY, BUT WE HAVE NO CONFIRMATION OF THAT REPORT. 3.(C) THE AMBASSADOR CONTACTED DEFENSE MINISTER MUSTAFA TALAS AT APPROXIMATELY 1745 (BEFORE THE OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMNT), WHO CONFIRMED ASAD'S DEATH AND ASSURED THE AMBASSADOR THAT WHILE THE SARG WAS "TAKING APPROPRIATE MEASURES," EVERYTHING WAS CALM. AT 1945, STREETS HAVE BEEN CLOSED AROUND THE CHANCERY AND CROWDS ARE AMASSING AROUND THE PRESIDENT'S HOME, WHICH IS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY TWO BLOCKS FROM THE CHANCERY. WE HAVE NO SIGN OF ANY CROWDS MOVING TOWARDS OR AGAINST THE CHANCERY. CROWDS ARE SHOUTING CHANTS PRAISING THE PRESIDENT AND IN SUPPORT OF BASHAR. CROCKER |