AREA BRIEFS

Created: 6/20/1979

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

OF THE RULING BAATH PARTIES* BUT IT DOES IfiJECT NEW LIFE INTO THE ALLIANCE.

THE TWO SIDESOLITICAL DECLARATION THAT THEY HAVE SETNIFIED POLITICAL COMMAND HEADED BY ASSAD AND BAKR AND ESTABLISHED COtWITTEES TO PREPARE THE WAYERGER OF THE RIVAL UINGS OF THE BAATH AND TO WORK OUT DETAILS Of A THEY ALSO CREATEDNIFIED MILITARY THE IRAfll INFORMATION MINISTER CHARACTERIZED THE DECLARATION AS SETTING THE STAGE FOROMPLETE MERGER.

C MMENT: AS CXPCCTED* THE SYRIANS APPARENTLYTO RESIST SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES IN THEIR BAATH PARTY STRUCTURE- ASSAD'S REPRESENTATIVE TO THE BAATH PARTY CCflMITTCE LOSE ASSOCIATE KNOUN TO BE SUSPICIOUS OF IP'-C IN HIS REMARKS TO THE PRESS* BAKR SHOUED IRRITATION WITH ASSAD'S DESIRE FORAUTIOUS* STEP-BY-STEP APPROACH TO UNITY.

MANY OF THE NEW MEASURES ARE AMBIGUOUS AND MAY PROVE

TO BE LITTLE MORE THAN PAPER EXERCISES- BUT THEY WILL ALLOU THE TUO SIDES TO CONTINUE TO COOPERATE ON SELECTED ISSUES. THE NEW POLITICAL COMMAND APPCARS TO DO LITTLE MORE THAN REPLACE AN ALREADY EXISTING THE ISRAELIS ARE CERTAIN TO BE ALARMED. HOUEVER* IF THERE ARE ANY SUBSTANTIVE MOVES TO FOLLOU UP THE PROMISLD JOINT MILITARY COMMAND-