Keywords: The first innaugaration of President Hafez al-Assad in Parliament - March 1971.jpg en From left to right President Hafez al-Assad Abdullah al-Ahmar the Assistant Secretary-General of the Baath Party Prime Minister Abdul Rahman Khleifawi Assistant Secretary General Jaber Bajbouj Foreign Minister Abdul Halim Khaddam Parliament Speaker Fihmi al-Yusufi Seated in the third row in civilian suite is Defense Minister Mustapha Tlass who was an appointed MP in the 1971 Parliament Seated next to him is Naji Jamil the director of the Syrian Air Force Behind Tlass directly is Rifaat al-Assad the President's younger brother who was commander of the Special Forces and went on to become Vice-President in 1984 To the far right in the fourth row is Zuhair Masharka who was to become Vice-President under Assad in 1984-2000 Sitting behind Abdullah al-Ahmar is Deputy Prime Minister Mohammad Haidar 1971-03 http //www syrianhistory com/en/photos/2807 Syrian History Archive Not credited Custom license marker 2013 09 03 PD-Syria Uploaded with UploadWizard Hafez al-Assad Prime ministers of Syria Assad family People's Council of Syria 1971 in Syria |