Bashir al-Azma

Ahmed Bashir al - Azma, (Arabic بشير العظمة, born 1919 in Damascus, Syria Vilayet, † 1992 in Damascus ) was a Syrian doctor and politician. He was from April 16th to September 14th, 1962 Prime Minister of the Syrian Republic and Minister of Health of the United Arab Republic.

Life

The Sunni Azma was born in Damascus and grew up there. He received his bachelor degree in medicine from the University of Damascus, and his degree in Paris. He was Minister of Health of the United Arab Republic, but resigned because of a conflict with President Gamal Abdel Nasser.

Bashir al - Azma was one of several prime ministers who wanted Syria to stay out of the East-West conflict. On April 22, 1962 Azma declared on Radio Damascus, Syria's foreign policy would be continued on the basis of the principles of neutrality and non-alignment with military blocs, non-participation in the Cold War and the respect for the principles of the UN Charter.