On November 6, 2015, RIAC was visited by Grand Mufti of Syria Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun on the initiative of RIAC Vice-President Alexander Dzasokhov.
The event was attended by members of Russian diplomatic community and Russia-Syria Friendship Society including Ambassadors Robert Markaryan, Alexander Sarymov,...
... issues in contemporary international life, arguing about recent – and not so recent – history, about Russia and the West, and about the state of world civilization as a whole and its development trends. Yet the central issue on the agenda was Syria, namely, the prospects for resolving the situation in the country and the role of Russia and the international community in its affairs. And recent events – Russian air strikes on Islamic terrorist positions, the unexpected visit of the Syrian ...
... and Russia from concluding a peace treaty.
Panov said many people view current relations between Russia and Japan as the worst since the Soviet Union's collapse. The two countries are at loggerheads over international issues such as the Ukraine and Syria situations, he noted.
The former ambassador said he can never understand why Japan criticizes Russia for its airstrikes in Syria.
Regarding the judo term "hikiwake," or draw, which Putin has mentioned for a solution to the territorial ...
... the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, visited the Embassy of France to meet with Head of Continental Europe Department at French Foreign Ministry Florence Mangin for the discussion of Ukraine settlement, implementation progress of Minsk accords, Syria and initial results of the Vienna process on Syria, Moldova, and opportunities for interaction between the EU and the Eurasian Economic Union.
Moderated by French Ambassador to Moscow Jean-Maurice Ripert, the event was also attended by Head of Department ...
The talks over ways to end the crisis in Syria that concluded in Vienna have paved the way for a crucial political and diplomatic process. Apparently, over the almost three years of hostilities in that country, there have been repeated diplomatic efforts to put an end to the war. However, as ...
... to official statements, Russia deployed its Aerospace Defence Forces to support Bashar al-Assad in order to combat the ISIS terrorist group. Western leaders have subtly hinted that Moscow’s goal is to save al-Assad and protect its interests in Syria. The Ukrainian elite and its supporters in the US and Europe are convinced that Putin has started a war in Syria to distract international attention from his “aggression” in Ukraine
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. In fact, the Russian operation is not only part ...
Pursuing an active policy in Syria up to direct involvement in the military conflict seems to be bringing Moscow both fresh opportunities and new risks, both internal and external, that range from the palpable to the obscure.
Risks
The most obvious risks are image-related. While ...
... International Studies
On October 20, 2015 RIAC held a meeting with foreign experts on “Russian and Western Views on Conflict Resolution and Security Challenges”. Not surprisingly, two most discussed and difficult topics were Ukraine and Syria. These conflicts are unresolved and there is high probability they will remain so for quite some time. RIAC has asked one of the participants to discussion, Prof.
Daniel Hamilton
, Executive Director, Center for Transatlantic Relations, John Hopkins ...
... key actors influencing the regional conflict dynamics. The attending diplomats, military officials, journalists and government representatives from the Middle East countries, the United States, the European Union, China, India and Pakistan discussed Syria settlement, Iraq’s future, Yemen and other potential hotbeds.
Dr. Kortunov delivered a report on Russia’s aims in the Syrian crisis and prospects for building a new system of regional security in the Middle East.
... well as "unforeseen incidents" if Russian and NATO military forces were to come into contact. That scenario may only deepen the ongoing crisis. And the document seems ever more significant against the backdrop of Russia’s campaign in Syria, where an international coalition with NATO participation also operates.
Of course, an incident involving Russian and NATO combat aircraft is not particularly probable, although the odds are certainly above zero. And if such a collision may cause ...