... stage of resource and responsibility allocation to oversee the country’s economic rehabilitation.”
Some Russian and European policy institutions have already elaborated on ways to
reconcile respective differences
in this area. While Russia sees Syrian reconstruction mainly in terms of rebuilding the damaged physical infrastructure, European Union states link the reconstruction efforts to political transition.
Meanwhile in Moscow there are two competing views on how to aid Syria’s recovery. Some argue for the need of political reforms and power transition, while others suggest ...
Framing a quid pro quo in Syria
After more than eight years of conflict in Syria, it is now clear that there won’t be a near-term political transition away from Bashar al-Assad. This is a reality that Europeans, by and large, now accept. This does not mean, however, that Europeans ...
... important of these disagreements.
First. Western states appear to believe that without active European participation and funding, Russia will not be able to rebuild much in Syria because it cannot provide the capital and technologies desperately needed for Syrian projects. Russia doubts that the European Union is willing to allocate significant funding for Syria, given multiple competing needs and priorities in Europe. Moreover, though European funding is highly desirable, Europe is not the only potential funding source for reconstruction. Moscow ...
... Belgium and, for the time being, the United Kingdom) are currently on the UN Security Council, Europe’s stance on nuclear matters is barely audible.
As far as we can tell, the tentative steps taken by Paris and Berlin to open a dialogue with Moscow on Syria have not led to any practical actions. Also, it would seem that the “selective engagement” between Europe and Russia on Libya is equally doomed.
The European Union and Russia have still not got around to coordinating their positions with regard to the Iranian nuclear issue and to relations with Iran as a whole. And while the stances of the two sides on the settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict ...
Iran in the Middle East: Regional Spoiler or Stakeholder?
Iran’s critical role in shaping the security agenda of the Middle East is indisputable. No matter what we discuss — the Syrian settlement, state-building in Iraq, civil war in Yemen or political dynamics in Lebanon —, Iran remains the big elephant in the room. Its impact on the region is profound, multifaceted and controversial. The predominant view in the West in general ...
On April 24–25, 2019, in Beirut, RIAC representatives took part in the event organized by Konrad Adenauer Foundation and Omran Center for Strategic Studies on the Syrian restoration.
On April 24–25, 2019, in Beirut, RIAC representatives took part in the event organized by Konrad Adenauer Foundation and Omran Center for Strategic Studies on the Syrian restoration.
The Konrad Adenauer Foundation seminar on ...
What might be a “second option” for Russia in Syria?
The situation around Russia in Syria is up for debate. No doubt, Russia would like to lead a reconstruction effort in Syria, in harmony with all relevant partners, including the UN, the EU, the USA, China, India, Turkey, Iran, Israel, the Sunni ...
Interconnectedness of Turkey with Europe and USA may be of good utility for Russian global foreign policy
With ongoing debates on Russian-made S-400 deliveries to Turkey, fate of continuing cooperation of Russia, Turkey and Iran in Syria and future of Ankara’s relations with the European Union and NATO, it is high time to make an honest review of Russian-Turkish relations, define weaknesses of bilateral cooperation and try to sketch a framework for a better future. Inspection of historical legacy and nature of current ties may ...
... powers on the Middle East general development dynamics, on the most significant challenges and threats emanating from the region, on possible mechanisms and sequence of solutions to Middle Eastern issues.
This meeting is devoted to the latest events in Syria and Yemen, the possibilities of preventing escalation, and the optimal formats for multilateral dialog in these crisis situations. The Russian side is represented by Alexander Aksenyonok, RIAC Vice-President, Andrey Kortunov, RIAC Director General,...
... powers, especially in relation to the provision of military support, has often intensified the destructiveness of conflicts in the region, allowing them to continue long after the resources of the warring parties would otherwise have been depleted (Syria is a case study of this). Whatever the temptations of seeing the Middle East as an arena through which to score points against each other in a global struggle, the reality is that Europe, Russia, the US and China all have a common interest in preventing ...
