...
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 ... ... room. Its impact on the region is profound, multifaceted and controversial. The predominant view in the West in general and in France in particular is that Iran is more part of the problem than it is part of the solution. Of course, Iran’s friends and ...
... two organizations in a series of seminars.
The meeting included two sessions, one devoted to the settlement of the Syrian crisis, and the other — to Ukrainian issues. The parties discussed the possibility of converging the positions of Russia and France on the resolution of the Syrian and Ukrainian issues. Andrey Kortunov, RIAC Director General, and Michel Duclos, advising Institut Montaigne, made speeches at the opening of the event.
During the first session of the seminar, experts discussed Russian and French visions of restoring ...
... would contribute to the escalation of violence in Syria.
Ruslan Mamedov:
The Astana Shackles
Each of these potential crises in Syria would have its own logic, dynamics and repercussions. There is no universal insurance policy against all of them. Three ... ... it is impossible to sit all regional and international players around the same table. Three of them, i.e. Russia, the US and France, have vested interests, a capacity to talk to many regional stakeholders and are permanent members of the UNSC. We suggest ...
... touched upon in the course of the meeting: various aspects of Syrian Settlement, results of the quadripartite Russia-Turkey-France-Germany summit meeting in Istanbul, options for Syrian political transit, possible areas of cooperation between Russia and France in Syria and in the Middle East.
The meeting also focused on the military-political consequences of the likely withdrawal of the United States from the INF Treaty, ways to overcome the current arms control crisis and to restore a single and indivisible European ...
... great powers on the general dynamics of development in the Middle East, most significant challenges and threats emanating from the region, possible mechanisms and sequencing of solutions to Middle East issues.
The discussion focuses on acute crises in Syria, Yemen, and Libya, as well as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and potential instability in other countries of the region. Aleksandr Aksenyonok, RIAC Vice-President, and Andrey Kortunov, RIAC Director General, represent Russian side at the meeting....
... difficulties in the US-Russian relationship. Yet, staying out of the game cannot be an option for a German foreign policy that aims at taking on more responsibility. How a responsible international Russia policy might look like is demonstrated right now by France’s president: a clear stance towards Russia in Syria and in questions of domestic meddling while at the same time continuing dialogue and without sacrificing own interests.
Andrey Kortunov:
How to Survive in a Trench Warfare
The starting point should be a strong common European policy towards Russia....
... Russia-France cooperation in the Middle East.
Andrey Kortunov
, RIAC Director General, and former French ambassador to Syria (2006–2009), Michel Duclos, advising Institut Montaigne, made opening speeches.
The following issues were discussed: resolution of Syrian crisis and the situation in then Middle East. The sides touched upon the positions of Russia and France in post-conflict reconstruction, regional security system, and prospects for the development of the situation.
Aleksanrd Kramarenko
, RIAC Director of Development,
Timur Makhmutov
, RIAC Deputy Program Director,
Ruslan Mamedov
, RIAC Program ...
... major regional and global players in the Syrian conflict, the prospects for the political process in Geneva, and the impact of the Syrian conflict on the situation in the region of the Middle East in general.
On February 7 French television company France24 held a live debate on the issues of de-escalation is Syria.
Tony Badran, Research Fellow, Foundation for Defense of Democracies; Andrey Kortunov, Director General, Russian International Affairs Council; Joshua Landis, Director of Center for Middle East Studies, University of Oklahoma; and Ammar Abd Rabbo,...
The issues of Syrian conflict resolution and more common issues of Middle East regional security system creation were discussed in the course of the meeting.
On August 30, Special Envoy of France to Syria Franck Gellet visiting Moscow, accompanied by Lydia Tabtab, the First Secretary of the French Embassy to Russia, paid a visit to Russian International Affairs Council.
The issues of Syrian conflict resolution and more common issues of Middle East ...
... was represented by its Deputy Program Director Timur Makhmutov, who briefed the participants on the reasons and preliminary results of the Russian military operation in Syria.
The discussion has revealed that the interests and abilities of Germany and France in resolving the Syrian crisis vary, and developing a unified approach requires a lot of teamwork. At that, Russia’s recent actions, namely promoting inter-Syrian dialogue and withdrawal of its main military grouping from Syria, were viewed favorably, while using ...