World press on Russia's role in Syrian conflict and terrorism in North Caucasus (January 29, 2014)

French media outlet Atlantico published an article by Alain Chouet, a former French intelligence officer, devoted to the Syrian crisis, Russia's and Saudi Arabia's role in the conflict and the rebel movement in the North Caucasus. 

According to the author, Russia will pay dearly if it refuses to stop supporting the Assad regime. Saudi Prince Bandar ben Sultan, who currently heads the Saudi intelligence service and earlier served as the ambassador to the US, has already promised President Putin to use Saudi Arabia's influence on radical Islamists in order to pacify the rebel movement in the Caucasus, the author informs.

In exchange, the Saudis want Russia to stop supporting the Assad regime, the collapse of which is essential for Saudi Arabia in the framework of its long-term conflict with Iran. 

Otherwise, the Saudis are capable of encouraging the Caucasian rebels to launch terrorist attacks on Russian cities, including  Sochi, which is soon going to host the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, Chouet underlines.