Vladislav Belov: " Afghanistan is a problem of terrorism, not of withdrawal of the alliance troops"

Darya Melikhova, exclusively for Vestnik Kavkaza

The 50th Munich Security Conference starts today.

Seven years ago, this is where Vladimir Putin made

his famous speech in Munich, regarded by

some Western political scientists as the beginning

of a new Cold War. This time, 20 heads of State

and Government, as well as more than 50

foreign ministers and defense ministers, will

discuss the situation in Syria, relations

with Iran, the crisis in Ukraine (Vitali

Klitschko has already been invited), the future

of the transatlantic community and the role to be played by Russia, the EU and the US in

solving important problems in the domain of international security. Which of the

above will most excite the Russian delegation?

Vladislav Belov, Director of the Center of German Studies of the Institute of Europe

of the RAS, told Vestnik Kavkaza about the issues that will be of most

importance for the Russian delegation.

-          Which topics of the Munich agenda do you consider to be the

most relevant?

I think Syria will be the leading topic. It is known that opportunities for

progress in the talks with the so-called opposition have appeared. However,

we see that the problem cannot be solved in a short-term period; it will

continue to be acute. The next slot of questions is devoted to

international terrorism, which is connected with Syria, Afghanistan, and

Iraq. Last year new tendencies were revealed, they are connected not only

with al-Qaeda, the Taliban, but also with new leaders, for example, of an

extreme wing of radical Islamism. I think the general problems of the

Middle East in the context of relations with Syria and Iran will be

discussed. The slot is connected with Palestine and Israel. These will be

the main topics.

European problems won't be so acute.

- What about the Afghan problems related to the withdrawal of the alliance

troops?

Afghanistan is a problem of terrorism, rather than a problem of withdrawal

of the alliance troops. How can the Afghan state cope with the internal challenges connected with the international

problems existing in the country without NATO's support? At the moment there is no concept of

Afghanistan's future without international support. I think European

problems will be discussed to a lesser extent, as well as cooperation with

America, including the views of Russia, the USA and NATO, I mean the missile

defense issues, even though I think the Russian representatives will touch on

the issues. Finally, the least important will be the problems of frozen

conflicts which exist and have to be discussed. This will be the likely

agenda. The conference is an anniversary, and great attention will be paid to

it. Of course everybody will remember Vladimir Putin's speech several years

ago, which stirred up Europe and the world.

- How does Europe consider withdrawal of NATO troops from Afghanistan? Is it

concerned about it just like Russia?

Yes, but not only about the withdrawal of troops, but also the problem of

international terrorism in the region, which is financed by serious forces

due to drug trafficking, this is the other major problem. Afghanistan and its

neighbors, where international terrorism feels comfortable, concerns Europe,

as terrorist operations and projects which will be developed on the

territory will threaten not only Russia and Afghanistan, but the whole

world. I repeat that along with Syria it will be one of the key topics for

discussion.