By Vestnik Kavkaza
As the U.S. accused the Syrian government of the usage of chemical weaponry, Putin and Obama didn’t communicate, but through the mass media Russian President addressed his American colleague “to remember previous operations in various regions of the world which didn’t solve the problem” and to treat the Syrian question from the point of view of the Noble peace prize winner.
Pr. Leonid Syukiyanen and the advisor of the deputy chairman of the FC of Russia Andrey Baklanov told Vestnik Kavkaza about prospects of the Russian-American summit.
- Can the meeting between Putin and Obama, if it takes place at the G20 summit, influence settlement of the Syrian conflict?
Leonid Syukiyanen
I believe the only thing that can happen at the meeting is another discussion, another comparison of the arguments of both sides. Apparently, there are attempts to find common points from both sides. The countries are interested in approaching their position. Either the U.S. or Russia needs this. I don’t think this meeting can change the American decision on launching a strike radically, but probably some other initiatives will be discussed there, because a military strike cannot settle the situation in Syria. So, we can expect some additional steps.
Andrey Baklanov
If the meeting takes place, it will be right on time because today further developments are being determined not only in Syria, but also in a wider international context. Why do we pay attention to the Syrian events? It is not only because we sympathise the Syrian people. We think that the failures of the international society in settlement of conflicts in recent years are beginning to turn into specific negative peculiarities of the whole system of international security. It turns into a system of international threat. We see withdrawal from previously achieved agreements and the UN principles of the Security Council’s work.
Thus, the Syrian events have two meanings for us. First of all, we should think over and made a right decision on Syria. Secondly, we should prevent the system from falling into uncontrolled chaos when conflicts will appear in the most unexpected places. I think the Americans began to realize their responsibility as the leading country of the world, the SC member. The course provided by our authorities and Vladimir Putin, has huge importance. Of course the Americans have their own interests. There are the interests of certain powerful groups, including the military industrial sector, which lobby for stronger and reasonless measures. There are groups which think that we should not pay attention to the facts, but provide narrow interests only.
We see our role in the explanation of our point of view. By the way, the events of recent days show that the logic of the Russian Federation influences those countries which used to have different views. For instance, Germany or public opinion in the UK. It is a hard work, but we should do it. The upcoming meeting can be an important point in the comparison of positions and finding the right ways out of the complicated situation in Syria and the whole world.
- How can an attack on Syria influence Obama’s image? Will his political figure become more powerful at the international arena?
Leonid Syukiyanen
For some people he will become more powerful, for others – he won’t. The international arena is a plenty of various countries, positions which support the U.S. or don’t support them. Thus, for someone it will be an advantage for Obama’s image, for others – a drawback. The international arena includes China, Russia, the UK, the U.S., and Iran. So, making a decision, Obama has to decide what he wants more. He will lose in somebody’s eyes and gain in the eyes of another. It seems he thinks he will gain more than lose.
Andrey Baklanov
I am a practical person and believe that instead of predicting, we should do our best to prevent. Even though today the chances for a military conflict are bigger, we should do our best to prevent it. I don’t see other variants. Our style is to fight till the last moment for peaceful settlement, a peaceful way out of the difficult situation.
In some cases our position has already encouraged prevention of the worst scenario. We don’t lose optimism and work on two directions – we analyze events which have happened, including negative, and make conclusions on the set course of peaceful settlement of the problem in the future.
Today many people speak about the collapse of the UN system. We should launch modifications into work of the bodies. At the same time, effective instruments shouldn’t be forgotten. If something functions not perfectly well, we shouldn’t reject it. I think it is too early to speak about alternatives. At first they should be established. So, today we should use existing mechanisms, including the UN and the SC.
