A week ago, the first round of talks within the framework of the Geneva-2 Conference ended last week. The next one will start next Monday. Middle East experts Andrey Baklanov, Alexander Zotov and Yevgeny Satanovsky are having a round-table conference today to discuss chances for success at the Geneva-2 talks.
Russian ex-Ambassador to Syria Alexander Zotov emphasizes that there is no point in giving power to the opposition in the country. The goal of the new talks is to gather the opposition. Zotov notes that diplomats are trying to end the monopoly of the National Coalition.
The ex-ambassador reminds that Syria is on the edge of losing statehood. He points out that militants are forming Emirates in Syria, sponsored by Saudi Arabia. Zotov says that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad became a figure of firmness for Syrians.
Ambassador Andrey Baklanov, an Advisor to the Speaker of the Federation Council of Russia, notes that the sides of the Syrian conflict will not stop fighting each other. He reminds that the Syrian Army has about 217,000-220,000 soldiers, fighting about 65,000-70,000 oppositionists, 15,000 of whom are militants capable of any acts. Should the diplomats fail, they will continue fighting, according to Baklanov.
Yevgeny Satanovsky, President of the Institute for the Middle East, believes that the Syrian process demonstrates the fast changes in the world, where tye roles of the superpowers are declining. He says that if the US decides to attack Syria, no one would stop it, the way it was not done in Iraq and Libya. The expert wonders why Russia should make any agreements with the US about President Assad if not a single promise given to Russia has ever been kept.
Satanovsky adds that Israel is a neighbour of Syria. Tel Aviv does not care who rules Damascus, he explains. It will continue monitoring Syria, although any scenarios would be bad for Israel, the scientist predicts.
A week ago, the first round of talks within the framework of the Geneva-2 Conference ended last week. The next one will start next Monday. Middle East experts Andrey Baklanov, Alexander Zotov and Yevgeny Satanovsky are having a round-table conference today to discuss chances for success at the Geneva-2 talks.Russian ex-Ambassador to Syria Alexander Zotov emphasizes that there is no point in giving power to the opposition in the country. The goal of the new talks is to gather the opposition. Zotov notes that diplomats are trying to end the monopoly of the National Coalition.The ex-ambassador reminds that Syria is on the edge of losing statehood. He points out that militants are forming Emirates in Syria, sponsored by Saudi Arabia. Zotov says that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad became a figure of firmness for Syrians.Ambassador Andrey Baklanov, an Advisor to the Speaker of the Federation Council of Russia, notes that the sides of the Syrian conflict will not stop fighting each other. He reminds that the Syrian Army has about 217,000-220,000 soldiers, fighting about 65,000-70,000 oppositionists, 15,000 of whom are militants capable of any acts. Should the diplomats fail, they will continue fighting, according to Baklanov.Yevgeny Satanovsky, President of the Institute for the Middle East, believes that the Syrian process demonstrates the fast changes in the world, where tye roles of the superpowers are declining. He says that if the US decides to attack Syria, no one would stop it, the way it was not done in Iraq and Libya. The expert wonders why Russia should make any agreements with the US about President Assad if not a single promise given to Russia has ever been kept.Satanovsky adds that Israel is a neighbour of Syria. Tel Aviv does not care who rules Damascus, he explains. It will continue monitoring Syria, although any scenarios would be bad for Israel, the scientist predicts
