The West and Russia give rather ambiguous evaluations of the results of the two-day “G8” summit on the Syria issue that was held in Northern Ireland.
Moscowconsiders participation of Vladimir Putin in this meeting on the highest level in Lough Erne a success since Russia was able to defend its position, including one on Syria. Such statement was made by Alexei Pushkov, head of the State Duma’s international affairs committee on June 19.
Londonalso gives positive reviews of the summit results. Summit host British Prime Minister David Cameron said that the leaders of the “Group of Eight” were able to overcome fundamental disagreements on the situation in Syria. According to him, the participants of the summit made a “weighty and important statement on Syria.” In this regard, Cameron announced the program of the seven steps, which, among other things, provides greater diplomatic pressure on both sides of the conflict in order to finally begin the negotiation process and allocates nearly 1.5 billion US dollars in humanitarian aid to the population of the country.
However, in this case, what was not included in the communique is more important. First of all, this document contains no clause on the future of the President of the Arabic Republic of Syria Bashar Assad. As you know, Russia bets on Assad, while the United States and their European allies support the rebels.
“It is inconceivable that President Assad can play a role in the future of his country. He has blood on his hands,” said David Cameron at the press conference. “It is impossible to imagine Syria, where people continue to rule after making such terrible things to their countrymen.” It is a very powerful statement, but it can only remain words, given the fact that Russia is not going to stop the supply of weapons to Syria, citing the fact that the contracts were concluded with the legitimate government.
During the summit the date of an international peace conference “Geneva 2,” agreed upon by the United States and Russia, has not been announced.
The fact that President Barack Obama gave no public comment on Syria strike dissonance with the statements made by Cameron and Putin. Did the head of the White House really have nothing to say on the Syrian issue?
The Day asked Russian and Ukrainian experts to comment on the results of the G8 summit on the Syria issue and explain why Russia claims the victory of Putin’s position on this summit, while Western mass media write about the isolation of the Russian president.
COMMENTARY
Hennadii LATII, Special Representative of Ukraine for the Middle East and Africa:
“I do not think that anyone lost at this summit. The parties have agreed on that there is a need to look for peaceful solution, go to the conference ‘Geneva 2.’ So, everyone has won.”
Russia claims that Putin has defended his position, while the West didn’t manage to fit a note about Assad in the communique…
“That’s the point of view of a Russian politician. But I think that a compromise has been reached. There is no one winning party, it never works that way. Everyone insisted on something, but in the end a compromise solution was found that suits everyone. As for the allegations in the media about the isolation of Putin at the summit, it is not quite true, because all the participants spoke with him. And the fact that Putin’s position was slightly different from the others is normal.”
Does Putin’s position provide for a peaceful settlement of the Syrian conflict?
“Positions of Russia, the US, and the European Union on this issue are different, but the communication of leaders, of course, facilitates resolving of this conflict, because it is aimed at a finding a way for peaceful settlement of the conflict.”
But currently there is no set date of the international conference and, besides, Obama refused to comment on the outcome of the summit. What does it mean?
“This only proves the fact that the process is complex, because still not all the participants of the conference have been defined. Once this is done, the date will be announced. I remain optimistic and I think that with the assistance of Russia, the US, and the EU the conference will take place and a solution that would suit everyone and would contribute to the peaceful settlement of the conflict will be found. However, of course, we have to take into account the opinion of Saudi Arabia and Iran because they are the influential players in the region and have their interest in Syria.”
