On Tuesday, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad made an unannounced visit to Moscow to meet President Vladimir Putin. Reports claim that he made the trip from Damascus to Moscow in a Russian government plane. The visit sparked a new spat regarding Moscow’s role in the region. Putin reportedly had conversations with Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Saudi King Salman after his meeting with Assad. Salman and Erdogan were clearly unhappy about Al-Assad’s visit to Russia and questioned Moscow’s commitment to Ankara and Riyadh.
The issue of Russian Airstrikes was something Erdogan raised. Also, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu felt that a transition was required in Syria which guaranteed Assad’s departure. For three hours in the ‘unpublicized’ talks, Assad and Putin discussed Syria’s current situation. However, they did not disclose the details of the negotiations. According to Putin’s spokesman, the talk of a political settlement through Assad’s removal was premature keeping in view the threat of Syrian terrorists. He refrained from commenting further on Assad’s possible departure.
However, according to the head of the Institute of Oriental Studies, Vitaly Naumkin, the talks in Moscow may have included discussions on guaranteeing the safety of Assad and all of his family members. Regardless of the discussions that were held, Moscow appears to have emerged from the meeting as a clear winner. The US and its allies largely ignored Moscow’s pronouncements on Syria a few weeks ago. However, Moscow has now literally forced its counterparts, at least the regional ones, by its actions to listen to its arguments on Syria.
The official based in Moscow argued that Russian military intervention in Syria was necessary to restore peace and stability in the region. Member of the Federation Council, the Upper House of the Russian Parliament, Igor Morozov claimed that conditions for a subsequent political settlement are what Russian airstrikes in Syria create. He further remarked that Assad’s trip to Moscow sent a strong signal to the US and allies that Russia remained determined to re-establish order in the Middle East.
Moscow’s role in bringing peace and stability to the region is something Syrian President Bashar al-Assad praised.. Assad said, “I want to express our tremendous gratitude to the Russian leadership and people for the help they are providing Syria,” Assad further said, “Thank you for supporting Syria’s unity and independence.” He further added that events in Syria would have taken “an even more tragic turn” had Russia not intervened.
On a separate note, Canada has decided to withdraw its forces fighting ISIS in Iraq and Syria. Canada’s New Prime minister Justin Trudeau, who took office on Tuesday, revealed that he had already informed U.S. President Barack Obama of his plans. Trudeau told reporters on Monday, “He understands the commitments I’ve made around ending the combat mission.”
Over a period of four years, anti-government protests in Syria developed into a civil war. As a result of this war, more than 250,000 Syrians have been killed with over a million injured. More than 11 million people have fled their homes, harboring hopes of refuge in other ‘safer’ parts of the world.
Syrians desperately hope that peace and stability returns to their country so they can return to their homes. Russia’s intervention in Syria may help them realize this dream sooner than what most people expect!
Be the first to comment on "Bashar al-Assad makes unannounced visit to Moscow"