Lavrov drives home Russia stand on Syria
- JRL 2012-110
The problem is simple. The Russian feel that they were lied to in the last UN resolution over Libya. The UN mandate was to stop the fighting there too, but the "allies" (for want of a better word) clearly overstepped the power of the mandate and used it as an excuse to support the rebels militarily up to and including the use of Nato air power flying sorties against the government positions that was decisive in bringing about a victory for the rebels. That wasn't what the Russians signed up to.
file photo
So here we are again with the UN asking the Russians (and don't forget the Chinese are saying "no" too for much the same reasons) for a mandate to "bring peace" when recent experiences make it pretty clear the actual outcome of signing the resolution would actually bring war; war specifically tasked with ousting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and installing a government more friendly to the West.
Russia's objection is not so much a pragmatic one (although there is significant business between Moscow and Damascus and has been for decades), as one based on principle. Put simply: if the West is using these UN mandates to "protect the interests of the people" in countries that ends up being cover for violent action to overthrow governments, then at some point someone is going to suggest the UN do the same to Russia (and China) as it is, like Libya and Syria, not a democratic country.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov took to the airwaves in June with a 3,000-word long statement of this position published in the Huffington Post, which makes the case forcefully. It is worth a read. The key quote I reproduce here:
"The point is," wrote Lavrov, "what should be done if the showdown between the authorities and the opposition does assume the form of violent, armed confrontation? The answer seems obvious external actors should do their best to stop the bloodshed and support a compromise involving all parties to the conflict. When deciding to support UN Security Council Resolution 1970 and making no objection to Resolution 1973 on Libya, we believed that these decisions would help limit the excessive use of force and pave the way for a political settlement. Unfortunately, the actions undertaken by Nato countries under these resolutions led to their grave violation and support for one of the parties to the civil war, with the goal of ousting the existing regime damaging in the process the authority of the Security Council."
If the West insists on a UN resolution with no guarantees that the UN, Nato or whatever forces will not simply use the mandate to change the regime rather than stop the fighting, then the Russians are right to refuse to sign off. However, they then become the demons for failing to act while the children of Syria die. The truth is the West's continuous failure to acknowledge Russia's genuine concerns and interests is the problem here.
When will the West finally engage with Russia on terms of mutual respect rather than the bullying and browbeating that has become the standard modus operandi of international diplomacy these days?
Keywords: Russia, Syria, Middle East - Russian News - Russia
The problem is simple. The Russian feel that they were lied to in the last UN resolution over Libya. The UN mandate was to stop the fighting there too, but the "allies" (for want of a better word) clearly overstepped the power of the mandate and used it as an excuse to support the rebels militarily up to and including the use of Nato air power flying sorties against the government positions that was decisive in bringing about a victory for the rebels. That wasn't what the Russians signed up to.
file photo
So here we are again with the UN asking the Russians (and don't forget the Chinese are saying "no" too for much the same reasons) for a mandate to "bring peace" when recent experiences make it pretty clear the actual outcome of signing the resolution would actually bring war; war specifically tasked with ousting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and installing a government more friendly to the West.
Russia's objection is not so much a pragmatic one (although there is significant business between Moscow and Damascus and has been for decades), as one based on principle. Put simply: if the West is using these UN mandates to "protect the interests of the people" in countries that ends up being cover for violent action to overthrow governments, then at some point someone is going to suggest the UN do the same to Russia (and China) as it is, like Libya and Syria, not a democratic country.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov took to the airwaves in June with a 3,000-word long statement of this position published in the Huffington Post, which makes the case forcefully. It is worth a read. The key quote I reproduce here:
"The point is," wrote Lavrov, "what should be done if the showdown between the authorities and the opposition does assume the form of violent, armed confrontation? The answer seems obvious external actors should do their best to stop the bloodshed and support a compromise involving all parties to the conflict. When deciding to support UN Security Council Resolution 1970 and making no objection to Resolution 1973 on Libya, we believed that these decisions would help limit the excessive use of force and pave the way for a political settlement. Unfortunately, the actions undertaken by Nato countries under these resolutions led to their grave violation and support for one of the parties to the civil war, with the goal of ousting the existing regime damaging in the process the authority of the Security Council."
If the West insists on a UN resolution with no guarantees that the UN, Nato or whatever forces will not simply use the mandate to change the regime rather than stop the fighting, then the Russians are right to refuse to sign off. However, they then become the demons for failing to act while the children of Syria die. The truth is the West's continuous failure to acknowledge Russia's genuine concerns and interests is the problem here.
When will the West finally engage with Russia on terms of mutual respect rather than the bullying and browbeating that has become the standard modus operandi of international diplomacy these days?