Agenda: Syrian conflict: positions of the Russian Federation and States of Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf

Report of the expert of the UN Security Council

Expert: Ryazantsev Ilya

Agenda: Syrian conflict: positions of the Russian Federation and States of Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf

Now the Middle East is considered one of the hottest, conflictual regions in the world. It draws attention of many countries of the world which resist each other, fighting for leadership and spheres of influence. Today according to media in the last 10 years speaks to us about constant counteraction, the military conflicts, not contents of the people concerning the leaders and their political policy, human rights violations, and also the developed terrorism in east states. The international organizations together with the large and influential states though try to adjust a situation in the region, however face frequent disagreements and only aggravate situation, pursuing interests of individual character. Therefore today it is very difficult to understand the purposes of participants of many conflicts, the causes of these disagreements and a way of its decision.

Today a serious event in this region is the Syrian conflict, namely opposition of supporters of the incumbent president Bashar al-Assad (The Syrian Arab army), formations of "moderate" Syrian opposition (Free Syrian army), the Kurdish regionalists (Groups of national self-defense), and also different Islamist terrorist groups (IS, the Nusra Front etc.).

Now it is very important to understand the reasons and history of emergence of the conflict. The beginning of oppositions between the power and opposition arose on a wave of "The Arab spring" in March, 2011. Anti-government protests led to mass riots in various cities of Syria, and to summer of the same year developed into full-scale armed conflict. The main requirements of opposition were: resignation of the president Bashar al-Assad, cancellation (acting since 1962) the emergency rule and carrying out in the country of democratic transformations.

Originally fighting was conducted between government army and formations of "Free Syrian Army" (FSA). The Syrian National Council (SNC) which at that time included all antigovernmental fractions was parent organization of the Syrian opposition. However subsequently in the ranks of opposition there was a split — the Kurdish organizations which created own government (The supreme Kurdish council) left the first of its structure, and in 2013 most radical Islamist groups formed "The Islamic front".

However further because of split in the ranks of insurgents of a position of SSA significantly weakened, and the secular opposition faded into the background. Different Islamist groups among which the most efficient are the terrorist organizations "Nusra Front" (local branch of Al-Qaeda) and Islamic State (IS) began to play the leading role in opposition to government forces.

Rapid approach of IS and capture by terrorists of considerable territories of Syria and Iraq in the summer of 2014 became an occasion to start full-scale military support of the government of the president Assad from Russia. Parties of the conflict receive military aid from other countries — support to government forces is given by Russia and Iran, the Syrian opposition receives the economic help by means of oil sale. Shiite paramilitary forces (in particular Lebanese Hezbollah), and also pro-government paramilitary formations (National forces of defense) are on the side of the government. On the side of opposition — sunnitst Islamist groups, such as Ansar al-Islam. Everything, according to the UN, during the conflict 220 thousand people died, enormous damage is caused to economy and infrastructure of the country. The conflict is characterized by fierce fighting, chaotic firings of settlements, massacre and numerous war crimes against civilians. In the territories under control to Islamists, laws of Sharia work, slavery is legalized, religious minorities suffer persecution, and also objects of cultural heritage collapse.

From the point of view of geopolitical interests, a position of the states it was divided into two camps. One, in particular the USA, insists on resignation of the president Assad as only possibility of settlement of the conflict. Others, in particular Russia and China, object that violence needs to be stopped through political dialogue of two howling parties without intervention from the outside. At the same time Russia regularly delivers arms of Syria. It should be taken into account that these arms supplies occur with the permission of the president maintaining friendship with Russia.

In March, 2014 the League of Arab States condemned "massacre of civilians" and urged all parties of the conflict to make efforts for the termination of civil war. "We condemn the murders of innocent people committed by Bashar al-Assad's regime" — is told in the text of the statement

But, anyway, the conflict in Syria is supported by different forces which, anyway, it is favorable to one of the parties.

From a point sight of a position of the countries entering CCASG, the Syrian conflict is some stumbling block in the relations of Russia and a number of the Arab states (Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iran, etc.). This organization though promoted settlement and stabilization of a situation, but some statements of Russia in carrying out the political and economic policy only aggravated situation, joining in several conflicts at once. Therefore the countries of CCASG adhere to the American course and the American policy. They very actively build dialogue, and also conclude trade and economic agreements, and also resolving issues on expansion of mutual interests.

It is worth drawing a conclusion that the problem of opposition of political groups in Syria is very sharp and urgent today. And the Security council is faced by a task not just to determine opposition scale in the Middle East region, but also to collectively develop the system of actions directed to suppression, both the Syrian conflict, and any opposition around the world. And the made decisions have to promote decrease in growth of armament race in the region, to acceptance of a number of programs for the general stabilization of a situation in the territory of the region and measures for suppression military operations.