The Arab Spring has shifted the balance in the Middle East, highlighting new problems and challenges for Russia and other regional and extra-regional powers.
Russia’s Sochi played host to the Valdai Discussion Club Middle East section’s conference “Transformation in the Arab World and Russia’s Interests” on February 17-18, 2012.
The Valdai International Discussion Club held the Moscow-Astana videoconference “Elections in Kazakhstan and the outlook for Eurasian integration” at the RIA Novosti press center.
The theses contained in the report “Russia should not miss its chance: Development scenarios” were prepared by the working group comprising Russian and international experts ahead of the VIII annual Valdai Discussion Club meeting, themed “2011-2012 Elections and the Future of Russia. Development Scenarios for the Next 5-8 Years”.
The Valdai Index represents the combined opinion of leading world experts that participated in Valdai Club conferences with respect to Russia’s development in the political, economic, social, cultural and international spheres. Download Russia Development Index 2010-2011 in Russian (PDF)
The report examines how the Russia’s and United States` ties with the countries in post-Soviet Eurasia affect the bilateral relationship. The authors argue that despite the initial successes of the “reset” in Russia-U.S. relations, disputes relating to post-Soviet Eurasia represent “a ‘landmine’ in Russia -U.S. relations that could ‘detonate’ at any time and seriously complicate cooperation on other issues.
Seen from Moscow, the Middle East lies on its very doorstep. With 20 million Muslims in the Northern Caucasus, Russia feels that its domestic stability is linked to developments in the Arab world, especially to the rise of Islamist parties. After a long absence, Russia is now demanding a seat for itself at the top table of Middle East affairs.
Patrick Seale, a leading British writer on the Middle East and the author of several books about Syria and the Arab world, shares his opinion on Russia’s role in the Middle East on the sidelines of an international conference, entitled “Transformation in the Arab World and Russia’s Interests,” held on February 17-18 in the Russian Black Sea resort city of Sochi.
The cancellation of the Camp David Accords, which contains military and political obligations on both Egypt and Israel, could lead to anarchy that would be equally damaging to Egypt’s interests, thinks Andrei Baklanov, Head of International Affairs Department, Council of Federation of the Federal Assembly of Russia.
Russia can play an equivalent role to balance the U.S. position on the peace process in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict as it’s getting much more into its normal position as a superpower, thinks Rami Tahboub, Assistant to the Palestine Minister of Foreign Affairs for International Economic Relations.
Ahmet Mesut Yilmaz, former Turkish Prime Minister: The dialogue between the Syrian regime and its opponents won’t bring positive results. Step down of Bashar al-Assad is the only way for a peaceful solution in Syria.
The creation of a contact group for Syria similar to the League of Friends of the Syrian Opposition, whose mission is military intervention in a sovereign state, is entirely inconsistent with international law and the UN Charter
Army-General Nikolai Makarov, the Chief of the Russian General Staff launched an apparently scathing attack on the domestic defense industry. His comments provoked public controversy with the Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin. However, as the Russian media focused on Makarov’s statements, it appears to have missed an important point. No other general supported the views offered by the Chief of the General Staff; their silence is deafening.
What will shape Medvedev’s legacy? The reset with the US which culminated in the ratification of a new Start treaty and Russian accession to the WTO?