Cold War replay

The current phase violence in Syria is in danger of worsening further as Russia and China last Saturday blocked an Arab League-led UN Security Council resolution that aimed at encouraging a political resolution.

The resolution, among others, required the country’s President Bashar al-Assad to end the use of force against his political opponents and ordinary citizens protesting against his regime, restore democratic rights of the people and pave way for a political transition to a democratic and plural political system.

The veto by the two permanent members dealt a blow to the Arab League plan that enjoyed the backing of the United States and its European allies. The vote saw all the other 13 Security Council members support the resolution. India, currently a non-permanent member, too voted for the resolution, after the dropping of explicit provisions envisaged in the Arab League plan that required Assad to step down as president or face strong sanctions.

Russia and China, who felt betrayed by the US over the Libyan issue earlier, view the UN resolution as a ploy by the US and its allies to get rid of another Arab leader who is opposed to the US and who is a close ally of Iran. They believe that the violence is a handiwork of foreign-sponsored armed opponents of Assad.

Russia has initiated a parallel peace initiative to end violence by engaging the Assad regime and its opponents. However, like during the Cold War days, Moscow – and also Beijing – are seen to be pro-Assad, whereas the US, its European allies and some predominantly Sunni Arab countries are seen as egging on Assad’s rivals to step up armed revolt against him. The outcome of this meddling has only hardened the respective positions.

The situation is, therefore, alarming. To prevent it from escalating further, Assad should address people’s aspirations for social and political change. He needs to take into  confidence all stakeholders and lead the country towards a democratic transition. The stalemate is disastrous and cannot be allowed to continue for it will give an impetus to the notion developed by the western powers about their ‘moral responsibility’ to emancipate the suppressed people of Syria. There has to be a Syrian-led peaceful resolution of the crisis as the country’s stability is imperative for overall lasting amity in the region.