The visit of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to Moscow is of an extraordinary nature and is related to the need to develop a joint strategy with Russia in the light of new prospects in the Middle East region, which are opened by the Iranian-Saudi rapprochement. Lebanese analyst Nidal Sabi, considered a specialist in inter-Arab problems, expressed this opinion on Tuesday in a conversation with TASS correspondent.
"Political processes in the region are acquiring new dynamics, so the leaders of Russia and Syria, Vladimir Putin and Bashar al-Assad, need to compare notes," he said.
According to the interlocutor, effective diplomacy between Moscow and Beijing is changing the face of the Middle East. "Last December, Russia achieved an unexpected breakthrough in Syrian-Turkish relations by offering Ankara and Damascus to resume dialogue and return to cooperation," he said. - "Now China, using its close economic ties with Iran and Saudi Arabia, has encouraged them to come closer for peace and stability."
Sabi compared the March 10 agreement in Beijing to normalize bilateral relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia to a political earthquake. "This memorandum of understanding draws a line under a 40-year era during which the US used the contradictions between Tehran and Riyadh to foment conflicts in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Lebanon," he stressed. - "For the first time, countries of the region have a unique opportunity to organize their lives without neocolonialist interference, and Russia and China are their allies in this endeavor."
With regard to Syria and Turkey, the Lebanese expert noted that the February 6 earthquake put on hold the negotiation process between the parties with the participation of Russia and Iran, which joined the mediation efforts. "At the same time, the catastrophe that befell the Syrians provoked a deep response in the Arab world," he said. - "Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Libya, the United Arab Emirates and other countries have urgently organized the airlift of humanitarian aid to Aleppo, Damascus, and Latakia airports."
According to Sabi, most Arab leaders are now openly in favor of lifting the cruel anti-Syrian sanctions imposed by the West 12 years ago. "I think it won't be long before a plane will land in Damascus with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on board," the interlocutor concluded.
GSV "Russia - Islamic world"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS