Russia in Global Affairs

“THE REGIME HAS BEEN THROWN DOWN” You are hereby discharged from the military compulsory service. These are the final messages received by members of the Syrian army in the northern and northeastern countryside of Latakia, marking the conclusion of a regime that has ruled the Syrian people for over five decades.

The recent offensive by Syrian rebels which took control of several cities, particularly the strategic city of Aleppo, is a new development that, although surprising, was not strange. The Middle East region and Syria have many unresolved challenges that are capable of leading to a crisis and an uncertain future at any time under the influence of national, regional or international factors.

Georgia is partially on fire, but this is not 2003 and the US and EU may find things more difficult this time.

It is not too late to give the UN a new lease on life. But this should not be done through delusional summits and declarations but through the restoration of trust based on the Charter principle of the sovereign equality of all states. This is not happening so far.