Key players and their positions

Besides the US and Russia there are several countries that are interested in settling of the Syrian conflict:

Iran

Iran is believed to be spending billions of dollars a year to support President Assad and his Alawite-dominated government, providing military advisers and subsidized weapons, as well as lines of credit and oil transfers. Mr. Assad is Iran's closest Arab ally and Syria is the main transit point for Iranian weapons shipments to the Lebanese Shia Islamist movement, Hezbollah. Iran is also believed to have been influential in Hezbollah's decision to send fighters to western Syria to assist pro-Assad forces. Its military and political influence in Damascus is stronger than any other country, combined with the combat role played by its Lebanese ally Hezbollah.

Iran has been solid in its support for the Syrian regime, like Russia rejecting any suggestion that Assad be forced to step down. It was involved in peace talks over Syria's future for the first time when world powers met in Vienna. Iran’s president, Hassan Rouhani, said “Tehran was willing to work with others in Syria but only if their priority was to fight terrorism, not change the regime” [13].

Russia

Russia is one of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's most important international backers and the survival of the regime is critical to maintaining Russian interests in the country. Moscow “wants to protect a key naval facility which it leases at the Syrian port of Tartous, which serves as Russia's sole Mediterranean base for its Black Sea fleet, and has forces at an air base in Latakia, President Assad's Shia Alawite heartland”[14].

Russia has blocked resolutions critical of President Assad at the UNSC and has continued to supply weapons to the Syrian military despite international criticism. They’re Resolution S/2011/612[15]; Resolution S/2012/77[16]; Resolution S/2012/538[17]; Resolution S/2014/348[18].

Russia “refers to the need to ‘safeguard’ Syrian state structures, and the ‘rational’ opposition, which does not include armed rebel groups. Moscow also backs an international ‘contact group’ to handle Syria – bringing in Iran and Saudi Arabia but excluding the UK and France”[19].

In September 2015 Russia began launching air strikes against rebels, saying the so-called Islamic State (IS) and ‘all terrorists’ were targets. President Vladimir Putin has though said that only a political solution can settle the conflict.

Saudi Arabia

The Saudi government claim that they'll “do their share to combat IS” [20]. Also concerned by the group's advances and its popularity among a minority of Saudis they agreed to take part in the US-led coalition air campaign against IS.

Riyadh agreed to a US request to provide a base to train moderate Syrian rebel forces. Riyadh is a major provider of military and financial assistance to rebel groups, including those with Islamist ideologies (for that was accused of direct supporting of IS by Iran).

The kingdom says “President Assad cannot be part of a solution to the conflict and must hand over power to a transitional administration or be removed by force” [21].

Turkey

The Turkish government has been a staunch critic of Mr. Assad since the start of the uprising in Syria. The Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan had previously insisted that Assad must surrender power but later he suggested that Assad could play a role in a political transition. He also claims that it was impossible for Syrians to “accept a dictator who has led to the deaths of up to 350,000 people” [22].

Turkey is an important supporter of Islamist rebels but is giving priority to fighting Kurds. Since Turkey is one of the most vocal critics of President Assad it became the primary route into Syria for foreigners wanting to fight alongside the rebels. But also there is the flow of jihadists wanting to join IS through Turkish territory which Turkish authorities attempt to stem. Turkey is eager to defeat IS, which has advanced into territory along its borders with Syria and Iraq. Turkey's military is also working on plans to establish a ‘buffer zone’ along its borders.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14