West now inclining toward diplomatic settlement of Syrian crisis

TEHRAN,May 15(MNA)--The recent meeting between British Prime Minister David Cameron and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which placed Syria on top of the agenda, indicated that the West is softening its position on the conflict in the country. Over the past two years, Western governments have repeatedly called for military intervention to oust Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. However, Britain’s new inclination for a political solution to the crisis clearly shows that the Westerners have become discouraged about the viability of a military option and are now trying to realize their objectives through political and diplomatic means. Cameron and Putin agreed that efforts should be made to facilitate a transition of power in Syria through a democratic election, and there was no discussion about ousting Assad. In fact, Britain and its allies have come to the conclusion that the continuation of the crisis in Syria would have serious consequences not only for the Middle East but for the entire world. Countries like Turkey, Iraq, and Jordan are becoming increasingly involved in the Syria crisis, and this could put the West’s interests in the region at great risk. All this has convinced the Westerners that they should increase their efforts to find a political solution, and Russia seems to be the best option as a mediator. A political resolution of the conflict in Syria would certainly be possible if Western governments, and especially the United States, stop supporting the terrorists in Syria. In other words, the crisis cannot be ended through meetings with Russian officials and expressions of support for previous agreements on Syria. The U.S. and its regional allies continue to fund and arm the terrorists fighting against Assad, and this is the main impediment preventing the initiation of any political process to resolve the crisis. The Syrian government is opposed to any type of negotiations with the people who are destroying Syria and killing innocent civilians. Syria’s main allies, including Iran, have a similar position. Tehran has told the anti-Syria front they must cease their support for the terrorists if they want to see real peace in Syria. The meeting between Cameron and Putin has provided a glimmer of hope that the crisis in Syria can finally be brought to an end. However, this is not enough, and the West and its Arab allies must prove that they really want to help establish lasting peace in Syria. Dr. Jahangir Karami is a faculty member of the Department of Russian Studies of the University of Tehran. (By Jahangir Karami )