 | | | |
| ||||
|
Alexander Romanovich: how the tragedy in Paris may affect the world politics 15 ноября 2015 Alexander Romanovich, deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Foreign Affairs, a JR faction member spoke out in connection with a series of terror acts in Paris: No matter how horrible and inhuman the terror acts in Paris are, an emotional shock they caused is being substituted by their assessment from the point of view of foreign policy. We remember the significant and far-reaching consequences of the Al Qaeda terror acts in New York on September 11. Some serious practical steps for international cooperation in fighting terrorism were made at that time. We must say that Russia went toward an incomprehensible rapprochement with the USA at that moment, even to the detriment of some of its strategic and defense interests. Will the current terror attack against the French capital become similar to the paradigmatic New York example that has been 15 years old? This is a serious issue as the situation is much more complicated. On the one hand, after the terror attacks in Paris, it is clear for a lot of people that the Middle East terror has not saturated with crimes and violence in the places of its origin yet; it is stretching its deadly tentacles to other countries and poses a direct threat to the Europeans’ lives, their calmness and well-being. There seems to be an obvious conclusion that can be drawn. If the world community does not take any joint, consolidated and, what is most important, unconditional measures against the Islamic extremists, they are sure to come to other cities and countries which will lead to other deaths and destruction. The call for the world community that Russia is making efforts to promote is actually based on this message. Cruel Paris "massacre" adds grounds to the Russian initiative as, in this case, we are not talking about scattered individualists any more but about a well-planned and professional terrorist operation that was held in the "city guerilla" style. Just have a look at the choice of the time of the terror acts: on the eve of "The Big Twenty" meeting in Antalya and the forthcoming Summit on Climate in France, a France-Germany football match, and on top of all, a relaxed Friday atmosphere. There is put something more significant into the scale: a desperate situation the refugees in Europe and France (in particular) find themselves in. Moreover, it has been aggravating from day to day. Then, an exact choice of the objects for attack. The main ones are the stadium and the concert hall of the type of our "Nord-Ost" where they might have planned to make some statement but for a quick assault. A well-arranged concentration of forces, an efficient and well-prepared group possessing the means of communication protected against interception, and logistics; all that provided storage of explosives, armament and safe places for the terrorists’ residence. But it’s not the main point. The act of terror was prepared at a united centre able to calculate complicated strategic operations with long-lasting consequences. It appears that none of the Western special services knows the centre, which is even more disturbing. In terms of international terrorism, now "The Islamic State" seems to be much more dangerous than "Al Qaeda". However, on the other hand, so far there have not emerged any conditions for a joint consolidated reply, i.e. creation of the global coalition Moscow is calling for. A potential Western segment of a virtual coalition has not reached any consensus regarding the fate of Assad’s regime yet. The members of the available pro-American coalition are connected with various anti-Assad forces and even pro-ISIS groups. Moreover, the community of the Middle East states is torn by contradictions between these states, by its links that are differently oriented and their western partners’ influence. Russia’s distinct and focused actions, i.e. not only its air strikes against ISIS in Syria but also its efforts in international diplomacy added more mess to this "multifruit compote". President Putin confirmed it, without any doubt, at the G-20 Summit in Turkey. We may only hope that the Russian example and France that mobilized in the face of a real danger would "clear the air". At least, Nikolia Sarkozi, French ex-president who is also the leader of the largest opposition party "The Republicans" declared the following after his meeting with Francois Hollande, the Head of the State:" I told President Hollande about the necessity to change the accents of the foreign policy. It is necessary for us to do everything to destroy "The Islamic State". There is required a broad coalition, including, of course, the Russians. No two coalitions can exist now."
|
