Interfax: Analysts: deal with U.S. on Syrian arms ‘diplomatic victory’ for Russia

(Interfax – MOSCOW, September 16, 2013) Two Russian political analysts interviewed by Interfax have put Saturday’s U.S.-Russian agreement on Syrian chemical arms, a deal that eliminates the possibility of any immediate military strike against the Syrian government, to the credit of Russian diplomacy.

“This agreement sharply raises the odds of the problem of Syria being solved in a diplomatic way. In view of the deadline by which the chemical weapons problem is due to be solved, it’s clear that no military strike is to expected during this period. This, in turn, represents a serious diplomatic success, a diplomatic victory for Moscow,” said Vyacheslav Nikonov, a reputed expert on Russian-American relations and a State Duma deputy, told Interfax.

“It is absolutely obvious that by this achievement Moscow boosts its image as a global political player, one that seeks diplomatic solutions to complex problems, while Washington quite often takes a position of strength attitude,” he said.

Alexei Makarkin, first vice president of the Political Technology Center, spoke in the same vein but argued that Saturday’s deal, reached in Geneva by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, will not stop the United States from seeking the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad’s government.

“Of course, Russia has won a diplomatic victory, and many recognize this now. However, it would be a mistake to assume that this success completely eliminates the risk of escalation of the military conflict. The Americans have agreed to wait, but they haven’t abandoned the idea of toppling Assad’s regime, and this is more an image issue than a political issue for Washington,” Makarkin said.

“The civil isn’t ending, and it can’t be ruled out that the opposition will obtain new armaments. Moreover, having failed to have their case for a military strike against Syria accepted, the Americans are now looking for other reasons, among other things they are beginning to talk about the need for an international tribunal for Assad and his brother, who commands Syrian elite armed units,” Makarkin said.

Saturday’s agreement approves a plan involving the complete destruction of Syrian chemical weapons by the middle of 2014.