The middle East
Security conference: the laboratory of the matches
The experimental set-up is awesome: lock 600 decision-makers for three days in a luxury hotel and give them the opportunity to hold informal Meetings. Sometimes then Yes but movement in the crises of the world.
The Munich security conference awaits with superlatives. Not only the number of visitors – more than ever – or the number of heads: around 30. Also the content of major standards: From “the most dangerous international situation since the end of the Cold war,” said in her opening speech, the German Minister of defence Ursula von der Leyen. The war in Syria, the Terror the IS called as the biggest threat. The challenge posed by the refugee crisis described by the Leyen as epochal. “In such a Situation, the world must join forces. Instead, it sucks the rivalry of the Great and regional powers too much force”, complained the Minister of defence.
The Bayerischer Hof: this is where decision-makers from all over the world
Even the title of the conference leaves little room for optimism: “Infinite crisis, Reckless disturber, Helpless protector”. And yet: The Munich security conference would not be the world’s most important Meeting for the security and foreign policy, if in this laboratory the meetings is not also something moves. As on the eve of the conference, the Syria contact group’s proposal of a truce within a week. Even if the Statements made by the Syrian head of state Bashar al-Assad in Damascus, he wanted all of Syria to win back, the optimism in Munich a considerable damper on missed. In the area more cautious approach also includes the confidential Meeting between NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg with Russian foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. A subsequent, very careful Statement Stoltenbergs was found that both sides, regardless of their differences, a Gesprächskanal want to establish. For this purpose the NATO-Russia Council to be activated.
Passion in Zarif, an Iranian
To perhaps the most emotional moments of the day belongs to the passionate appeal of the Iranian foreign Minister, Javad Zarif, an Iranian regional rival Saudi Arabia, ways of cooperation to search. Even in Syria identified Zarif, an Iranian common interests: The creation of a new, peaceful, multi-ethnic and religiously diverse Syria. Saudi Arabia and Iran could not be mutually from the Region to exclude, Zarif, an Iranian. A paradigm shift was needed: away from Thinking in Zero-sum categories to Win-Win concept. This way only have the Iran nuclear Deal. You want the Iranian Minister of foreign Affairs like to believe. However, in Iran there are multiple centers of power. And powerful forces have at reconciliation and rapprochement significantly less interest as Zarif, an Iranian or its President Hassan Rohani.
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Syria: the ceasefire?
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Syria: the ceasefire?
A good hour prior to Zarif, an Iranian, had the Saudi foreign Minister Ahmed Al-Jubeir on the same Podium speaking. Al-Jubeir complained about the negative Image of his country and presented Saudi Arabia as a country with great potential. He made clear to the claim Riads significantly, the regional power to be. Al-Jubeir defended the use of Saudi forces in Yemen. And he made Bashar al-Assad not only for the death of 300,000 people responsible, but also for the rise of the IS. A future for Syria with Assad comes to Saudi Arabia is not in question. The IS called Al-Jubeir as a terrorist organization by psychopaths without Religion. To questions from the audience out tried Al-Jubeir greatest possible distance between the Islam IS and Islam Saudi interpretation. The lack of rights of women in Saudi Arabia, he said, with social traditions. With Religion have nothing to do. It pointed to Al-Jubeir on an interesting number: 55 percent of all University graduates in Saudi Arabia are women.
New Self-Confidence
The Region was also the Iraqi President Haider al-Abadi arrived. Abadi is convinced that IS the end of the year, Iraq expelled to have. He pointed to recent military successes such as the liberation of Ramadi, Tikrit, or the province of Anbar. The armed forces have new confidence gained. Next, would be the liberation of Mosul will be prepared. Abadi called for investment for his country. The security situation is good, and in Baghdad there now again a thriving nightlife, so the Iraqi Premier. Turkey, in turn, criticized Abadi violently. Turkish combat units are against the will of Baghdad, around 100 kilometres deep into the Iraqi territory penetrated. It is not the “help” Iraq needs Abadi. And also this is Munich: While Abadi sat on the panel, met the leaders of the Iraqi Kurds, Massud Barsani, with different partners. Barsani strives for the independence of the Kurdengebiets.