The UN and Syria: A Tale of Confusion, Conflict and Lost Hope
[dropcap] The 70th annual gathering of the UN General Assembly is drawing to a close and after more than two weeks of meetings and speeches, the current Syrian tragedy and the ensuing humanitarian crisis emerged as some of the central topics of a discussion that has done little to alleviate the situation.
Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon opened the General Assembly by discussing the important trends of the year, calling in particular for increased global cooperation in the face of the crisis in the Middle East. Despite this call to action, subsequent speeches showed how much needed to be done before an international consensus could be reached on strategy, let alone the implementation of a concrete plan.
President Obama reiterated his commitment to what are now seen as pillars of his foreign policy, namely an emphasis on an extensive diplomatic process as well as a reliance on pursuing solutions under the protective umbrella of international institutional legitimacy. His strategy focuses not on military solutions but rather on economic development and effective government.
Russian President Vladimir Putin outlined an entirely different course of action, promoting the need for strong military intervention in Syria. Putin also explained that the focus on developing democratic values in the Middle East is at the center of the current institutional failures in the region. Likewise, he warned that the removal of authoritarian leaders such as Saddam Hussein and Muammar Gaddafi was a significant factor in the degradation of regional order and stability, leading him to argue that removing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad would yield similar negative results.
Assad’s role in the Syrian conflict is one of the main barriers to creating a united strategy against the self-styled Islamic State (IS). Many countries base their objectives in Syria around an eventual departure of Assad and a gradual transition to a new government. However, Russia is a staunch ally of the Syrian regime and considers its strategic objectives in the Middle East to be vested in its survival.
In subsequent speeches, many representatives of Middle Eastern states echoed the concerns and frustration that first resonated in Secretary-General Ban’s opening words. The United Arab Emirates decried the ineffectiveness of the international community in resolving the Syrian crisis, a sentiment shared by Saudi Arabia.
Syria itself had the chance to express its concerns to the international community, and its Foreign Minister delivered remarks that called on foreign powers to reduce the flow of extremist fighters to IS as well as calling for increased international coordination with the Syrian army to fight against the Islamic group.
The lack of specifics offered by many countries leaves Russia space to undertake its questionable plans. The recent airstrikes conducted in Syria were widely condemned, not least because in doing so, Russian fighter jets violated Turkish airspace, leading to a stern warning from NATO officials. Further concerns revolve around allegations that the airstrikes were not solely targeting Islamic State fighters but also members of the Syrian rebels. So far, Russian actions have not resulted in any serious consequences and Putin is set to increase his military involvement in the region.