Last month or so at the behest of Russian President Vladimir
Putin, Syrian Dictator Bashar-Al-Assad called on the former at Kremlin. Immediately
after the invitation Assad flew to Kremlin, met Mr.Putin shook hands and went straight
into the heart of the matter. Syria and Russia are on good terms, but for
Russia Mr.Assad would have tasted defeat at the hands of Syrian rebels, the
hard-core Al-Nusrat, branch of Al-Quaeda and Islamic State (IS), the hardest and
much - dreaded militant outfit the world over. In between their talks most
probably, one on one meeting Russia prevailed upon Mr.Assad to hold immediate
elections in Syria.
They were not supposed to have dealt with two or three cardinal
issues concerning Syria and let me mention one by one.
1. 1. In more
than four and half years of civil war, up till now millions of innocent Syrians
perished for no fault of theirs due to incessant bombardments (even chemical
weapons were freely used which choked to death lakhs of civilians including
children. The world as a whole rose in protest and condemned the merciless
massacre of civilians especially children. The pictures of several children who
were choked to death were blood-chilling, blood-curdling and heart-breaking.
US even went to the extent of condemning
the horrendous criminal act of Syrian authorities the former nearly declared an
all out war against Syria Except for the immediate arrival of UN on the scene
which took necessary measures to avert a large-scale war, it would have been a
certainty. On the request of UN, an international organization, Organisation
for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) which was formed with a mission
to inspect chemical weapons and defuse them wherever they were piled up and freely
used was sent to Syria and with the latter’s co-operation defused and destroyed
the chemical weapons. The organization was awarded Nobel Prize for peace soon
after.
2. 2. If millions perished in the war, as many fled
for life leaving all their belongings, to various countries including European
nations and the outflow of refugees continues. In the mad rush to escape
gruesome deaths more than 3000 of refugees including children were drowned in
the Mediterranean sea. A mind-boggling picture of Aylan Muhammed, a 3 year old
child who got drowned in the Mediterranean and whose corpse landed on the
shores of Turkish waters was displayed on both the print and electronic media which
still sends a shudder running down our spines.
3. 3. Millions of dollars worth properties were
destroyed the pictures of shattered buildings were shown on media – both print
and visual.
These three hot issues requiring
immediate attention and solution seem to have been sidelined by both Assad and
Putin.
Instead, sensing a tragic defeat
of Syrian dictator who was gradually getting isolated due to desertions by the
so-called militia who stood by him. Russia militarily intervened in Syria and
is fiercely fighting the Syrian rebels and Islamic State (IS) forces.
Anyhow heeding the suggestion of Vladimir Putin soon after landing in Syria
Mr.Assad declared elections within six months. Laughable indeed. Syria is in a shambles
– millions dead, millions fled the clashes still going on how is it possible to
conduct elections, especially an independent election. The civilians left in
the country are only a few in numbers and even these ones are mulling escaping
the country for good.
Last Friday the representatives of
US, Russia and Iran met in Vienna and deliberated on the steps to arrive at a
solution to bring to an end the perennial war. While America insisted on a
democratic Syria sans Mr Asad both Russia and Iran, the latter too is a
potential ally of Syria are not insisting Mr.Asad’s removal. Anyhow Iran is of the
opinion let Mr.Asad continue for a short span and grant him a breather before
stepping down. US couldn’t digest that solution and sees thru the ploy that
Iran places.
Would Syria be a democratic
country at any point of time in future where the hard-core Al-Nusrat and IS
elements continue to pose a threat to the nation. Pity, it is a free for all hapless
nation.
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