Turkey’s airstrikes against northern Iraq are increasingly ruining the security of the region and making it harder for Assyrians to return, said Eskrya. Finally, the Union for the Mediterranean itself has the power to encourage interaction between the Mediterranean peoples, as well as youth meetings and cultural exchanges that contribute to shaping the common area. “The Pope and Holy See should help protect Christian rights in Iraq and to help keep Christianity as part of the future of Iraq. Russia isn’t interested in prolonging the conflict in Syria or beyond. Assyrian contributions to science and intellectual developments, even under Muslim rule, are also well-documented. Violence is the only path that the Egyptian State has left open to its citizens; a situation that was designed by the State itself and that will intensify chaos and drain our resources further. According to an analysis by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, it is shown that Russia’s greatest strategic and geopolitical interest in Syria is the use of deep-water port i.e. THE MILITARY ALLIANCE. For his part, Capt. The mother, Simoni Diril, was found deceased on March 20, 2020. Tartus is the only naval base which provides Russia a direct access to the Mediterranean Sea and thus its strategic importance cannot be ignored. Egypt has highlighted its success in preventing the emigration of illegal migrants from its territory to Europe since 2016. Even Assads’ father was an important and a really good friend of Russia, so this relation has a little historical context. Air-to-Air Losses. In recent years Egypt has attached increasing importance to the Mediterranean region in the light of three main developments: a) the discovery of the gas field that meets most of Egypt’s gas needs; (b) the establishment of the EMGF in January 2019paving the way for Egypt to become the regional energy hub, including its objectives of establishing a regional gas market, developing resources and infrastructure, and deepening coordination and dialogue among Member States; c) the threat posed by Turkey to the promotion of regional gas cooperation due to its refusal to recognise Cyprus’ maritime borders. From a production standpoint, Syria never had much value to the Russian petroleum industry. During the last month, Russia held channels of communication wide open with Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Israel. The city was once a former ISIS stronghold. Russia has ports at Tartus and Latakia and a small airbase at Latakia. In all his statements, Russian President Vladimir Putin has mentioned that Russia's mission in Syria is to fight terrorists, who may threaten his country's security if they succeed in the Middle East. A statement issued by the Islamic State was read at the city’s mosques.It called on Christians to comply or face death if they did not leave the city. Syria was a Soviet client in the days of the Soviet Union; it is the only Soviet client in the area that Russia has managed to maintain. Russia is used to balancing its relations with the Kurds and with their Arab, Turkish, and Iranian neighbors, and is itself home to a small Kurdish diaspora that facilitates Russian-Kurdish contacts and lobbies for Kurdish interests. Furthermore, Israel – like Egypt – can benefit from nurturing and cultivating a Mediterranean identity, emphasising common denominators for the countries of the region and values of mutual openness, tolerance and acceptance of the others. Second, Thomas reports that “consolidating the Russian Federation’s status as a leading world power” in a multipolar international system has been accomplished by Russian actions in Syria … Under Trumps administration, important decisions have been taken regarding Syria. They must have a voice and be able to play a role in political change in their country, but first they must get rid of the international community's recognition of the Syrian coalition. Syria's parliament has approved contracts for oil exploration with two Russian companies in an effort to boost production hit by more than eight years of war and Western sanctions. Nowadays, although the iron grip is significantly harsher, the State is fundamentally fragile and people are extremely aggravated. The topic of the Forum’s discussions, which Egypt organised from 2017 to 2019, was to strengthen cooperation between Mediterranean countries in a variety of areas, including energy, employment, climate, science, illegal immigration and the fight against terrorism. “Nineveh plains are currently divided into two parts; the north part is administrated officially by Baghdad and its security is under peshmerga forces and Asayish(Kurdish security force) of the KRI that are trying to illegally seizeAssyrian lands. Russia’s interest is to prevail over Iran in influencing Syria. Additionally, if Egypt were a scientifically driven nation, we wouldn’t be confronting the current economic and political crisis. One of the solutions to the situation in Syria is the formation of a national front or political party that unites the Syrians in exile and is open to them all. ‘I’m not sure there’s much left to destroy in Mosul,’ says Columbia’s Jones.”, ISIS particularly targeted Christian places of worship such as the Mar Behnam Monastery:”Established in the 4th century, the monastery was dedicated to an early Christian saint. "The war produced centers of influence and shadow organizations that are not interested in a transition to peaceful development." Israel is not absent from the Mediterranean storytelling promoted and conveyed by Egypt, but its place has so far remained marginal on issues going beyond gas interests. But then again, in 2017, he launched an airstrike. At the same time, it has been argued that there is a need to increase cooperation between the ‘young’ countries of the Southern Mediterranean region (where around 60% of its inhabitants are under 30 years of age) and the ‘ageing’ countries of the Northern Mediterranean region so as to provide an integrative response to the labour market needs in the region. Israel also remains under threat of cross-border attacks, in particular as Hezbollah plays a greater role in the fighting. This invasion forced a majority of Nineveh inhabitants to leave their homes. Syrian oil reserves are at 2.5 billion barrels, only .2 percent of the global share, while its 8.95 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas are insufficient to meet even domestic demands. Russia's relationships with its client states have never been easy. The conflict is important because its outcome can reshape the Arab Middle East. Jill Dougherty breaks down why Russian President Vladimir Putin decided to launch a bombing campaign in Syria. Russia doesn’t want regime change and opposes it because Russia is fearful that the process might reach Moscow and disturb the peace in the region. President Al Sisi, who likes to be both judge and jury, recently stated that Egyptians who want to express their opinions need to be well informed and to present alternative solutions. What are Russia’s interests in Syria leading to? The authors of this report assess where and under what conditions Moscow could intervene again by analyzing the factors that drive Russian decisionmaking on intervention. During early operations bombing Turkmen militias, Russian jets routinely traversed Turkish airspace in northwestern Syria. The overall influence in the region has more to do with Russia than just having a close friendship with some leader. In the end, however, it is Russia’s national interest in maintaining contacts with all the relevant players that will win out. Many descendants of the genocide’s survivors left Turkey in the 1980s and 1990s due to the violent conflicts between the Turkish military and the Kurdish PKK. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Citizens, in essence, should be allowed to express their grievances regardless of how knowledgeable they are. The joint statement marks a milestone in the relations between the two countries and further shows the increasing importance recently taken on by the Mediterranean region in Egypt’s and Israel’s foreign, security and economic policies. M.K. Their son, Father Adday RemziDiril, is a Catholic priest based in Istanbul, known internationally for his pastoral care of 7,000 Iraqi Christian refugees displaced in Turkey. Russia tried its best to help its only ally left in the Middle East and USA has been trying to not make it happen. This report largely supports my recent contention that while Russia has significant material interests in Syria, they are not the main reason for its support of the Assad regime.… So it is not enough to feel sorry for their delicate situation but they also have to act at the international political level to guarantee the rights of these people abandoned and forgotten by the whole world. That could become a source of friction with Russia that would be difficult to manage. Russia’s interest in Syria is way complex and, realistically not as narrow as we read in the news. Initially, he stated that he had no interests in Syria and USA should let other states take care of Syria. Keeping Assad in power serves a number of Russian interests. The indigenous Christian community, which belongs to a number of denominations, forms a demographic majority in the Nineveh Plains. What makes them the most vulnerable and defenseless victims is their Christian faith. “But above all it is important for the implantation of Christianity in the Middle East starting with northern Mesopotamia, the ancestral territory of the Assyrians who converted to Christianity in the first century of the Christian era. The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor. The WYF agenda focused on Egypt’s foreign, security and economic policies and its attempts to position itself as one of the main Axis countries in the region. And the fortification of the Russian military presence on the Syrian shores means that a large portion of the Eastern Mediterranean will be under Russian overwatch, if not control. Moscow has counted an Assad-led Syria as its closest ally in the Arab world for more than forty... COMMERCIAL INTERESTS. Cynical Egyptians argue that Al Sisi managed to advance his relationship with key European nations through arms sales deals. Syrian War has been going on for a decade. “Nineveh plains should be neutralized from the conflicts between Kurdish, Sunni and Shia political parties. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Words often help us to understand world dynamics better! ISIS had invaded and captured Qaraqosh in August of 2014 after the withdrawal of Kurdish forces. New weapons invariably have bugs that don't reveal themselves until combat. Surrounded by the ruins of the square’s Four Churches, he said the exodus of Christians from Iraq and the broader Middle East had done “incalculable harm not just to the individuals and communities concerned but also to the society they leave behind.”. However, the use of chemical weapons against the civilians by Assad is still a major concern for the International community. However, beyond these dusty ruins, there exists a living culture that is on the brink of extinction. States have undoubtedly got themselves involved in the war, but their intervention seems to be the means of fulfillment of their own national interests, rather than protecting the rebels from the terrorist rule of Assad. The next step should be to draw a road map to establish a legal framework based on the article 125 of the Iraqi constitution to guarantee the rights of Assyrian Christians by establishing a new local administration, a Nineveh plains province, for Assyrians. Russia is not a stranger to Syria, rather an important ally of Syria. EU Commissioner Mr. Oliver Varhelyi: Eastern Europe needs a Cooperation not Antagonization, The role of the 17+1 format in dividing the EU. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. An ECSS publication has made it clear that Israel could not take part in the periodic military manoeuvres conducted by Egypt, Greece and Cyprus, although it shares a similar security concept with the three countries. Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) shakes hands with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (L) during their meeting in Sochi, Russia on 21 November 2017 [Kremlin Press Office/ Anadolu Agency], Charity slams UK's inaction to save children in Syria camps, Iran improving Syria defence system to face 'threats'. However, many are willing in order to make more money. In fact, since Biden assumed power, democracy advocates in Egypt and the United States have been urging him to work on promoting democracy. Russian air and missile strikes began targeting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, the Army of Conquest, al-Nusra Front, and the Free Syrian Army. Fair enough – this disqualifies many members of his regime’s apparatus from holding their positions. The Forum’s meetings were dedicated to both the Mediterranean countries’ concrete interests and to “softer” aspects, including the common historical and cultural denominators that link the peoples inhabiting the Mediterranean shores. Such glasnost in Russia is rare, and it has caught wide attention. One of them was the city of Nineveh, which was once the largest city in the world.However, Assyrians have been stateless for more than two millennia, since the fall of the Assyrian Empire and sack of Nineveh in 612 BCE. The refugee crisis due to Syrian civil war. Nevertheless, I find that words are inadequate when it comes to conveying the vigorof Egypt’s despotism. Russia is the only state to intervene militarily in the Syrian civil war outside of the region. The couple was abducted from the village of Mehr, a historically Assyrian Christian village that has been repeatedly caught in the crosshairs of various conflicts. What makes it more dangerous is that no efforts have been successful in mediating the conflict between the regime and the rebels. Since his inauguration in 2014, President Al Sisi has managed to fuel the anger of the entire population toward himself due to his unjust orders, infeasible projects and bullying attitude. However, with the Arab conquests of Mesopotamia, Persia, Syria, Armenia, Egypt, and the Levant, the Eastern Christian peoples fell to a subordinate status, also known as dhimmitude. In 1980, both the states signed a treaty on military cooperation as well. On January 15, 2020 Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz and his Egyptian counterpart, Tarek al-Mula, announced the start of the natural gas flow from Israel to Egypt. Russia's 2015 military intervention in Syria's civil war took many by surprise. The fall of Libyan leader Muammar Qadhafi has also contributed to Putin's obstinacy on Syria. Jonah’s Tomb in Mosul, for instance, was destroyedin July of 2014.A year later, parts of ancient Assyrian sites such as Nimrud and Khorsabad were destroyed. Similarly, Syria has the 4th largest stockpile of chemical weapons, making it the largest in the Middle East, which also worries USA because it has fallen into the hands of the extremists. Chaos and fragmentation within Syria are creating wider openings for interests hostile to the U.S. such as al-Qaida and Iran to wield influence and exacerbate the conflict within Syria and beyond. Egypt, Israel, Italy, Cyprus, Greece, Jordan and Palestine signed the EMGF Statute on September 22, 2020, turning the Forum into a regional international organisation based in Cairo, aimed at facilitating the creation of a regional gas market in the Eastern Mediterranean region and deepening collaboration and strategic dialogue between natural gas producing, transit and consuming countries, in an area that is confirmed to be full of great opportunities. For Russia, engaging in Syria has been a gainful experience for its regional interests. Russia, on the other hand, has leveraged its influence with Ankara and Damascus to emerge as kingmaker. Unlike the uprising in other states, the Syrian uprising has taken a shape of the civil war, with different religious, ethnic, and political groups involved. These cookies do not store any personal information. Russia's Many Interests in Syria CULTURAL CONNECTIONS. Egypt, for its part, is interested in raking in a share of profits and strengthening its strategic position as a gas export hub in Europe. Russian and Iranian interests in Syria are diverging. In September 2015, the Federation Council, Russia's upper house of parliament authorised the Russian president to use armed forces in Syria. The south part is controlled by the Iraqi government and its security is provided by three local forces. The name ‘Assyria’ was also consistently applied to the area around the ancient Assyrian capital of Nineveh, and the Christians of Iraq reaffirmed their Assyrian identity from the earliest French and British contact.”. The United States is accusing Syrian President Bashar Assad and his close ally Russia of … Despite severe persecutions, Assyrians have remained resilient. Syria has proved a critical case study in Russia’s efforts to prevent the use of military force by the United States. The Pope went to these ancient lands in Iraq, which are of deep significance for Christianity. Russia declares its support for the Orthodox Christian militias fighting alongside the Syrian regime, as it shows great interest in the ideological factor within its expansion and domination strategy in Syria This picture shows the Eastern Catholic Saint Elijah Cathedral, in … by Sebastien Roblin. The paper discusses about what roles the great powers (Russia and USA) have played in the war keeping in view their own national interests. As such, they are not ready to give up on Assad, having fought against the Muslim Brotherhood and Islamists. He latermet Christians in the ancient Church of the Immaculate Conception, which was torched by ISIS and has now been restored, in the Assyrian town of Qaraqosh. Historians record that the first massacre of Assyrians in the modern era took place in the 1840s in northern Mesopotamia in the Ottoman Empire. In recent years, Egypt has also been working on building a Mediterranean identity, which is presented to the young Egyptian generation as one of the pillars of the Egyptian personality. Nageen Ashraf is a student of Bachelors in “Defense and Diplomatic studies” at Fatima Jinnah Women University. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Authors: Juliana Taimoorazy and Uzay Bulut. However, citizens’ norms now include lying, bribing and misbehaving to survive, while government authorities seek to maintain power by imprisoning innocent citizens, practicing torture and seizing the assets of some, and radical Islamists claim to defend Islam by engaging in terrorist acts. Key point: Being a paid gun-for-hire is a rough life. Russian interest, influence waning in Syria. Bhadrakumar - Independent Media Institute 21 May 2020, 18:17 GMT+10. USA’s absence from the conflict or inactive behavior has left a vacuum for Russia to intervene and obtain its interests from the region. Other objectives were political, that go in the national interests of USA. The Syrian war is not only a civil war, but has also become a religious conflict as well as proxy war between states. Meanwhile, Al Sisi has managed to place the entire Egyptian population inside a well-sealed pot that prevents us from even hinting at our frustrations. To truly understand its magnitude, it is necessary to observe firsthand the State apparatus threatening citizens with fabricated charges, draining the nation’s resources and toning down its heritage. Eskrya added that aid and support should be provided to the Assyrian Christian community directly as a strong financial and political plan is needed to help Assyrians who are currently in Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan seeking asylum there to return back to their homeland. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. The aim of Russia is also to unite the Muslims of central Asia with the Middle East against NATO.