Mr. Bogomolov pointed out that as of today the Syrian future looks bleak, since none of international tools proves to be successful. “The longer the global geopolitical problems are spoken about, the larger is the risk to lose values of the common people and their safety,” he emphasized.
Commenting that the Assad regime began using heavy weaponry against civilian populace, the president of the Centre for Middle East Studies stressed the point that “unlawful use of force is the end of legitimacy and security of the state. There is no faith in current Syrian regime. The only alternative is the national coalition».
He was also supported by Martin Day, Deputy Head of Mission of the British Embassy, who had long taken interest in the Middle East, but did not understand why protests did not take place there while “for a long time the basic rights and needs of people are neglected, there is no electricity, there are some cities not marked on the map”. Mr. Day said that during the time when the first revolution took place in the Middle East, and millions of Egyptians and Tunisians rose up with the demands that the authorities should start to respect the people, that people’s needs should to be recognized, and the corruption and gap between privileged and common people should be reduced, everyone thought it could not happen in Syria. However now we see that “six millions Syrians were made homeless, many people were killed. It proves that authoritarian regimes must listen to the needs of their citizens,» Martin DAY said.
During discussion the experts also brought up the issue of proliferation risk of nuclear and chemical weapons. Commenting on who finally used the chemical weapon, the opposition or the current regime, Mr. BOGOMOLOV replied that “there is no doubt that that was the government, because only the civilians, but no single soldier of the regime, were hurt”.
Commenting on the Russian position, Mr. BOGOMOLOV highlighted that due to the fact that Russia wants to become a global leader, “it uses the Syrian conflict to demonstrate its power».
Martin DAY, Deputy Head of Mission of the British Embassy, spoke about three priorities of the British government that have been approved for solving the Syrian conflict. First, it’s relevant to any situation to prevent use of chemical weapon. Second, to provide humanitarian aid. So, for example, the Britain has allocated 500 mln. pounds, and this is more than all EU countries together. And finally, to stop violence and search for political solution. “Only a long-term political solution can help millions of Syrians to return home,» the British expert concluded his speech.
