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Hariri to go to Damascus – who helped al – Analysis – News

Saturday’s visit of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri in Damascus was the Arab world and several European countries as a complete surprise.

Opening new horizons in the relations of Syria and Lebanon, which a few years ago broke off diplomatic relations because of interference by Damascus in the affairs of Arab neighbor, will, according to observers, the positive development in inter-Arab settlement and push for further development of bilateral relations.

seemed more simple solution to the problem could not be found, however, the question arises: who helped al-Hariri to go to Damascus?

historic visit by the pro-Western Lebanese prime minister was preceded by several important developments on the Arab political arena, including the warming of relations of Syria and Saudi Arabia as a result of reforms in inter-Arab relations after Israel’s military attacks on the Gaza Strip last winter, and the emergence of Turkey as the main regional player.

In the summer, when a coalition of al-Hariri’s March 14 “won the parliamentary elections, beating the opponent pro-Syrian and pro-Iranian Hezbollah, came news of a possible visit by the Lebanese prime minister to Syria after his submission of a new government the President. Then the news comes amid the Saudi-Syrian summit in Riyadh, which “shattered the ice” in relations Arab neighbors: Saudi monarchy has always been dissatisfied with a strategic partnership with Iran and Syria to Hezbollah, but after the assassination of Rafiq al-Hariri, father of the Lebanese prime minister in February 2005, joined the list of Arab countries who were seeking criminals in Damascus.

assassination of former prime minister al-Hariri, a senior and 22 others became the main cause of tension in Syria and Lebanon. Damascus became a prime suspect from the fact that for thirty years, the Syrian army controlled Lebanon, and also because of the support of the Syrian regime “Hezbollah, with which al-Hariri, until recently, refused to sit at the negotiating table.

However, the situation changed after the removal of the new U.S. administration the political blockade of Syria, which has recently made a list of countries supporting terrorism.

Before commencement of negotiations of the royal court in Riyadh with the regime Bashshaar al-Assad, Damascus, visited a number of senior administration officials Barack Obama, and the turning point was the announcement of the return of U.S. Ambassador to the Syrian capital. Going to a dialogue with Damascus, which, incidentally, has not changed the strategic partnership with Iran, the Saudis have insured themselves support in Washington. In addition, Arab countries have begun to worry seriously about the inter-Arab armistice, after Israel conducted a military operation “Cast Lead”, which targeted civilians in Gaza. The Palestinian problem, which is the backbone of the unity of the Muslim and Arab world, has forced the leading countries of the region to reconsider cooperation.

For Hariri, who was faced with creating a national government in Lebanon, the convergence of Saudi Arabia with Syria, and change U.S. policy towards Damascus created the conditions for contracts with Hezbollah “.

A compromise was found in November, when the newly formed Cabinet of Ministers gave the Shiite party the right to use of arms to fight Israel, that is the military might of Lebanon will remain under the control of the “party of God”, which is listed in the ranks of terrorist organizations, the United States and several European countries.

In addition and the visit of al-Hariri was followed after a visit to the United States, and then to Damascus, Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, who first went to a dialogue with Syria brokered by France – a close European ally al-Hariri.

Observers noted that the new administration in Washington and Europe do not see the possibility of stabilization in Lebanon, from which, incidentally, depends on the stability of Israel, without a truce with Syria. However, along with the role of Saudi and American administration, in a historic visit to Damascus, the Lebanese prime minister should not exclude the presence of another important player in the Middle East – Turkey.

Situation in the Middle East has become one priority of the foreign policy of Turkey in 2009. Turkish leaders, concerned about the continuing instability along the borders with Iraq and Syria because of the terrorist organization Kurdistan Workers’ Party, has decided to “take the bull by the horns” and within two months creates a sort of alliance with Damascus and Baghdad. If the stumbling block in relations with Iraq remains the work of terrorists at the borders of two countries, with Syria, the Turkish leadership positions coincide in all things, both in economic and political issues in the Middle East.

Interestingly, a few days before the visit of the Lebanese prime minister held talks in Syria, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmed Davutoglu, with which Ankara began a resurgence of influence in the Middle East.

Turkish media reported that on Sunday Davutoglu, who during his summer trip to Beirut, said Turkey’s interest in maintaining stability in Lebanon, held talks by telephone with Lebanese Prime Minister, which became the theme of political developments in that country.

warming of the Syrian-Saudi relations is also not without Turkey, after a visit Bashshaar al-Assad to Riyadh in the summer and talks with Saudi king followed the visit of Turkish President Abdullah Gul in the Saudi capital.

Ankara is not less than the U.S. or Saudi Arabia is interested in stability in Lebanon, where historically faced the interests of different faiths and political groups in the Middle East. And just as Washington and Riyadh, Turkey realized the importance of Syria in the Israeli-Arab conflict and the inter-Arab armistice.

close relations with Tehran, support for Hezbollah and the Palestinian movement Hamas Damascus assign a special role in the politics of the Middle East.

Despite the fact that the nationalistic policies of Syria irritated many pro-Western Arab countries and the West itself realized the inevitability of dialogue with the Syrian leadership, especially , in the peace process Arabs and Israelis.

not to say that al-Hariri has made this visit under pressure from the U.S. or Saudi Arabia, or even under the influence of Turkey, but the son of the anti-Syrian historic visit Politics of Lebanon Rafik al-Hariri, summarized in the process of improving the Syrian-Saudi and Syrian-American relations and the establishment of Syrian-Turkish alliance, and showed the effectiveness of dialogue with the Syrian leadership, rather than confrontation.

From this visit benefited both countries: in Lebanon is now lower than they fear the outbreak of a new political turmoil between pro-Syrian and pro-Western forces, and Syria can show the U.S. and Europe that is able to solve problems through diplomacy.

However, interest is the future steps the other major players in the newly established Syrian-Lebanese alliance – pro-American Saudi Arabia and Turkey, more inclined to a policy of Damascus. Because, do not be a joint action of these two main Sunni Arab region’s players, it is unlikely the government al-Hariri would have gone to reconcile with the not so long ago his opponent.

Middle East Observer editorial “Trend News “Ulviya Sadykhova