MOSCOW. Jan 17 (Interfax) - The upcoming Geneva II international peace conference for Syria may become an example of conflict settlement, the Federation Council believes.
"Geneva II is an important step towards the settlement of the Syrian problem following the exportat of chemical armaments, while close diplomatic cooperation between Russia and the United States may be regarded as a renaissance of "big diplomacy" in the 21st century. Irrespective of its outcomes, Geneva II will set an example for the settlement of conflicts and prove that negotiations are possible even under the circumstances of a civil war," Federation Council International Affairs Committee Chairman Mikhail Margelov told Interfax.
It is essential for conflict management that the project initiators - Russia and the United States - agree on the need for the elaboration of solutions by the parties to the conflict themselves, he stressed.
"At the same time, the process, which is taking place on the territory of Syria, is multilayered and it concerns inter-religious and geopolitical interests of regional actors. That is why Russia insists on the attendance of Iran and Saudi Arabia," Margelov said.
He said it would be difficult to speak about possible results of the Geneva II conference right now. The opposition insists on the departure of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from the political scene but says he will definitely run for president.
"The military wing of the opposition is not homogenous. There is the Free Syrian Army and there are jihadists from Jabhat al-Nusra and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant," Margelov said.
These Islamists related to Al-Qaeda played a prominent part in the military successes of the opposition although they are at war with each other but they are not going to follow the Geneva II recommendations a priori, he continued.
"Presumably, they may be isolated from the negotiations at the conference but they do not intend to lay down arms. So, the implementation of the most positive decisions of the conference cannot stop the bloodshed at once," Margelov said.
He added that the al-Assad situation was more preferable before Geneva II because the West had finally become preoccupied with Al-Qaeda operations in Syria.
"There is information that European security and intelligence services established contact with Syrian services in the end of last year. Turkey has played down its "anti-Assad" activity and the voice of those who view President al-Assad as the most acceptable variant of the Syrian administration has been raised in the West," Margelov said.