Russia pulls the strings in Syria conflict

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's visit to Syria on Tuesday has made it clear that the Western and Arab world have resignedly left the field to Russian diplomacy, writes the liberal-conservative daily Corriere della Sera: "When even EU foreign minister Ashton is now vociferously demanding Assad's departure nothing can conceal the powerlessness of the West and the Arab League after the Russian-Chinese veto at the UN. Assad feels protected by an invisible armour, namely the repeated declarations that there will be no military intervention in Syria. Libya was a tough lesson and still is, even if few in the West are ready to admit this. It cannot be repeated. ... Damascus could trigger a chain reaction with unforeseeable consequences. Against this backdrop Russia is manoeuvring with all the deftness of a bear. Lavrov achieved next to nothing, and yet it would be wrong to describe his mission as insignificant. Russia is relying on a 'Yemeni solution' - a transitional phase after which Assad will be succeeded by someone agreeable to the Kremlin, who will protect its interests in the region."

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