After Damascus talks, Moscow pressures Syria - Al-Monitor: the Pulse of the Middle East
▻http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2014/12/russian-pressure-syria-political-solution.html
The same diplomatic source concluded that it is too early to judge whether the Russian effort in Syria will succeed or not. But it seems that a new phase of pressure on the regime has begun. After the pressure exerted by opponents and enemies, allies and friends have also started to exert pressure. Indeed, this is a more influential and effective practice, and was indicated by a prominent statement by Hezbollah’s deputy secretary-general, Sheikh Naim Qassem — concurrently with the beginnings of the Russian-Syria transformations in mid-October — that “everyone should expect painful compromises to reach a political solution that will save Syria from the crisis plaguing it.”
It is worth mentioning that Bogdanov himself had met Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut, before heading to Istanbul, and from there to Damascus via the Lebanese capital.
Moscow may succeed or fail in reaching a breakthrough in the Syrian impasse. Yet, in both cases, what must be monitored is whether Moscow has become a “partner” in Damascus’ management of the Syrian situation or whether it has become even more than a partner!
Read more: ▻http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2014/12/russian-pressure-syria-political-solution.html