Written by Nasser Kandil,

The subject of the annual press conference of the Russian President Vladimir Putin was not an international or a regional subject, but originally according to the followed tradition, it was dedicated to the economic situation on the eve of the New Year, but the overlapping of the crises, the problems and their association especially the linkage of  the economic dimension with the blockade and the sanctions imposed on Russia, and the price war in the markets of oil and gas on one hand, and the inquiries of the Russian people about the impact of the battles in which Russia is engaged on the economic and social situation as well as the dimensions of these impacts and their directions on the other hand have made this annual press conference an untraditional occasion to launch positions that have surpassed the subject of the conference so far.

Despite the signs that were given by the President Putin about the understandings with Washington by retail, especially concerning the draft of the resolution by the Security Council about Syria and the agenda of the meeting of New York today, the general aspect of Putin’s’ speech expresses the size of the outstanding problems between Moscow and Washington, especially concerning Putin’s estimation of the American view toward Russia, and the methodology through which it treats Russia on the basis of prosecution and chasing and in view of the wall which has been transferred from Berlin to the borders of Ukraine, the arrogant language and the permanent attempt to make the Russian bear without canines or claws or without any opportunity to get the honey. Between Russia and America there is a crisis of morale and values as Putin has said, and also a common crisis in the way of considering the criteria for which they invoke in the international politics.

Regarding the regional affair, the most important aspect was the harsh speech which Putin has directed to the Turkish President and his government, putting the matters in the deadlock circle with this leadership and with this president. In view of the vitality of the Russian-Turkish relationships according to Turkey, Putin was calling for the departure of Erdogan as an only way for normalizing the Turkish Russian relationships, continuing an offensive campaign against the Turkish President to the extent of saying that the dropping of the Russian plane might be an attempt “to affect somewhere at the Americans”, it is rarely that a President of a country talks like this against anther president.

Putin has spoken with the language of the Russian force using phrases that characterized by challenge; Russia does not need a permanent base for its forces in Syria, because if it wants to reach someone, it will reach him wherever he is and no matter how he is. Regarding the Turkish affair, he said “Now I challenge them if their planes just thinking of flying over the Syrian spaces”. He talked also about the capacities of the Russian army since it is the greatest power in the world for the first time.

About Syria Putin has said that an understanding with Washington has been settled, this understanding is related to the draft of UN resolution and the coordination of New York Meeting, but with the same language of firmness he confirms that Russia will not allow for any foreign force to decide who will rule Syria.

Translated by Lina Shehadeh,

2015-12-20 | عدد القراءات 1697