International•7 Aug ’23 07:00•Edited on 7 Aug ’23 08:52Author: Mark van Harreveld
In Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, extensive talks were held last weekend about a peace plan for Ukraine and Russia. About forty countries were present at the conference, but Russia was not present. The conference did not lead to a breakthrough. According to foreign commentator Jan van Benthem, Saudi Arabia has put itself on the map as a kind of peacemaker.
More than 40 countries, including China, India, the United States and European countries, participated in the talks in Jeddah. Russia was not invited. In the final statement yesterday, the parties involved pledged to ‘continue consultations in favor of peace’. But the meeting did not lead to concrete actions. That was not expected either, says Van Benthem. (AP/Associated Press/Ludovic Marin)
Among the more than forty countries were China, India, the United States and European countries. Russia was not invited. In the final statement yesterday, the parties involved pledged to ‘continue consultations in favor of peace’. Nevertheless, the meeting did not lead to concrete actions, but according to Van Benthem that was not expected.
Zelensky’s chief of staff Andriy Yermak was nevertheless positive about the outcome: “We have had very productive consultations on the main principles on which a just and lasting peace must be built.”
‘It was a huge photo opportunity’
Jan van Benthem, Nederlandsch Dagblad
Saudi dove of peace
According to Van Benthem, it was not only a good opportunity to bring together countries that have not condemned the war, but are concerned about it, but it was also a way for Saudi Arabia to profile itself as a peacemaker in the Middle East. Middle East.
Furthermore, very little has come out about the top. ‘In Western media you hardly read anything about it (…), nothing serious has really been achieved. It was a huge photo opportunity.’
Doomed
In Russia, on the other hand, there was talk of the summit. Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told Russian state media yesterday that the meeting “reflects the West’s futile, doomed efforts” to rally the global South behind the Ukrainian position.
While most Western countries support Ukraine, many other countries have chosen not to take sides in the conflict. Neutral countries include the BRICS countries of Brazil, China, India and South Africa.
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2023-08-07 06:52:00
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