Russia can and must play a prominent role in any Middle East peace settlement but it should not try to squeeze out the United States, experts said during their final meeting at the international conference “Scenarios and Models for a Middle East Peace Settlement.”

Against the backdrop of the latest failed U.S. effort to jump start direct talks, a number of foreign participants at the conference said that Russia should not only enhance its role in the Middle East peace process but even recommended that it replace the United States, as they believe the United States can no longer play a constructive role.

There were recommendations that Moscow replace the current Quartet on the Middle East, in which Washington is the key player, with a new international structure. Proponents of this idea think that it should include, apart from Russia, the European Union, Japan, China, Turkey and a number of other influential countries with interests of their own in the region.

However, Russian participants in the conference did not support the idea.
“Although U.S. monopolization of the peace process has reached an impasse, the U.S. cannot be ousted from the peace process – that would be counterproductive,” a Russian expert said.

Conference rules protect the anonymity of speakers.

In the opinion of Russian experts, one should not count on Russia replacing the United States as the sole mediator because Russia “can do a lot but far from everything.”

“Russia should step up its participation in the Middle East peace process but as the United States’ partner, not a rival. Emphasis should be placed on working within the framework of the Quartet,” said a participant in the discussion.
Apart from Russia, the Middle East Quartet includes the United States, the European Union and the United Nations.

In the opinion of one Middle Eastern participant at the conference, Russia should act in concert with the United States in the Middle East. He noted that Moscow might help the Palestinian territories to restore infrastructure destroyed by the occupying forces, including administrative infrastructure. Russia had to restore much after the collapse of the Soviet Union, so its experience could prove invaluable for the Palestinian National Authority, he said.

He also believes that Russia can mediate a settlement of the conflict between the Palestine factions due to its substantive relationship with Hamas. Moscow could also make use of its good relations with Iran and Syria.

The conference of the Middle East section of the Valdai Discussion Club, “Scenarios and Models for a Middle East Peace Settlement” is currently underway in Malta. It is organized by the Russian news and information agency RIA Novosti, the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Oriental Studies and the Russian Council for Foreign and Defense Policy.

VALLETTA, Malta, December 10 (RIA Novosti)