New Security Architecture for Middle East Discussed

Under the headline, “Russia Proposes New Game Plan for the Middle East,” Vedomosti reported that in the wake of the meetings which delegations of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and Arab League had held in Moscow on Nov. 21, Andrey Kortunov, academic director of the Russian International Affairs Council, is cited as having hinted at efforts to create a new security architecture for the Middle East, TASS reported in its press review yesterday. Kortunov pointed out that Arab and Muslim countries want to enlist Russia and China’s help in order to counterbalance the dominant role of the United States. The Arabs are unwilling to fully rely on the Americans, who currently have the initiative as Middle East mediators. Clearly, Washington is the only one that can put pressure on Israel, but it will not act against the Jewish state, Kortunov said.