syria's assad to visit Moscow

Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Daily Star

MOSCOW: Syrian President Bashar Assad plans to visit Russia on Wednesday at the invitation of his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev, the Kremlin said on Tuesday.

"On August 20-21, 2008, the president of the Syrian Arab Republic, Bashar Assad, will make a working visit to Russia at the invitation of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev," the Kremlin said in a statement, providing no further details on the agenda for the visit.

It was announced as Russia faced mounting international pressure to pull its forces out of Georgia and as Moscow signaled it was in no rush to do so.

Assad visited Moscow in December 2006, when he said that, as an influential power in the Middle East, Syria was open to dialogue with the United States but would not take "instructions" from Washington.

Russia's conflict with Georgia has also turned into a standoff between Moscow and Washington. The United States has strongly supported Georgia and also backs Syrian adversary Israel in the Middle East.

In remarks to soldiers near the conflict zone on Monday, Medvedev warned that no one should have any "illusion" about Russia's determination to ensure security in the Caucasus region

Last year, Russian media reported that Moscow had delivered MiG-31 fighter planes and modern air-defense systems to Syria, angering Israel. - AFP

Comment: Russia pushes its agenda in the Middle East-it is in the process of becoming the controller of events over here. The overt USA response to all of this? Send Ms. Rice over to push, force Israel to make more concessions. Until Israel can become more independent of USA arms,planes, bombs needs, Israel will have to bend to America's ill-gotten demands.Notice the difference in approaches-the West appeases, focuses attention of making Israel comply while the East and its supporters care not about political correctness-they take firm action and force their positions-who do you think will win and/or is winning?