On April 7, 2021, Beirut Institute Summit e-Policy Circle 32, titled “Stability Redefined – Who Authors the Future?” took place, dedicated to the current situation in the Middle East. The moderator was Raghida Dergham, Founder and Executive Chairman of the Beirut Institute.
Andrey Bystritskiy, Chairman of the Board of the Foundation for development and support of the Valdai Discussion Club, spoke at the meeting, where he compared the new world to a stuck container ship, which Western elites, claiming global leadership, are trying to push through the channel of modern politics. He noted that many Western politicians seem to live in an illusory world in which the Western countries maintain moral, political, economic and military leadership, while the real world is becoming multipolar, and globalisation is moving along new paths, with multiple centres, and is based on regional associations and unions. Against this background, the fragmented and diverse Middle East must rethink itself, its identity, its role in the world and the role of the world in its destiny.
Describing Russian policy in the region, he stressed that Russia prefers not to take sides, but to preserve a balance and seeks to maintain good relations with all countries in the region. Its main motivation is to ensure stability and security south of its borders. In this regard, Russia is looking for a global and mutually beneficial solution for the region, taking into account the interests of all key actors. “The main players must cooperate, despite the problems; there is no other way,” Bystritskiy concluded.
