Moscow always maintained that the conflict will not be resolved by ousting President Bashar al-Assad and that the fate of the country could only be decided by its own people. The unanimously adopted resolution makes no mention of Assad's resignation as a precondition for the launch of the peace process. It also provides a timeframe for a ceasefire and democratic elections.
Vladimir Putin "has reminded the international community that Russia is a country to be reckoned with on the geostrategic chessboard. No one can reshape the planet without talking to Moscow, which put an end to the unipolar world," the media outlet noted.
The UNSC resolution on Syria, according to L'Expression, will make Saudi Arabia and Turkey unhappy. Riyadh is using petrodollars and weapons to become the key country in the Middle East. For this reason, it is trying to weaken any country, which might not back Saudi aspirations, including Iran.
"Saudi Arabia has committed only 15 warplanes out of its fleet of 400 military aircraft to fly anti-Daesh missions in Syria. [At the same time,] nearly 100 planes take part in the Saudi-led campaign targeting the Houthis in Yemen," the Algerian newspaper stated. Riyadh is "mobilizing its arsenal of war against the Shia, not Daesh or al-Qaeda."
Riyadh, according to L'Expression, has made every effort to counter Russia in Syria. Unconfirmed reports suggest that the Saudis offered Russia $10 billion to back off but "received a categorical nyet."
Turkey is also unlikely to welcome the recent UNSC resolution with open arms. Several weeks ago, Russian defense officials released satellite images, which show routes Daesh fighters use to smuggle oil to Turkey. Later reports suggested that Ankara was also backing the brutal terrorist group.
