Guardian文章第一周.doc

The broadest peace talks since the start of the Syrian war get under way in Vienna on Friday, with Iran joining arch-rivals? HYPERLINK /world/saudiarabia Saudi Arabia?and the US to try to orchestrate an end to one of the most dangerous global conflicts in decades. While all regional stakeholders appear set to take a seat at the table, neither the Syrian government nor opposition have been invited, with any hope of a solution riding mainly on their respective regional patrons:? HYPERLINK /world/iran Iran?for the Assad regime and Saudi Arabia for those who oppose him. On? HYPERLINK /world/2015/oct/28/iran-confirms-it-will-attend-international-talks-over-syrias-future the eve of the talks, there was no discernible change to the intractable regional positions of either side and hopes of meaningful progress appeared slim. In the past four years, Iran has not publicly shifted from its insistence that Assad remain as leader and more importantly, that its influence remain undiluted in Damascus, which is strategically vital to how the country projects its power, especially concerning Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, has insisted that Assad must go and that, in the first instance, a transitional government agreed to by the regime and the opposition should pave the way for peace. It has been flatly opposed to Iran’s inclusion, maintaining that Tehran has done more than any other actor to fan the flames of the war and, in doing so, impose itself on the Sunni Arab world. After its? HYPERLINK /world/2015/oct/02/russia-in-syria-what-damage-will-it-do dramatic entry into the war?in late September, Russia also looms as a decisive player. Moscow has said it agrees with a communique drafted after two earlier summits in Geneva failed to get the warring Syrian sides to agree a deal. However, Vladimir Putin earlier this week flatly rejected the suggestion that Assad should step down and, after? HYPERLINK /world/2015/oct/21/bashar-al-assad-thanks-russia-vladimir-putin-syria-airst