Trend Middle East Desk Commentator Ulviyya Sadikhova
Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri's Saturday's visit to Damascus was completely surprising to the Arab world and several European countries.
Observers believe opening up new horizons in the Syria-Lebanon relations that deteriorated a few years ago due to interference by Damascus in Arab neighbors' affairs will be a positive momentum in the inter-Arab settlement and push for further development of bilateral relations.
It seemed a simple solution to the problem could not be found, however, the question arises: who helped al-Hariri to travel to Damascus?
The historic visit of the pro-Western Lebanese Prime Minister was preceded by several important events on the Arab political arena, including warming of Syria-Saudi Arabia relations as a result of reforms in inter-Arab relations after Israel's military attacks on the Gaza Strip last winter, and emergence of Turkey as the main regional player.
In summer, when al-Hariri's "March 14" coalition won the parliamentary elections, overcoming the opponent pro-Syrian and pro-Iranian Hezbollah, news emerged on a possible visit of the Lebanese Prime Minister to Syria, after he submitted a new government to the president. Then the news spread on the backdrop of the Saudi-Syrian summit in Riyadh, which "shattered the ice" in relations of Arab neighbors: Saudi monarchy has always been dissatisfied with Syria's strategic partnership with Iran and Hizbullah, and after the assassination of Rafik al-Hariri, father of the Lebanese Prime Minister in February 2005, the country joined the list of Arab countries seeking criminals in Damascus.
Murder of former prime minister al-Hariri senior and 22 others became the main cause of tension in the Syria-Lebanon relations. Damascus became a prime suspect from the fact that the Syrian army controlled Lebanon for thirty years and also because of Syria's support to Hezbollah, with which al-Hariri, refused to sit at the negotiating table until recent times.
However, the situation changed after the new U.S. administration withdrew political blockade of Syria, which has recently included in a list of countries supporting terrorism.
Several senior officials of Barack Obama's administration visited Damascus before the negotiations between the Riyadh royal court and Bashshar al-Assad's regime has been launched. The announcement of the U.S. Ambassador return to the Syrian capital also was a turning point in this. Going to a dialogue with Damascus, which, incidentally, has not changed the strategic partnership with Iran, the Saudis have insured themselves with Washington's support. In addition, Arab countries have begun to seriously worry about the inter-Arab armistice, after Israel conducted a military operation "Cast Lead" that killed civilians in Gaza. The Palestinian problem, which is the backbone of the unity of the Muslim and Arab world, has forced the leading countries of the region to reconsider cooperation.
Saudi Arabia's rapprochement with Syria and change in U.S. policy towards Damascus created the conditions for contracts with Hezbollah for Hariri, who faced difficulties with creating a national government in Lebanon.
The sides reached a compromise in November, when the newly formed cabinet of ministers gave the Shiite party the right to own weapons to fight Israel, notably Lebanon's military power will remain under the control of the "Party of God" that is listed in the ranks of terrorist organizations of the United States and several European countries.
In addition, al-Hariri's visit was made after Lebanese President Michel Suleiman's visit to the United States and later to Damascus, who first went to a dialogue with Syria mediated by France - al-Hariri's close European ally.
Observers noted that the new Washington administration and Europe do not see the possibility of stabilization in Lebanon, on which the stability of Israel depends, without reconciliation with Syria. However, along with the role of Saudi and American administration, it is unacceptable to exclude the presence of another important player in the Middle East - Turkey - in Lebanese prime minister's historic visit to Damascus.
The situation in the Middle East has become one of the priorities of Turkey's foreign policy in 2009. Being concerned over the continuing instability on the borders with Iraq and Syria because of the terrorist organization Kurdistan Workers' Party, the Turkish leaders decided to "take the bull by the horns" and within two months created an alliance with Damascus and Baghdad. If the stumbling block in relations with Iraq is the activities of the terrorists on the borders of two countries, Turkish government's positions with Syria coincide in all regards, both in economic and political issues of the Middle East.
It is interesting that several days before Lebanese prime minister's visit to Syria, talks were held with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, during which Ankara began reviving its influence in the Middle East.
Turkish media reported that on Sunday, Davutoglu, who during his summer trip to Beirut mentioned Turkey's interest in maintaining stability in Lebanon, held telephone talks with Lebanese Prime Minister, where the theme was political events in that country.
The warming of the Syrian-Saudi relations also did not take place without Turkey, because Bashar al-Assad's visit to Riyadh in summer and talks with Saudi King took place Turkish President Abdullah Gul's visit to the Saudi capital.
Not less than the U.S. or Saudi Arabia, Ankara is interested in stability in Lebanon, where historically the interests of different faiths and political groups in the Middle East collided. And like Washington and Riyadh, Turkey understood the importance of Syria in the Israeli-Arab conflict and inter-Arab reconciliation.
Close relations with Tehran, support of Hezbollah and Palestinian Hamas movement give Damascus a special role in the politics of the Middle East.
Despite that the nationalistic policies of Syria irritated many people, pro-Western Arab countries and the West itself understood the inevitability of a dialogue with the Syrian leadership, especially in the peace process of Arabs and Israelis.
It is impossible to say that al-Hariri made this visit under pressure from the U.S. or Saudi Arabia, or even under the influence of Turkey, but the historic visit of the son of anti-Syrian politician Rafik al-Hariri summed up the results in the process of improvement of Syrian-Saudi and Syrian-American relations and the establishment of the Syrian-Turkish alliance, and showed the effectiveness of dialogue with the Syrian leadership, rather than confrontation.
Both countries benefited from this visit: now people will less fear the outbreak of a new political chaos between pro-Syrian and pro-Western forces in Lebanon, and Syria can show the U.S. and Europe that it is able to solve problems through diplomacy.
However, interesting is the future steps of other major players in the newly established Syrian-Lebanese alliance - pro-American Saudi Arabia and Turkey, who are more inclined to the policy of Damascus. Because these two main Sunni players of the region will not make joint actions, unlikely al-Hariri's government would reconcile with its recent opponent.
