Ambassador’s murder: Roots of the tragedy (Maria Dubovikova, Al Arabiya)

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/middle-east/2016/12/20/Ambassador-s-murder-Roots-of-the-tragedy.html

Do we, don’t we? UN stalls on whether to include extremists in Syria ceasefire (Maria Dubovikova, Al Arabiya)

The UN Security Council (UNSC) has been paralyzed by vetoes. Manipulated by phobias and mistrust, member countries have lost the ability to listen and debate on the problems the international community faces. This has turned the Security Council into a battlefield of verbose aggressive skirmishes serving the national interests of the countries involved, mutual accusations and veto games.

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/middle-east/2016/10/13/Do-we-don-t-we-UN-stalls-on-whether-to-include-extremists-in-Syria-ceasefire.html

International agreements on Syria will prove worthless (Maria Dubovikova, Al Arabiya)

The Syrian conflict has taken another turn for the worse with major belligerent parties indicating a military solution in the only way to end the fighting. For its part, the Syrian opposition has lost faith in the political process and in the promises of international negotiators.

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/middle-east/2016/09/29/International-agreements-on-Syria-will-prove-useless.html

Who will apologize to the Iraqi people? (Maria Dubovikova, Al Arabiya)

When terror struck Paris in November last year, claiming 129 lives, people worldwide expressed solidarity with France. Popular sights and historical monuments changed their colors to the French flag. Social media was abuzz with hashtags marking the tragedy.

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/middle-east/2016/07/10/Who-will-apologize-to-the-Iraqi-people-.html

Moving beyond Turkey’s apology, Russian rhetoric (Maria Dubovikova, Al Arabiya)

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/middle-east/2016/07/03/Moving-beyond-Turkey-s-apology-Russian-rhetoric.html

Russia and Israel are natural allies, despite differences (Maria Dubovikova, Al Arabiya)

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/middle-east/2016/06/11/Russia-and-Israel-are-natural-allies-despite-differences.html

Why the Middle East needs Russian-Gulf cooperation (Maria Dubovikova, Al Arabiya)

Russia is claiming back its position in the Middle East that it lost after the Soviet Union collapsed. It is an expensive and tricky adventure that Moscow has decided to accept

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/middle-east/2016/06/02/The-Middle-East-needs-Russian-Gulf-cooperation.html

Terrorism is not confined to the Middle East (Maria Dubovikova, Al Arabiya)

I join Faisal J. Abbas in expressing solidarity and condolences to the families of those who perished in EgyptAir A320 over the Mediterranean, and to the government and country as a whole. Egypt is an indicator that the world is less safe than ever, but instead of focusing exclusively on the country, we should look at the global trend and join forces to counter it

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/middle-east/2016/05/26/Terrorism-is-not-confined-to-the-Middle-East.html

Syria: Hope despite obstacles (Maria Dubovikova, Al Arabiya)

The Syrian conflict is witnessing a lull, both on the ground and in the media. Efforts undertaken by international players, notably Russia and the United States, have revived the weak truce in Syria, renewing hope for peace talks. Ending the conflict depends on whether international players succeed in cooperating

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/middle-east/2016/05/18/Syria-Hope-despite-obstacles.html

Aleppo is the key to peace in Syria (Maria Dubovikova, Al Arabiya)

The ceasefire in Syria that was brokered by Washington and Moscow made a diplomatic settlement of the conflict possible, but not guaranteed, for the first time since the bloodshed began in 2011. Negotiations can only make progress with a sustainable ceasefire.

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/middle-east/2016/05/05/Aleppo-is-the-key-to-peace-in-Syria.html

Why Egypt needs evolution, not revolution (Maria Dubovikova, Al Arabiya)

“The Egyptian regime lived in fear of opposition,” wrote prominent Egyptian activist Wael Ghonim in his book Revolution 2.0. He continued: “It sought to project a facade of democracy, giving the impression that Egypt was advancing toward political rights and civil liberties while it vanquished any dissident who threatened to mobilize enough support to force real change."

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/middle-east/2016/04/28/Why-Egypt-needs-evolution-not-revolution.html

How Russia is poisoning its ties with Egypt (Maria Dubovikova, Al Arabiya)

The Paris attacks claimed 130 lives and revealed a broad terrorist network operating in the heart of Europe, with Belgium appearing to be its stronghold. The death toll from the terrorist attacks in Brussels was 32. French and Belgian security services caught one suspect after another.

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/middle-east/2016/04/21/Russia-is-poisoning-its-ties-with-Egypt.html

Geneva talks: Light in Syria’s dark tunnel? (Maria Dubovikova, Al Arabiya)

A new round of Geneva talks started on Wednesday, with the general environment more or less positive. Increased ceasefire violations have not disrupted the peace process until now - hopefully, neither will the provocative offensives of Jabhat al-Nusra and rebel groups linked to it. However there are deep concerns over the rumors that Damascus is preparing for the offensive on the rebel stronghold of Aleppo.

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/middle-east/2016/04/14/Geneva-talks-Light-in-Syria-s-dark-tunnel-.html

A unity government must replace Assad (Maria Dubovikova, Al Arabiya)

The Syrian peace process is being hampered by disagreements over whether President Bashar al-Assad should be part of the solution. The opposition insists that no new Syria can be build with his participation. This position is backed by the West.

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Syria: Russia is withdrawing in order to stay (Maria Dubovikova, Al Arabiya)

Russia’s withdrawal from Syria was not a surprise to those who have been following it foreign policy. In Oct. 2015, President Vladimir Putin said: “Our goal... is to stabilize the legitimate power in Syria, and to create conditions for the search for political compromise.”

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/middle-east/2016/03/18/Syria-Russia-is-withdrawing-in-order-to-stay.html

Trust is key to bolstering Russia-Egypt ties (Maria Dubovikova, Al Arabiya)

On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi talked on the phone about the situation in Syria, according to the Kremlin. The leaders agreed to continue their close cooperation in this regard, as well as on anti-terrorism efforts.

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/middle-east/2016/03/09/Trust-is-key-to-bolstering-Russia-Egypt-ties.html

Iran election bodes ill for Russia (Maria Dubovikova, Al Arabiya)

Iranians voted to elect new members of parliament and the Assembly of Experts. The results show people favoring reform, integration into the global economic and political systems, and restoring ties with the West. This is good news for Iran but not so for Russia, which has long had close ties with Iranian hardliners, who proclaim the United States the “Great Satan” and oppose rapprochement with the West.

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/middle-east/2016/03/03/Iran-election-bodes-ill-for-Russia.html

Syria’s cessation of hostilities is a positive step (Maria Dubovikova, Al Arabiya)

Russian President Vladimir Putin rarely gives addresses, so the fact the he gave one on Monday following agreement on a cessation of hostilities in Syria shows how much the conflict matters to Moscow.

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/middle-east/2016/02/24/Syria-s-cessation-of-hostilities-is-a-positive-step.html

Can a ground offensive end the Syria conundrum? (Maria Dubovikova, Al Arabiya)

The moment it seems that the crisis in Syria cannot get worse the greatest optimist among us becomes pessimistic. The country has been embroiled in an extremely complicated conflict the intensity and dimensions of which continue to escalate. It is no longer just about the domestic strife in Syria or even the rise of ISIS; it has also triggered the Turkish-Kurdish confrontation, which appears to be escalating as Kurdish militias strengthen their positions.

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/middle-east/2016/02/17/Can-ground-offensive-end-the-Syria-conundrum-.html

Rumors and wrangling over a Russian base near Turkey (Maria Dubovikova, Al Arabiya)

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/middle-east/2016/01/27/Russia-s-case-against-military-base-near-Turkey.html