THE HINDU Editorial Vocabulary-December 22, 2016- Topic 2
The coming
together of Russia, Turkey and Iran to discuss a diplomatic solution to
the Syrian crisis is a welcome development. That they decided to go ahead with
Tuesday’s Moscow summit despite the assassination of the Russian
ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, the previous day, demonstrates their
commitment to stay the course, something that was missing in previous efforts.
The summit also marks a shift in Russia’s approach, which initially involved
negotiations with the United States about possible diplomatic options for
Syria. Washington has been kept out of both the deliberations on the
Aleppo evacuations and the Moscow conference. The last time Russia and the
U.S. reached an agreement, in September
2016, there had been great hope that they could mentor a sustainable ceasefire.
But within days of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry announcing the deal, the
American-led coalition killed dozens of Syrian soldiers. Though the U.S. later “regretted” the strike, the
peace process had been hit. The wider bilateral tensions between Moscow and
Washington were also an impediment to finding a breakthrough in Syria.
The current initiative appears to be
more promising. Russia and Iran have direct leverage over the regime in Syria,
while Turkey still helps several militant groups. Besides money and arms, the
militants need Turkey’s help for any communication with the other side. And
there is a reason for Turkey coming forward for talks. President Recep Tayyip
Erdogan appears to have realised that his anti-regime Syria policy has
backfired. Turkey faces severe security challenges, from both Islamic State
jihadists and Kurdish militants. If Syria remains at war and the instability
spawns more radical militia groups, it could worsen Turkey’s security problems,
while Kurds on the Syrian side could grow in strength. Russia, on the other
side, has pursued a ‘war and talk’ approach since its intervention — it will
continue to defend the regime militarily, while looking for avenues to deal
with other stakeholders. The recent improvement in relations between Ankara and
Moscow, which had hit a low after Turkey shot
down a Russian aircraft last year, has also
helped get the peace process going. But this convergence of interest for both
sides in stabilising Syria doesn’t mean that peace is within reach. Turkey is
only one of the countries backing the rebels. The others include Saudi Arabia,
Qatar and Jordan, all allies of the U.S. The Saudis were instrumental in ending
the civil war in Lebanon in 1989. Like Lebanon, Syria too is a regional problem
that needs a regional solution. For this, Arab stakeholders may have to give up
their ‘Assad-must-go’ precondition and join the peace process, as Turkey did.
Vocabulary
Assassination: the action of assassinating someone.
Example: The assassination of President Kennedy
Synonyms: murder, killing, slaughter, homicide, elimination
Negotiation: discussion aimed at reaching an agreement.
Example: A worldwide ban is currently under negotiation
Synonyms: discussion(s), talks, deliberations, conference, debate, dialogue
Deliberation: long and careful consideration or discussion.
Example: After much deliberation, we arrived at a compromise
Synonyms: thought, consideration, reflection, contemplation, meditation, rumination
Evacuation: the action of evacuating a person or a place.
Example: There were waves of evacuation during the blitz
Ceasefire: a temporary suspension of fighting, typically one during
which peace talks take place; a truce.
Example: War with people who break their ceasefire agreements is the default
position.
Leverage: the exertion of force by means of a lever or an object
used in the manner of a lever.
Example: My spade hit something solid that wouldn't respond to leverage
Synonyms: grip, purchase, hold, support, anchorage, force, strength
Worsen: make or become worse.
Example: Her condition worsened on the flight
Synonyms: aggravate, exacerbate, compound, intensify, increase, magnify
Stabilising: make or become unlikely to
give way or overturn.
Example: The craft was stabilized by throwing out the remaining ballast
Precondition: a condition that must be
fulfilled before other things can happen or be done.
Example: A precondition for peace
Synonyms: prerequisite, requirement, necessity, necessary/essential condition