Syria is in a very complicated situation as there are many local and global players with different interests in the country, former UK envoy to Iraq Sir William Patey says.
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#Syria
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00:00What are the biggest challenges ahead, in your view, for Syria?
00:04Well, I think Syria is in an even more difficult position than Afghanistan, say, or Iraq,
00:09because there are many more external players, each with interests that could contradict.
00:17Russia will want to protect its military interests.
00:20Iran will want to protect its ability to resupply Hezbollah.
00:24Turkey will want to make sure that the Kurds in the northeast do not become a threat to them.
00:33And the Americans will want to ensure that their allies in the northeast, the SDF,
00:38are able to continue to suppress Daesh or ISIS.
00:42So there are lots of countries with different interests.
00:46I know that the Gulf countries will be suspicious of Islamist governments,
00:51but they need to work closely with Turkey to build up, give the Syrians some quick wins,
01:02rebuild the hospitals, rebuild the schools, get some of the institutions up and running,
01:08and avoid just pursuing their narrow regional interests.
01:12Now, that's easier said than done, but I think engagement with the new
01:17regime is absolutely vital for the Americans, for the European Union, for Britain and regional states.