The World in September
and Beyond
‘Productive engagement is an outcome of intense positive
diplomacy’. There are two events that is worth re-looking at in the month of
September: the resolution 2118 on Syria on the 27th in the United
Nation Security Council and before then, the 1st ever United State
and Iran official talk in over a decade.
The choice of this two has in it-never experienced tendency
in the world high politics. The month proceeding September was filled with
heightened tension as the world hoped to see justice done to an act of
inhumanity, even though it still remains on the card, as such an act deserved
not to be overlooked, the month in September saw a shift from image of a
roaming war to intense diplomacy to which the world could breathe a sigh of
relief. The eventual outcome is much of broadening of UNSC role and a reduction
in the sovereignty enjoyed by states.
It indicate what can happen if and when collective role
within Security Council is appreciated and applied on burning world issues-eliminating
agentic role performed by certain
individual states. The combination of leadership in Obama lead by Kerry and
Putin lead by Lavrov differs significantly Blair/Bush era which was marred by
isolation of divergent views leading to near world chaos in their war in Iraq.
Notwithstanding ideological differences, a peaceful world is both to the
USA/Russian interest. Gone should be the belief in the notion of a chaotic
world is beneficial to a section/portion in the world of which they also are part
of. Even though Obama/Putin shares no common belief/ideals, such a marriage of
convenience at this point in time, is a welcomed development to buttress the
point that there are things that we share and that holds us all
together-humanity; to which breakthrough in conflict of interest of which
diplomacy is credited is in the interest of all. Resolution 2118 can be a
starting point for the Security Council to reclaim its role as expected in the
vision and charter upon which it was founded.
Shifting further is much a fascinating event as those of the
eventual resolution 2118, the first ever official engagement between USA and
Iran at the highest level over three decade of face-off. The phone call and
eventual meeting itself between Secretary of States and His foreign counterpart
in Iran is significant and worth noting. I truly believe and see in Kerry what
I may not have admired-statesmanship- and to Obama the possibility of realizing
the Middle East peace with such a working combination. This window of opportunity
should be grabbed with both hands as such engagement revolves round many issues
within Middle Eastern instability.
My belief is, that most of these countries that are
difficult to deal with needs the world help of which Iran is no exception. The
shift to moderate from hardliner is a silent statement of which the world
should not ignore and it’s a welcome move that the Obama administration could
see that and willing to engage.
A look at Burma a country USA the has normalized relation with not in any way
comparison to Iran, as this presents a possibility of easing/erasing hotspots
for conflict/flashpoints, a benefit the world should hope to see achieved. By
engaging with Iran, they like any nations are meant to see the responsibility
that is expected of them a member the global community-a responsibly partner to
global governance. It leads to an admission that; the policy of isolation
sometimes damages the fabric of humanity as it breeds with it radicalism and extremism
in some certain quarter who may not share the ideals which we hold in great
love- common identity as humanity.
History would be the final judge when the engagement policy
of the present USA government is revisited and I hope it would be a model to be
adopted going forward even to Israeli/Palestine issue to two state solution.
If dreams were reality, we would like to see September come
back as a good story to be told when October has come and gone but not the tell
in Kenya and Nigeria where terror attacks still claim lives of innocent. Condolences
to the good people affected in these great countries.
Celestine Chidi
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