Click to see the full-size image
Written by Piero Messina
To make peace it is better to gather in a five-star resort equipped with all comforts. Western diplomacy loves luxury and the pleasures of life. To discuss peace between Russia and Ukraine, it was decided to hold the summit in increasingly less neutral Switzerland.
The summit took place at the legendary Burgenstock Resort in Lucerne. A little corner of paradise for the delegations present at the summit: stuff for billionaires. Room stays cost between $1,500 and $2,000 per night per person. The Lucerne resort covers an area of 10,000 m², features 3 private spa rooms, 15 treatment rooms, a fully equipped fitness area, an indoor swimming pool and 2 outdoor swimming pools, one of which is an infinity one with breathtaking views of the lake of the Four Cantons. The catering service is also enchanting: the rates to take advantage of international cuisine vary between 200 and 400 dollars per meal. In short, if you have to play at making peace, it’s better to do it with a full belly and maximum comfort.
Click to see the full-size image
No harm done, therefore, if the summit was a gigantic flop. First of all due to the absence of the Russian and Chinese delegations. What makes the noise above all is the fact that no member of the BRICS, of which Moscow is part together with Brazil, India, China and South Africa, ultimately gave the green light to the final declaration of the Burgenstock conference. In addition to the BRICS countries, Mexico, Indonesia and Thailand also decided not to sign the text. In the end, Iraq and Jordan, with a joint note, also made it known that they were withdrawing their signatures from the final document.
Can that document be considered the basis for future peace negotiations? Probably not. The main points of the paper are a statement of principle that would amount to an unconditional surrender by Russia. That document takes no account of military dynamics on the battlefield.
Click to see the full-size image
The final communiqué was signed by 80 out of 92 countries present at various degrees of representation. The other countries that do not appear on the list are Armenia, Colombia, the Vatican (observer), Libya, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates. The three top institutions of the European Union appear in the list of signatories but not other international organizations.
In a draft being finalized before the signing of the document – which calls for the complete exchange of prisoners of war and the return of children deported from Russia – it was read among other things:
“We reaffirm our commitment – we read in this draft statement – to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, the principles of sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all States, including Ukraine, within their recognized borders at the international level, including territorial waters, and the settlement of disputes by peaceful means as principles of international law”.
Yet this is fine for Ukraine because it is the “first step”, as President Volodymyr Zelensky said yesterday and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba reiterated in other words today:
“The countries that did not come to the summit see what is happening: Ukraine is building consensus around the peace formula and this allows us to make enormous steps forward towards a just peace, not at all costs”.
According to Kiev, in short, the foundations of an agreement are being laid here in Lucerne which should then be submitted to Moscow and possible negotiating countries. If the Ukrainians’ starting point is not to give up any of their lands, it will be a dialogue of the deaf.
MORE ON THE TOPIC:
