Russia's Middle East role

Russian observers are very interested in (Egyptian) Foreign Minister Amr Moussa's visit to Moscow, where he will meet with senior Russian diplomats and decisionmakers.

The interest is inspired by the fact he represents a leading Arab country, which is the Mecca of Arabs orchestrating their solidarity and unity in the face of the development of the situation in the Middle East.

Moussa's visit is the first by an Arab diplomat since the re- election of Russian President Boris Yeltsin. His visit also will cement speculation that the Russians are determined to restore their leading role in the international arena after years of absence.

Russian attention to world issues was distracted by the painstaking efforts that the big power had to exert to overcome the thorny transition period after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the demise of communism.

Worse, the Russians had to grapple with dissenting states which were pressing for independence. The tiring war in Chechnya came as the latest obstacle put forth to distract Russia's attention from the outside world.

Fortunately, the links created between Arabs and the old Soviet Union were not ruptured after the ruin of the latter. More fortunate was that both the Arabs and the Russians were keen to keep alive these links until the time came to bolster them.

Despite the dazzling events that swept across the old Soviet Union and the neighboring areas, Arab diplomacy gambled on the role Russians would play when the coast was clear again. It is undeniable that the new world order would lose its balance when only one power handled it.

-- The Egyptian Gazette, Cairo