We should be backing Carter’s plan to bring peace in Syrian conflict

Jimmy Carter has been one of the most influential former US Presidents through his work promoting international peace and democracy.

I had the privilege of meeting President Carter briefly in Indonesia and Nepal while participating in election monitoring missions.

In spite of being diagnosed this year with a brain tumour, he is continuing his work for peace, and his letter on resolving the Syrian conflict, published in the New York Times on October 25 2015 not only deserves careful consideration but his recommendations should be implemented as soon as possible.

President Carter backs the proposal from President Putin of Russia that: “the only real chance of ending the conflict was for the United States and Russia to be joined by Iran, Turkey and Saudi Arabia in preparing a comprehensive peace proposal.”

President Carter is critical of the US Government for its insistence on the removal of Syrian President Assad, as a pre-condition for any peace talks.

Such a precipitous removal of the Assad regime, would most likely lead to the same resulting chaos that was achieved in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya by the violent and precipitous removal of the regimes of the Taliban, Saddam Hussein and Muammar Gadaffi.

Instead of the daily refuelling of US war efforts in the Middle East at Shannon airport, the Irish Government should now be using its good offices at the United Nations and elsewhere, including the European Union, to support the Carter Centre recommendations for peace in Syria.

Dr Edward Horgan

Newtown

Castletroy

Limerick