ABSTRACT
The Russian republic has inherited much of the Soviet Union’s legacy, including its international standing on arms control and disarmament, its role on the UN Security Council and the settlement of regional conflicts. The Russian leadership, eager to avoid new controversies and confusion, have encouraged an extensive debate. Some groups were inclined to understand the Russian national interest in wide, quasi-imperial terms, insisting that as a great power and a permanent member of the UN Security Council, Russia was obliged to devote a significant part of its resources to the solution of international problems. The Middle East certainly falls into the orbit of the Russian periphery in terms of national self-determination, economic development, religious resurgences, and ethnic conflicts. One of the major contributions to confidence building is the possibility of a new Russian role in the Middle East. Peacemaking in the Middle East must incorporate confidence building measures as an integral part of its long and multidimensional process.
