Political Process Only Alternative to 'Hell' in Syria
A political transition in Syria requires a role for the Alawite community in preventing the collapse of the state and its institutions.
![U.N.-Arab League peace mediator Brahimi of Algeria and Russia's Foreign Minister Lavrov attend a joint news conference in Moscow U.N.-Arab League peace mediator Lakhdar Brahimi (L) of Algeria and Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attend a joint news conference in Moscow December 29, 2012. The international mediator seeking to end the 21-month-old conflict in Syria met Russia's foreign minister in Moscow on Saturday after talks in Damascus but expectations of progress toward a negotiated solution were low. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin (RUSSIA - Tags: POLITICS)](/sites/default/files/styles/article_hero_medium/public/almpics/2012/q4/BrahimiLavrov.jpg/BrahimiLavrov.jpg?h=2d235432&itok=EprrMOzW)
Joint Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi visited Damascus and Moscow this week in a renewed initiative to bring an end to the war in Syria.
Brahimi said the situation in Syria is “bad and worsening” and “presents a grave danger not just to the Syrian people, but also to the neighboring countries and the world.”