Three years ago, the self-immolation of Tunisian hawker Mohamed Bouaziz ignited a much bigger fire across North Africa and West Asia which the world labeled the "Arab Spring". Since that fateful day of Dec 18, 2010, the Middle East has undergone profound changes, with countries like Egypt, Libya and Syria riding a bumpy road toward social and political transition.

Amid the gloom of violence, however, the international community has raised a glimmer of hope by agreeing to seek a political resolution to the regional crisis. Thanks to its efforts, positive signs have emerged in the Middle East, especially in Syria and Iran. The international community should seize this opportunity to peacefully resolve the major issues plaguing the Middle East.

After the United States backed off from its avowed plan of military intervention in Syria, efforts to dismantle Syrian chemical weapons have proceeded along the desirable path. With the United Nations playing a leading role, Syria's stockpile of chemical weapons is being dismantled step by step.

The Geneva II international conference on Syria is scheduled for Jan 22, which is a clear sign that the world is moving ahead to resolve the three-year-old Syrian crisis through political means.

There is good news on the Iranian nuclear issue, too. For the first time since 2006, Iran and the P5+1 (the US, the UK, China, France, Russia plus Germany) have reached a deal. Under the deal, agreed to in November, Iran will halt its controversial nuclear program in the next six months in exchange for easing of sanctions imposed by the West.

Besides, US mediation prompted the Palestinians and Israelis to resume direct talks in July, and the two sides have vowed to continue them for six months to reach an agreement.

These positive developments are the result of the tussle between the West and emerging countries over the norms governing international relations. Once unilateralism makes way for dialogues and negotiations, the world will certainly have a better chance of resolving the difficult issues peacefully.

The future of the Middle East rests heavily on international efforts to push for political resolutions to burning issues that are threatening regional peace and stability. Neither war nor unilateralism is the answer to the complicated problems that countries like Syria face; unilateralism will only intensify racial and sectarian conflicts.

To defend the long-term and fundamental interests of countries in the Middle East, the basic norms governing international relations, especially the principle of sovereignty, should be upheld. And since the future of the Middle East ultimately depends on its people, countries in the region should be allowed to independently decide on their roads to social and political transition.

The world powers should strictly follow the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries and allow developing countries to safeguard their sovereignty and national dignity, as well as their right to choose their development roads.

With the wind of "Arab Spring" blowing, one cannot help asking: Why are more and more Arab countries plunging deeper into the quagmire of sectarian and racial conflicts while other parts of the world are making headway in regional integration. Why are countries like Egypt and Iraq experiencing social unrest even after forced regime changes?

Such questions have helped an increasing number of people both in and outside the Arab world to surmise that it is nave to think that Western-style democracy is the panacea to all the ills tormenting the Middle East.

With 2013 about to become history and a new year smiling upon us, the situation in the Middle East has reached a crossroad. Therefore, it is time for the international community to intensify its efforts to pave the way for countries in the region to embrace peace and stability.

The author is a writer with China Daily.

wanghui@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 12/21/2013 page5)