Why India Supported Syria resolution

New York, Feb 5 (IBNS) India has voted in favour of a resolution asking strife-torn Syria's President Bashar Assad to step down but Russia and China have vetoed the Arab League backed plan at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, however, voiced deep regret after Security Council members were unable to agree on the resolution backing an Arab League plan to resolve the crisis in Syria, where thousands of people have been killed over the past year since authorities crackdown on a pro-democracy uprising.

Ambassador Hardeep Singh Puri, Permanent Representative of India to UN, explains why India voted on UNSC Resolution on Syria

Hardeep Singh Puri at the UNSC:

Mr President, the Syrian Arab Republic has historically played an important role in the Middle East. Prolonged instability and unrest in Syria have implications for peace and stability in the wider region.

India is concerned with the present situation in Syria that has resulted in the deaths of thousands of civilians and security forces personnel over the last ten months. Therefore, since the beginning of the protest, we have called for a peaceful and inclusive political process to address the grievances of all sections of Syrian society.

We strongly condemn all violence, irrespective of whoever the perpetrators are. We also condemn all violations of human rights. India holds the rights of expression and peaceful assembly among the fundamental values that should be respected, while ensuring stability and security of the society.

India has conveyed this message to the Syrian leadership, both bilaterally as well as along with its IBSA partners. We have impressed upon the Syrian side to abjure violence and pay heed to the aspirations of the people of Syria. This message was also contained in the Council´s PRST issued in August 2011 under India´s Presidency.

We are firmly of the view that a political process for resolution of the present crisis should be led by the Syrians themselves. We believe that the main role of the international community, including this Council, is to facilitate engagement of the Syrian Government with all sections of Syrian society for an inclusive political process, taking into account the legitimate aspirations of all Syrians while ensuring respect for the country´s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.

We note that the resolution enjoins upon the government to protect its population, indicating that it should have the capacity to do so.

The League of Arab States, as an important regional organisation, should play its required and historic role in promoting political dialogue among the Syrian parties. In this context, we welcomed the deployment of the League´s Observer Mission across several areas in the country which had a calming effect on the level of violence and provided a more accurate picture of developments. We hope that this Mission can be resumed soon.

Our support for the Resolution is in accordance with our support for the efforts by the Arab League for a peaceful resolution of the crisis through a Syrian-led inclusive political process. We note that the resolution expressly rules out any measures under Article 42 of the Charter and calls for serious political dialogue between the Syrian government and the whole spectrum of the opposition under the auspices of the League of Arab States. We believe that the leadership of Syria is a matter for the Syrian people to decide. It would be necessary for all opposition forces in Syria to peacefully engage in constructive dialogue with the authorities. We hope that this will create a new environment for peace and facilitate a political process. This political dialogue should build upon the political reforms already announced by the Syrian leadership with necessary changes so that they find acceptance among all sections of Syrian society.

Image: UN Photo by Paulo Filgueiras/IBNS