India calls on global community to play constructive role in violence-hit Syria

New York, Feb.1 (ANI): India has called on the international community to play a constructive role in facilitating political dialogue to end the crisis in violence-hit Syria.

In a statement issued here, India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Hardeep Puri, said: " The international community, including this Council (U.N. Security Council), should play a constructive role in the process of political dialogue among the Syrians."

He also said that New Delhi is ready to engage with fellow Council members so that the Council can speak with a unanimous voice in support of the initiative of the League of Arab States to expeditiously resolve the Syrian crisis.

Addressing a UNSC meeting that was organized at the request of the League of Arab States, Puri said Chapter VIII of the UN Charter places a responsibility of the UNSC to cooperate with regional organizations for maintenance of international peace and security.

Suggesting that Tuesday's meeting was a good opportunity to understand the role the League of Arab States is playing in resolution of the problem in Syria, he said that India has always been keen for "a peaceful and inclusive political process to address the grievances of all sections of the Syrian society since the beginning of the protests in March 2011."

"The problem in Syria is not merely security-related; it is primarily political and economic and emanates from the Syrian people's desire to play a greater role in shaping their destiny. Resolution of this problem cannot be found in violence or armed struggle and its violent suppression. Nor can a solution be reached through prescriptions from outside. The Syrian people demand and deserve empowerment so that a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political solution can be found in an atmosphere free of violence and bloodshed," he added

He further said that India unequivocally and strongly condemns all violence irrespective of whoever the perpetrators are and whatever justification is proffered. We also condemn all violations of human rights and rights of expression and peaceful assembly."

"India holds these rights among the fundamental values that should be respected while ensuring stability and security of the society," he added.

Puri also said that India was disappointed over the suspension and recall of the League of Arab Nations Observer Mission to Syria on account of a serious deterioration in the form of continuing violence.

"The continued presence and deployment of the Observers could have helped reduce the violence and present a more accurate picture of developments, especially since the monitors had also confirmed that a lot of information in the media is exaggerated and misleading. The report of the Observer Mission also made an important point that the mission needs to be accompanied by a political process to address the grievances of the Syrian people, something that we strongly support," Puri said.

"We (India) are firmly of the view that all sides need to cooperate with the League of Arab States. A political process must begin without any further delay. The process should be led by the Syrians and should respect Syria's sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity. 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," he said.

"This dialogue can build upon the package of political reforms already announced by the Syrian leadership and also bring about necessary changes to the package of political reforms so that it finds acceptance among all sections of the Syrian society," he added.

The outcome should be acceptable to the widest segment of Syrian society for it to resolve the present crisis and be enduring," he concluded. (ANI)