Syria appreciates BRICS stand on sovereignty

Damascus, March 30 (IANS) Syria has appreciated the BRICS leaders' stand at their New Delhi Summit Thursday respecting the sovereignty and independence of states.

President Bashar al-Assad Thursday expressed Syria's appreciation of the BRICS leaders' position that the crisis in the country could only be resolved by "a Syrian-led inclusive political process", the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported.

Syria also looked forward to more cooperation for creating a multi-polar world built on the values of democracy, Assad said in a letter sent to leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

The BRICS New Delhi Declaration saw the leaders voicing deep concern at the situation in Syria and supporting "a Syrian-led inclusive political process", an explanation India had used to justify its vote on the UN's Syria resolution, and welcomed the joint efforts of the UN and the Arab League to resolve the crisis.

"Global interests would best be served by dealing with the crisis through peaceful means that encourage broad national dialogues that reflect the legitimate aspirations of all sections of Syrian society and respect Syrian independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty," the declaration said.

China and Russia, the two members of the UN Security Council, had voted against the US and Arab League-backed UN resolution on the ground that it amounted to a regime change. India had supported the resolution.

"Syria, as part of its strategy to put an end to the crisis, has responded to the task entrusted to Kofi Annan, as the United Nations Special Envoy to Syria, and will spare no effort to make this mission a success to contribute to restoring security and stability to the country," Assad's letter stated.

Assad hoped that Annan would comprehensively deal with various aspects of the crisis, including its international and regional ramifications.

He also stated the situation in Syria was "inflamed due to misleading media campaigns and continued assassinations and terrorist operations backed by forces providing weapons and financial support to the extremists".

Following the Arab Spring, there have been widespread protests against the Assad regime for almost a year now, in which hundreds of people have been killed.