Wednesday, August 10, 2011

India asks Syria to end violence-Aug 11, 2011

India asks Syria to end violence/Syria seeks India's support against 'Western propaganda'

TNN | Aug 11, 2011, 04.54AM IST



NEW DELHI: India, along with Brazil and South Africa, has told the Syrian government to put an end to violence and reach a peaceful agreement.

Dilip Sinha, India's additional secretary for international organizations, travelled to Damascus on Wednesday to meet Bashar-al Assad's government to deliver this message for an early resolution. He met representatives from Brazil and South Africa for a joint demarche to the Syrian government. All three are in the Security Council.

India doesn't normally take such proactive measures particularly in trouble spots like the West Asia. However this month, India has the presidency of the UN Security Council that gives her special responsibilities. Among the first tasks for India was to pilot through Security Council a presidential statement against the violence in Syria. New Delhi is clear that it doesn't want Syria to become another Libya, adding to the unrest in the region.

The IBSA initiative comes after Turkey led a group of Syria's neighbours to advise caution to Assad earlier this week.


During a visit to India by the Syrian vice-foreign minister Faisal Mekkad last week, foreign minister S M Krishna urged Damascus to stop the violence and implement political reforms.

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