India has sought to explain its decision to vote in favour of the UN Security Council resolution on Syria by stating that it does not want a regime change in the turmoil-ridden Arab country.
In fact, in the negotiations leading up to the UNSC vote on Syria, India is learnt to have succeeded in getting provisions for handing over of power by Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad to his vice-president removed. “We were actively engaged in the negotiation process and this was one of the issues that we felt should not be addressed in that resolution,” said sources.
“The issue of regime change is not what we practice and preach in terms of our foreign policy,” remarked an official. Rather, what India wants is a “peaceful resolution” to the on-going crisis in Syria and is willing to do its bit through the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
The draft resolution was supported by 13 of the 15 members of the UN Security Council when it was put to a vote on Saturday. Russia and China used their veto powers to block the resolution.
India is also learnt to have supported the resolution as it was not considered under Article 42 of the UN Charter which allows military intervention and blockades. Sources also noted that Article 95 of the Syrian constitution provides for delegation of some power by the President to one or more of his vice-presidents. The Arab League’s proposal, said sources, is to use that delegation of power to facilitate the government’s engagement with the opposition to solve the crisis politically. Asked if India’s support for the resolution did not amount to support for ouster of the present regime in Syria, sources said, “This is not the agenda that we are following. Our interest is peaceful resolution of an issue and regime change is not on the agenda of India.”
They added, “A regime change is alien to the principles, precepts and practises of Indian foreign policy”.
Noting that “there was no reference to any issue relating to regime change in the resolution specifically or explicitly” or that President Assad hand over power, sources further said, “this resolution does not impose any embargo or sanctions.”
Drawing attention to para six of the resolution, sources said that it calls for an “inclusive Syrian-led political process conducted in an environment free from violence, fear, intimidation and extremism....” which they said does not amount to interference from outside.
They also noted that a political resolution of the Syrian crisis under the auspices of the Arab League is not a closed chapter with a pre-determined outcome. Rather, they said it’s a process that needs to be continued with the participation of all Syrian parties.