At UN,India faces the Syria dilemma

It’s learnt that Washington wants New Delhi to support its efforts at finding a fresh candidate. While Syria is unlikely to back down on its own,sources said,the US wants a fifth Asian country to stake claim so that the “clean slate” arrangement is broken and voting will be necessitated to select the final four.

In fact,the US is in talks with several countries,including Nepal,to become a contestant.

As of now,the four countries have a consensus to fill the four vacancies. But the growing unrest in Syria against President Bashar al-Assad’s regime,the continuing crackdown by state forces and reports of hundreds killed in the process have brought the focus on Damascus and,particularly,its candidacy for the Human Rights Council.

On Tuesday,the UN Security Council discussed a proposal,backed by France,United Kingdom,Germany and Portugal,to condemn the violence in Syria and demand an independent,transparent and effective investigation into the reported killings. The UNSC failed to reach a consensus because 11 of the 15 countries,including India,felt the Syrian government had taken certain steps and the Council ought not to overtly intervene in the matter which may worsen the situation.

“As we deplore any violence from any quarter,the Council needs to make clear that it is the responsibility of sovereign states to respond to the aspirations of its people through administrative,political,economic and other measures,” said Hardeep Puri,India’s Permanent Representative at the UN,during the UNSC debate.

The Indian position was in line with that of Russia and China,which was exactly the way in which the UNSC stood divided on the question of using force against Libya. On that occasion,however,the resolution was put to vote and use of force was authorised. Even then,the US had sought India’s vote but this time the pressure could be more direct.

Washington has already told New Delhi that it did not support the entry of Syria into the Human Rights Council and would like to reach an understanding on a fresh candidate. India,as of now,has not spelled out its position but going by the line it took in the UNSC,New Delhi would not want to be in the forefront of blocking “Syrian aspirations.”

India has described the Syrian situation as a matter of concern but is in favour of respecting the sovereignty of the country while suggesting that UN bodies play a constructive role of finding a resolution by supporting effective political dialogue.