The following speech is from India’s
External Affairs Minister, Salman Khurshid, at the Geneva II Conference on
Syria, which was intended to end the Syrian Civil War and establish a
functioning transitional government for the Syrian people. The conference was a
failure, clearly. Nonetheless, Khurshid’s remarks beg some interesting
questions about his own worldview and his nation’s interests. It’s also worth
noting that despite approximately 80% of India being Hindu, and their
tension with an Islamic Pakistan, that Khurshid himself is a Muslim, which may
influence his perspective of the conflict between Islamic peoples in a more liberal
and humanitarian way.
January 22,
2014
“Ladies and Gentlemen,
•
I am deeply
honoured to be part of this historic political process towards the resolution
of the ongoing Syrian conflict. All parties and stakeholders, external and
internal, deserve credit for taking this important decision to support the
peace initiative for Syria, which will impact not only on Syria but the region
as a whole. I compliment the efforts of the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon,
the UN-Arab League Joint Special Representative to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi, as
well as my counterparts, the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and the US
Secretary of State John Kerry, for their sustained efforts for convening this
International Conference on Syria. I share the sentiments of the UN Secretary
General that this Conference is a mission of hope and vehicle for a peaceful political
transition that will fulfill the aspirations of the Syrian people for freedom
and dignity as well as provide guarantees for the safety and protection of all
communities.
•
The conflict in
Syria has raged for far too long. It would be unacceptable not to seize this
opportunity to bring an end to the tragic suffering and destruction it has
caused. The conflict has resulted in the death of more than 120,000 people.
Estimates by the United Nations Refugee Agency show that about 9.3 million
people, nearly half the Syrian population, are now in need of humanitarian
assistance. This includes an estimated 6.5 million internally displaced people
and about 2.3 million registered Syrian refugees, mostly in regional countries
of Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt. The severe strain of infrastructure
resources that this has caused for the host countries is very well appreciated.
•
It is well
recognized that the lethal conflict within Syria, which occupies an important
place in West Asia as a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural country, is not only
the tragedy for the people of Syria but also threatens the stability and
security of the region, with potentially long term impact on the geo-strategic
dynamics. The conflict has sharply intensified the sectarian fault-lines across
the region, with very serious consequences. In particular, the infiltration of
all shades of religious extremism in Syria from all parts of the world has
rendered the situation extremely dangerous and complicated. Today’s Conference,
aimed at peaceful settlement of the conflict, is a positive and timely step to
prevent further destabilization of the region.
•
Excellencies, India
has important stakes in the Syrian conflict. It shares deep historical and
civilizational bonds with the wider West Asia and Gulf region. We have
substantial interests in the fields of trade and investment, diaspora,
remittances, energy and security. Any spill-over from the Syrian conflict has
the potential of impacting negatively on our larger interests.
•
We are encouraged
that this Conference is a convergence of the positions of global and regional
powers with India’s own consistently stated position of supporting a
comprehensive political settlement of the crisis. We have supported full
implementation of Geneva Communiqué of 30 June 2012, which focuses on ceasefire
and negotiations between all parties, leading to the formation of a
transitional governing body and to be followed by democratically held
elections. India believes that societies cannot be re-ordered from outside and
that people in all countries have the right to choose their own destiny and
decide their own future. In line with this, India supports an all-inclusive
Syrian led process to chart out the future of Syria, its political structures
and leadership. There can be NO military solution to the crisis. India's stand
on various resolutions in the Security Council and General Assembly has been in
support of efforts to bring about an end to violence by all parties.
•
India has responded
positively to the international appeal for humanitarian assistance for Syria,
being deeply conscious of the humanitarian dimension of the conflict. We
supplied essential food items to Syria last year, delivered through the World
Food Programme. At the 2nd International Pledging Conference for Syria held in
Kuwait on 15 January 2014, India pledged US$ 2 million to the United Nations
Syrian Humanitarian Assistance Response Plan (UN-SHARP) in support of its
prioritized humanitarian activities for Syria.
•
India supported the
Russia-US framework agreement on the time bound safeguarding and destruction of
Syrian chemical weapons, in line with India’s stance of supporting the complete
elimination of chemical weapons worldwide. India is encouraged by the steps
taken by Syria to accede to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and
cooperation being offered by it in the destruction of its stockpiles. As part
of the international effort, India has offered technical expertise to the
Organization for Protection of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) for destruction,
verification and training activities. Additionally, India has offered a
financial contribution of US$ one million to the OPCW Trust Fund for activities
relating to destruction of chemical stockpiles and related facilities in Syria.
•
Excellencies, I
extend India’s full backing to this importance peace initiative and wish all
participants successful conclusion of the deliberations, resulting in
meaningful resolution of the conflict. Sustained peace and stability in the
region is in our common interest.
It is expected that all regional and international partners will demonstrate their meaningful
support for constructive negotiations, in alignment with the UNSC Resolution
2118 (2013). But ultimately, it is the
Syrian parties themselves who have to chart out
their own future and we will be watching this process very carefully as they
begin their discussions two days later in Geneva. So far, they have shown great
courage in coming to the negotiating table. As a next step, I would like to
express my earnest hope that they will be able to show the required flexibility
in resolving their differences in a spirit of reconciliation and come to
pragmatic conclusions that can be implemented on the ground, in the best
interest of the Syrian people who are undergoing tremendous suffering on
account of the conflict.
•
India stands fully
prepared to play its part in the peace process in any manner required of it,
conscious of its larger regional and global responsibilities. It will also be
willing to assist appropriately in the implementation of the Conclusions
deriving from the deliberations of the Syrian parties in Geneva towards the
establishment of long term peace and stability in the region and beyond.
Thank you.”
The final paragraph, to me, is quite interesting, since we get
to see India flex some diplomatic muscle. India continues to develop in the
Asian sphere and is beginning to challenge the power of a juggernaut China and
a viable Japan – both of whom had diplomats present at the conference. Perhaps
Khurshid was recognizant of the opportunity, and in addition to appearing
favorable for peace, wanted to increase India’s presence in Asian multilateral
relations. And although they weren’t there, India’s long-time nemesis,
Pakistan, was surely listening as well. In addition to his liberal worldview, Khurshid
may have also been giving a soft touch on India’s rise in the nexus of Asian
power.
.
No comments:
Post a Comment