Syria crisis needs negotiated solution
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Xinhua, November 23, 2011
The UN General Assembly Third Committee adopted a resolution Tuesday condemning Syria for human rights violations, but the move spearheaded by France, Germany and Britain is not conducive to solving the crisis in Syria.
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Pro-government Syrians shout slogans and wave Syrian flags during a rally at al-Hijaz Square in Damascus, Syria, Nov. 20, 2011. The rally held here on Sunday was as part of many other protagonist rallies that have swept across Syria lately to show solidarity with embattled President Bashar al-Assad and express discontent with the international uproar against his administration. [Xinhua] |
As Wang Min, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, said after Tuesday's vote on the Syria resolution, "China has always believed that constructive dialogue and cooperation is the only right approach to the promotion and protection of human rights."
China and Russia -- two permanent members of the UN Security Council -- abstained from the vote on the resolution, which "strongly condemns the continued grave and systematic human rights violations by the Syrian authorities."
Following the fall of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime with the help of NATO air strikes, the European nations were heaping pressure on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government to halt what they called a bloody crackdown against civilians.
However, any UN resolution should be conducive to easing the tensions in the violence-wracked country, and help maintain peace and stability in the Middle East.
In this sense, world powers should avoid sending a wrong signal to the Syrian opposition that the international community backed their violent bid to oust President al-Assad.
The confrontation between security forces and pro- and anti-government protesters, which the United Nations estimates has left more 3,500 people dead, must be defused.
The months-long crisis in Syria triggered by anti-government protests since mid-March can and should only be resolved by dialogue and consultation.
To that end, all the parties to the dispute should exercise restraint and start a national inclusive and balanced reconciliation process immediately so as to avoid more bloodshed or conflicts.
On the one hand, the Syrian government should keep its promises for economic and political reforms.
On the other, the opposition should halt attacks by what the government called armed groups on civilians, policemen and army personnel.
The new UN resolution serves as a reminder of a defeated European-sponsored draft at the UN Security Council last month, which threatened Syria with "targeted measures" in the name of protecting democracy, human rights and rule of law.
Russia and China vetoed the draft resolution on the grounds that it only advocated sanctions or threat of sanctions against Damascus with no reference to encouraging a peaceful settlement of the dispute through dialogue.
The two veto-wielding permanent members of the UN Security Council killed the draft also for fears that the European nations would attempt to replicate the Libya-style military intervention in Syria.
NATO's military mission in Libya was widely accused of exploiting UN resolutions, which only mandated a no-fly zone, to launch a full-scale air war against Gaddafi's forces.
Although Gaddafi was toppled and killed, the protracted armed conflict in the North African country has resulted in heavy civilian casualties and huge property damage.
As an important country in the Middle East, Syria has witnessed violence in the past eight months. Foreign intervention might make its already volatile situation more complex.
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