Russia Calls on International Community to Change Vision Regarding Situation in Syria
Russia reiterated its affirmation that settling the situation in Syria must be achieved through general dialogue among Syrians without foreign interference, stressing that the international community must change its vision and work to encourage dialogue rather than resorting to sanctions.
During a special session of the Human Rights Council on Syria in Geneva on Tuesday, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the UN in Geneva Valery Loshchinin criticized some sides’ tendency to ignore the negative and destabilizing role played by some sides and their attempt to pin the responsibility for the current events in Syria on the Syrian leadership, pointing out that the opposition in Syria often resorts to the use of weapons and insists on toppling legitimate authorities.
Loshchinin stressed the need for sending a message to all sides in Syria to join in a peaceful political process, particularly the opposition which continues to reject utterly all the Syrian leadership’s calls for initiating dialogue.
The Russian Representative expressed his country’s confidence in the Syrian leadership’s readiness to take more effective steps to compliment the comprehensive and long-term reform steps and procedures made so far, stressing that full implementation of reforms requires time and the normalization of the situation in Syria.
He added that his Russia affirms the need for speeding up the implementation of mature and thorough political, economic and social reforms by the Syrian leadership on the basis of rejecting violence, seeking general national accord and relying exclusively on the political process.
Loshchinin noted that the Syrian leadership’s agreeing to receive the fact-finding delegation of the Higher Commission on Human Rights shows Syria’s constructive stance and openness to dialogue, expressing hope that this step will be reflected in the Human Rights Council’s resolutions.
He concluded by stressing that Syria is one of the principal countries in the region, saying that the situation in it is a cause for concern and expressing regret over the continuing killing of civilians and military and security personnel.
China Stresses Need for Human Rights Council to Remain Impartial and Objective Regarding Events in Syria
China stressed the need for the Human Rights Council to remain impartial and objective regarding the events in Syria, calling for it to base its work on precise and reliable information to help promote dialogue and cooperation instead of becoming a forum for leveling accusations and pressuring Syria.
In a statement during the special session of the Human Rights Council, China’s Permanent Representative at the United Nations in Geneva He Yafei underlined the need for any initiative to resolve the crisis in Syria to be based on dialogue, consultations, respecting Syria’s sovereignty and dignity, and guaranteeing the preservation of stability and social order in it in accordance to the UN charter and the law.
He pointed out that no external power has the right to interfere in Syria’s internal affairs and future, saying that launching a comprehensive political process with an internal leadership is the only way to resolve the crisis in Syria.
“We would also call upon all parties in Syria to participate constructively in the dialogue so as to jointly move forward the political process to diffuse tensions at an early date,” the Representative said, stressing the importance of Syria’s stability and its considerable influence on stability and security in the entire region.
He also warned that turmoil in some areas in the Middle East and North Africa hinders severely the economic and social development and people’s lives in these countries.
