Tribune
Attempts to end the Syrian crisis through UN intervention have led to the ill intentions of Russia and China getting exposed. As expected, they used their veto power to prevent an Arab League-sponsored and Western-backed meaningful resolution from being adopted
by the UN Security Council on Saturday. The resolution was brought to the world body following the killing of over 200 civilians in a clash with the Syrian security forces a day before in a restive central city, Homs. It was aimed at implementing an Arab League
peace plan for Syria, seeking the transfer of power by President Bashar al-Assad to his deputy so that the anti-government forces could be brought to the negotiating table to end the unrest in the West Asian nation.
But Russia and China do not agree with the Arab League's approach, which was supported by the US and its West European allies. The opponents of the resolution wanted a consensus to be arrived at before taking it to the Security Council which was not possible.
Moscow and Beijing fear that once they approve of the UN intervention to resolve the crisis in Syria, a sovereign nation, tomorrow the method can be used against them also. But they are not justified in going against the will of the Syrian masses. As the world
has seen, dictators like Bashar al-Assad have no regard for people's aspirations for democracy. They can kill any number of people to perpetuate their autocratic rule. What happened in Libya, Egypt, Tunisia and Yemen is before all of us to see. The pro-democracy
drive in Syria shows that the Arab Spring is still on. The unarmed seekers of regime change deserve the global community's all-out support in their efforts to oust a dictatorial regime.
India has taken the right stand by casting its vote in favour of the Security Council resolution like 12 other Council members. It has demonstrated its capacity to take a clear stand on any regional or global issue. It is not a question of going along with
the US and the rest of the West. India has to play its own independent role to protect its interests in West Asia. New Delhi's bold stand has added to its stature as an emerging power.
(The views expressed above are the personal views of the author)