From Lalit K Jha Washington, Feb 6 (PTI) India and other like-minded countries in the UN Security Council decided to support a Western-backed draft resolution on Syria only after it was agreed to explicitly remove provisions of regime change, threat of sanctions and military intervention. The draft resolution on Syria, introduced by Morocco and supported by the Arab League, failed to be adopted by the UN Security Council as two of its permanent members, Russia and China, vetoed it. Indian diplomats, who negotiated with their counterparts from other nations in the UNSC, explained that it was only after Indian conditions and those of the other like-minded countries were met by the promoters of the draft resolution that New Delhi decided to vote in its favour. The other like-minded countries were South Africa, Azerbaijan and Pakistan. Officials said after the final round of negotiations it was clear that Russia and China would support it. The Russian decision to oppose the resolution came only at the last minute after the Munich meeting between US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. It is believed that the last minute Russian suggestions or conditions were neither shared during the negotiations or with any other members of the Security Council but were discussed bilaterally only with the United States. The developments surprised many diplomats. "Explicit provision for handing over of power by (Syrian) President Bashar Al-Assad to his Vice President had to be removed before India and likeminded countries decided to support the resolution," a senior Indian diplomat told PTI. MORE
