Stop attacks against civilians: India tells all sides in Syria

India has said it remains concerned at the ongoing violence and deteriorating humanitarian situation in Syria and asked all sides in the war-torn nation to immediately cease attacks against civilians.
"We remain concerned at the ongoing violence and continually deteriorating humanitarian situation in Syria. We urge all sides in Syria to sincerely implement the Security Council resolutions on humanitarian efforts and ensure humanitarian access, immediately cease attacks against civilians and lift the siege of populated areas," India's Ambassador to the UN Asoke Mukerji said.
He made the comments during the Security Council open debate on 'The Situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question' here yesterday.

Mukerji stressed that unilateral sanctions which adversely impact on the Syrian population must be lifted.
Welcoming the full removal of declared chemical weapons and material in Syria, Mukerji said India hopes that new Special Representative Staffan de Mistura appointed by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon would help carry forward the political process.
He said, "We reaffirm our support to a Syrian-led, comprehensive political solution to the crisis" in line with the Geneva Communique of 2012, a document from 2012 that commits the Syrian government to a peaceful transfer of power via negotiations and democratic consultation.
The conflict in Syria has slipped into a fourth year, killing more than 162,000 people since it began in March 2011.