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The G20 group was on Friday largely divided over the use of force against Syria, with 11 members coming out with a separate resolution calling for “strong international response” to a chemical weapons attack allegedly carried out by the Bashar al-Assad regime. The host of the G20 Summit — Russian President Vladimir Putin — and US counterpart Barack Obama failed to arrive at an agreement over Syria, though talks between them were officially described as candid and constructive.
Initially, deliberations had focussed around larger economic issues when leaders of the 20 most powerful economies met at the Constantine Palace here on Thursday afternoon, but by the evening the discussions had shifted to the burning issue of what should happen in Syria.
At the working dinner of the G20 leaders here, Syria was the topic of discussion, but the divide over the course of action remained, with all global powers sticking to their stand.
According to international media reports, the US and France remained committed to the use of force against the Bashar al-Assad regime for its alleged use of chemical weapons against civilians.
On Friday, the two countries along with their allies Britain, Saudi Arabia and others came out with a separate statement on Syria. The statement, released by the White House, said, “The evidence clearly points to the Syrian government being responsible for the (chemical) attack, which is part of a pattern of chemical weapons use by the regime.”
Earlier in the day, Putin met Obama on the sidelines of the G20 Summit and held talks on Syria. Putin said the meeting did not end their differences on the conflict. “We spoke sitting down... It was a constructive, meaningful, cordial conversation. Each of us kept with our own opinion,” Putin told reporters. Russia, along with China, insisted on United Nations-backing for the use of action against the Syria government if the charges against it were proved. India too also endorsed Russia’s view. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh condemned the use of chemical weapons, but said before any action, there was a need to be certain of the facts, keeping in mind past experiences.
The US had attacked Iraq in the past, claiming the country had weapons of mass destruction. Its strategy of invasion in both, Iraq and Afghanistan was criticised by many countries.
“The prime minister said whatever action is taken, should not be outside the UN framework. India is also not in favour of action against regime change,” Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia told a media delegation from India.
Though the formal agenda of the G20 Summit did not include the Syria issue, it had set the tone for a discussion on the matter in an interview to the Associated Press a day before the summit. On Thursday too, Putin started off a debate on the issue by asking United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon to speak on Syria.
Ban Ki-Moon explained the UN had collected a lot of evidence and sent it to different laboratories in Europe. These results would establish whether there was any use of chemical weapons.
Ahluwalia said everybody applauded and appreciated what the Secretary General said. He said Ban Ki-moon gave an impression that in a matter of few days, the findings would be out. Asked whether Syria dominated the dinner, he said, “They had general discussions. But the majority of the time went to Syria.”
Manmohan Singh also discussed the Syria issue with Argentina President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner on Friday and emphasised on political resolution to the vexed problem. “The region is already in trouble and we don't want to aggravate the situation,” Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh said.
Any action against Syria might result in a surge in crude oil prices and it would put further pressure on India’s fuel bill, which had already gone up because of rupee depreciation against the dollar.
