Posts Tagged ‘New York’
Written by admin on 05 February 2012
New York, Feb 5 (IANS) India has voted for an Arab and Western-backed UN resolution denouncing the violent crackdown in Syria and calling for a democratic transition, but Russia and China vetoed it, saying it amounted to advocating a regime change.
India and 12 other members of the Security Council, including the US, Britain and Pakistan, voted in favour of the resolution condemning Syria’s suppression of dragging protests against the Bashar Assad regime.
In a change from its earlier stand, India came out in support of the resolution which calls for a “transition to a democratic, plural political system”, withdrawal of Syrian military and armed forces from cities and towns, and release of those “detained arbitrarily”.
India explained why it was for the UN move.
“Our support for the resolution is in accordance with our support for the efforts by the Arab League for a peaceful resolution of the crisis through a Syrian-led inclusive political process,” India’s Permanent Representative Hardeep Singh Puri told the Council in New York Saturday.
India, Puri added, felt that the right of the Syrian people to peacefully protest should be respected.
“India has conveyed this message to the Syrian leadership, both bilaterally as well as along with its IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa) partners.
“We have impressed upon the Syrian side to abjure violence and pay heed to the aspirations of the people.”
Puri asserted that “the leadership of Syria is a matter for the Syrian people to decide.
“It would be necessary for all opposition forces in Syria to peacefully engage in constructive dialogue with the authorities.
“We hope that this will create a new environment for peace and facilitate a political process,” he said.
“This political dialogue should build upon the political reforms announced by the Syrian leadership with necessary changes so that they find acceptance among all sections of Syrian society.”
Puri added: “India is concerned with the present situation in Syria that has resulted in the deaths of thousands of civilians and security personnel over the last 10 months.”
The resolution said the Security Council would review the implementation of the resolution within three ways “and, in the event of non-compliance, consider further measures”.
China and Russia vetoed the resolution on grounds that it may be used to justify outside intervention in that country.
Russia’s UN envoy Vitaly Churkin said the draft lacked balance.
“Some influential members of the international community unfortunately … have been undermining the opportunity for political settlement, calling for a regime change, pushing the opposionists to power,” he said.
Beijing’s UN ambassador Li Baodong said putting pressure on the Syrian government or “imposing a solution” would not help to resolve the issue of anti-Assad protests that have left thousands dead.
American ambassador Susan Rice said the US was “disgusted” over the veto by Russia and China.
Interestingly, the vetoed resolution expressed “its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Syria”, also condemned “all violence” and called for “an inclusive Syrian-led political process”.
Ahead of the vote, US President Barack Obama said Assad had lost all legitimacy and that the international community “must work to protect the Syrian people from this abhorrent brutality.”
The UN estimates that at least 5,400 people have died in the Syrian crackdown in the past one year.
India’s vote was hailed by Human Rights Watch, which Sunday said New Delhi had “seen through Assad’s lies”.
“By supporting the UN resolution, India has rightly supported the Syrian people,” a spokeswoman for the US-based rights body told IANS.
“India has seen through (Bashar) Assad’s lies, and shown itself to be an independent world leader,” the spokeswoman said.
Tags: New York
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Written by admin on 05 February 2012
New York, Feb 5 (IANS) Excerpts from the UN Security Council resolution on Syria that India voted for but was vetoed by Russia and China:
- Noting the deployment of the League of Arab States’ observer mission, commending its efforts, regretting that, due to the escalation in violence, the observer mission was not in a position to monitor the full implementation of the League of Arab States.
- Mindful that stability in Syria is key to peace and stability in the region.
- Noting the announced commitments by the Syrian authorities to reform, and regretting the lack of progress in implementation.
- Reaffirming strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Syria, emphasizing its intention to resolve the current political crisis in Syria peacefully.
- Condemns the continued widespread and gross violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms by the Syrian authorities such as the use of force against civilians, arbitrary executions, killing and persecution of protesters and members of the media, arbitrary detention, disappearances, torture, sexual violence.
- Demands that Syrian government immediately put an end to all human rights violations.
- Recalls that all those responsible for rights violations must be held accountable.
- Demands … cease all violence and protect its population
- Release all persons detained arbitrarily
- Withdraw all Syrian military and armed forces from cities and towns
- Guarantee freedom of peaceful demonstrations
- Calls for an inclusive Syrian-led political process conducted in an environment free from violence, fear, intimidation and extremism
- Fully supports League of Arab States’ decision to facilitate a Syrian-led political transition to a democratic, plural political system
- Decides to review implementation of this resolution within 21 days and, in the event of non-compliance, to consider further measures.
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Written by admin on 05 February 2012
New York, Feb 5 (IANS) India has voted for an Arab and Western-backed UN resolution denouncing the violent crackdown in Syria, but Russia and China vetoed it saying it amounted to advocating a regime change.
India and 12 other members of the Security Council, including the US, Britain and Pakistan, voted in favour of the resolution condemning Syria’s suppression of dragging protests against the Bashar Assad regime.
In a change from its earlier stand, India came out in support of the resolution which calls for a “transition to a democratic, plural political system”, withdrawal of Syrian military and armed forces from cities and towns, and release of those “detained arbitrarily”.
The resolution said the Security Council would review the implementation of the resolution within three ways “and, in the event of non-compliance, consider further measures”.
India explained why it had changed gears.
“Our support for the resolution is in accordance with our support for the efforts by the Arab League for a peaceful resolution of the crisis through a Syrian-led inclusive political process,” India’s Permanent Representative Hardeep Singh Puri told the Council in New York Saturday.
India, Puri added, felt that the right of the Syrian people to peacefully protest should be respected.
“India has conveyed this message to the Syrian leadership, both bilaterally as well as along with its IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa) partners.
“We have impressed upon the Syrian side to abjure violence and pay heed to the aspirations of the people.”
China and Russia vetoed the resolution on grounds that it may be used to justify outside intervention in that country.
Russia’s UN envoy Vitaly Churkin said the draft lacked balance.
“Some influential members of the international community unfortunately … have been undermining the opportunity for political settlement, calling for a regime change, pushing the opposionists to power,” he said.
Beijing’s UN ambassador Li Baodong said putting pressure on the Syrian government or “imposing a solution” would not help to resolve the issue of anti-Assad protests that have left thousands dead.
American ambassador Susan Rice said the US was “disgusted” over the veto by Russia and China.
Ahead of the vote, US President Barack Obama said Assad had lost all legitimacy and that the international community “must work to protect the Syrian people from this abhorrent brutality.”
The UN estimates that at least 5,400 people have died in the Syrian crackdown in the past one year.
India’s vote was hailed by Human Rights Watch, which Sunday said New Delhi had “seen through Assad’s lies”.
“By supporting the UN resolution, India has rightly supported the Syrian people,” a spokeswoman for the US-based rights body told IANS.
“India has seen through (Bashar) Assad’s lies, and shown itself to be an independent world leader,” the spokeswoman said.
Indian envoy Puri asserted that “the leadership of Syria is a matter for the Syrian people to decide.
“It would be necessary for all opposition forces in Syria to peacefully engage in constructive dialogue with the authorities.
“We hope that this will create a new environment for peace and facilitate a political process,” he said.
“This political dialogue should build upon the political reforms announced by the Syrian leadership with necessary changes so that they find acceptance among all sections of Syrian society.”
Puri added: “India is concerned with the present situation in Syria that has resulted in the deaths of thousands of civilians and security personnel over the last 10 months.”
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Written by admin on 05 February 2012
New York, Feb 5 (IANS/EFE) Versatile US actor Ben Gazzara died in a New York hospital of pancreatic cancer, The New York Times said. He was 81.
A student at New York’s legendary Actor’s Studio where other Hollywood stars like Marlon Brando and Al Pacino learned their profession, Gazzara, who died Friday, took his first steps as an actor in the world of theater.
Gazzara won applause on the Broadway stage playing the part of Brick in “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”, directed by Elia Kazan, though in the later movie version the role was taken by Paul Newman.
After debuting in Hollywood with “The Strange One” in 1957, he interpreted one of his most memorable roles two years later in “Anatomy of a Murder” by Otto Preminger, a film nominated for seven Academy Awards.
Other outstanding roles included the unforgettable characterization of Mafia capo Al Capone in the movie “Capone” by Steve Carver, and the enigmatic Klein in the 1997 thriller “The Spanish Prisoner” by David Mamet.
The all-around actor was also known for his small-screen appearances in series like “Run for Your Life” in the late 1960s, which earned him two Emmy Award nominations.
Born in New York Aug 28, 1930 to a family of Italian origin, Gazzara was thrice married and had a true Hollywood romance and gossip columnists’ delight with actress Audrey Hepburn, with whom he shared top billing in the 1979 movie “Bloodline”.
–IANS/EFE
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Written by admin on 04 February 2012
New York, Feb 4 (IANS) Crude oil prices rose as the US jobs data for January came in better than expected, Xinhua reported.
The Labor Department reported that US non-farm jobs added 243,000 in January, the largest increase since April 2011.
And the unemployment rate dropped to 8.3 percent, the lowest level in almost three years.
Both figures were far better than what the market had expected, fuelling hopes Friday that oil demand would go up in the world’s largest oil consuming country.
Meanwhile, intensified tensions between Israel and Iran pushed crude prices even higher.
The US and Europe have imposed harsh sanctions targeting Iran’s oil exports, with an intent to isolate and bring down its economy.
But Israeli leaders urged even harsher measures against Iran and warned that military action remained a clear option if sanctions failed.
The US assessed that there was a strong likelihood that Israel would attack Iran’s nuclear program within the next six months. Geopolitical pressure continuously provided lifts to crude prices.
But concerns about Europe’s debt problems and Greece debt talks kept weighing on the markets and limited the gains.
Light, sweet crude for March delivery gained $1.48, or 1. 54 percent to settle at $97.84 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, snapping the streak of five straight declining sessions. In London, Brent crude for March delivery jumped $2.51, or 2.24 percent, to $114.58 a barrel.
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Written by admin on 03 February 2012
New York, Feb 3 (IANS) Human Rights Watch has urged India not to stand by Syria as it comes under increasing attack over violation of human rights.
The UN Security Council is considering a Moroccan draft resolution that includes demands that Syria end all rights abuses while putting down pro-democracy protests.
The draft resolution also warns that the perpetrators of rights violations must be held to account.
A majority of the 15 Council members is considered supportive of these efforts, which are also backed by the Arab League, Human Rights Watch said in a statement.
These includes Azerbaijan, Colombia, France, Germany, Guatemala, Morocco, Portugal, Togo, Britain and the US.
According to media reports and diplomats who spoke to Human Rights Watch, Russia, backed by China, India, Pakistan, and South Africa are reluctant to endorse any meaningful pressure on the Syrian government.
“After 10 months of passivity, during which more than 5,400 people have been killed by Syrian security forces, Security Council members should have run out of excuses for inaction,” said Philippe Bolopion, the UN director at Human Rights Watch.
“India should be wary of supporting the position of Russia, which is signing lucrative arms deals with the Syrian government, while providing it with diplomatic cover.”
Four months have passed since South Africa and India, alongside former council member Brazil, abstained on a resolution designed to pressure the Syrian government into ending the violence.
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