StormShadow
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Attempts to isolate Russia will be counterproductive: India
All attempts to isolate Russia over Ukraine will be counterproductive, India has concluded ahead of a crucial upcoming Brics meeting over the issue this week on the sidelines of Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) in The Hague.
The Brics meeting is likely to be followed by a joint statement mentioning Ukraine. TOI has learnt that the government has arrived at 3 definitive conclusions as it is called out to explain where it stands on an issue which has ignited fears of a return to the cold war days.
First, it has decided that the international community needs Russia's support in handling international issues like Afghanistan, Iran and Syria and that a cold war-like situation will help nobody. The situation in Afghanistan is of particular concern to India as it looks to "like minded" countries in the region to negate any adverse impact of the international forces pullout this year.
Second, there can't be any military solution to issue and that even sanctions would not work as effective instruments of persuasion if they don't come under the UN umbrella.
Third, as India continues to abide by its traditional position of respecting territorial integrity of all countries, it wants Moscow to explore the possibility of a constructive dialogue for finding a political solution which will protect the legitimate interests of all countries.
India will be represented at the NSS by foreign minister Salman Khurshid. China will be represented by President Xi Jinping and Russia by Khurshid's counterpart Sergey Lavrov.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has already thanked PM Manmohan Singh for being supportive of Moscow even as he faced allegations of ``land grab'' from the US over Crimea annexation. With India now expanding further on its display of what it describes as an understanding of Russia's strategic interests in Ukraine, Putin is sure to feel even more pleased with the Indian stand.
The government finds it ironic that those who were together in dealing with a very difficult situation in Syria are now pitted against each other over Ukraine. It believes that another prolonged global standoff will be disastrous for international security and economy.
The Brics meeting will follow another important meeting in the Hague between President Obama and Xi on Monday. Obama is meeting Xi to wean China away from Moscow at a time when ties between the 2 neighbours are growing rapidly.
Indian officials are closely looking at the outcome of this meeting as so far Beijing has done a great job of sitting on the fence and allowing both sides to interpret its actions favourably. While Putin has thanked China for looking at the situation in Crimea taking into account the "full historical and political context", the US has pointed to Beijing's abstention from a UNSC vote against the Crimea referendum as a proof of Russia's isolation over the issue.
Russia has been quick to claim support from China and India at a time when the US are threatening to impose stricter sanctions with German Chancellor Angela Merkel declaring that the Russia headed G8 did not even exist now. While the EU and the US have denounced the Crimea referendum as illegal, India had refrained from making any direct comment on it even as it talks about its "consistent" respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty.
The Brics meet will be watched with a lot of interest by the international community as the other 2 members, Brazil and South Africa, too have not yet clearly spelt out their position. Brazil, in fact, is said to be worried about offending Russia as it doesn't want to jeopardize the Brics summit meet scheduled in Brazil later this year. Brazil is sending its Vice-President Michel Temer to the Hague and South Africa will be represented by minister of international relations and cooperation Maite Nkoana-Mashabane.
Attempts to isolate Russia will be counterproductive: India - The Times of India
