US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton listens to a question during a press conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu at the US State Department 13 February 2012 in Washington, DC. (Photo: Win McNamee - Getty Images - AFP)
A senior Chinese official has told US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that the crisis in Syria is an internal affair that should be dealt with by the country's government, not outside forces.
The statement comes as Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping begins a visit to the United States and ten days after China and Russia vetoed a US-led resolution on Syria at the UN Security Council.
In what were described as “frank and in-depth” talks by the official Chinese Xinhua news agency, State Councilor Dai Bingguo told Clinton that the violence was "essentially Syria's internal affair."
He added that China's position on Syria had been "objective and fair and its attitude was responsible," Xinhua reported.
On Monday, Clinton lashed out at the Syrian government, calling the ongoing violence “deplorable.”
However, the US Secretary of State failed to condemn the ongoing crackdown in Bahrain, fueling claims of bias.
Syria has long resisted American influence in the Middle East and has strong relations with America's rival Iran, while Bahrain is a key base for American forces in the region.
"It is deplorable that the regime has escalated violence in cities across the country, including using artillery and tank fire against innocent civilians," said Clinton, referring to Syria.
Gulf monarchies have led the support for the Syrian opposition at the Arab League, despite their non-democratic structures.
The League announced on Monday plans to renew its observer mission in Syria in conjunction with the UN, after an initial mission was suspended last month amid worsening security conditions.
Syria rejected the plan, while the League said it would offer "political and material support" to the opposition.
Speaking at the UN assembly in New York on Monday, Syria's Permanent Representative to the UN Bashar al-Jafari condemned the League's decision, adding that it was wrong for Qatar to host the leaders of opposition movements who were killing people in Syria.
“[Qatari capital] Doha is now playing host to opposition groups that refuse national dialogue, that refuse the national plan,” he said.
"The Syrian leadership spared no effort in responding to legitimate reform demands and issued a reform program based on political plurality," al-Jafari said. "Syria has the right to protect its citizens, combat terrorism and armed violence and put an end for them."
He addressed the assembly after UN human rights chief Navi Pillay's speech condemned the Syrian government and warned the country could slide into civil war.
“I am outraged by these serious violations of human rights,” she said. “The deliberate stirring of sectarian tensions might soon plunge Syria into civil war.”
However, Jafari said the condemnation was based upon the Western-led agenda which deliberately sidelines other issues, including the stalled Palestinian bid for statehood which the US has promised to veto.
“We would have wished to see the same level of enthusiasm [for condemning Syria used] to take up the membership drive of Palestine,” he said.
Violence in Syria continued on Tuesday with Syrian security forces and activists clashing in the town of Al-Tayba, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
Syrian security forces also continued to shell Bab Amro in Homs, the Observatory said.
The SANA state news agency reported that thousands of Syrians flocked to the al-Mohafaza Square in Lattakia to express support for the regime.
(Al-Akhbar, AFP)
The statement comes as Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping begins a visit to the United States and ten days after China and Russia vetoed a US-led resolution on Syria at the UN Security Council.
In what were described as “frank and in-depth” talks by the official Chinese Xinhua news agency, State Councilor Dai Bingguo told Clinton that the violence was "essentially Syria's internal affair."
He added that China's position on Syria had been "objective and fair and its attitude was responsible," Xinhua reported.
On Monday, Clinton lashed out at the Syrian government, calling the ongoing violence “deplorable.”
However, the US Secretary of State failed to condemn the ongoing crackdown in Bahrain, fueling claims of bias.
Syria has long resisted American influence in the Middle East and has strong relations with America's rival Iran, while Bahrain is a key base for American forces in the region.
"It is deplorable that the regime has escalated violence in cities across the country, including using artillery and tank fire against innocent civilians," said Clinton, referring to Syria.
Gulf monarchies have led the support for the Syrian opposition at the Arab League, despite their non-democratic structures.
The League announced on Monday plans to renew its observer mission in Syria in conjunction with the UN, after an initial mission was suspended last month amid worsening security conditions.
Syria rejected the plan, while the League said it would offer "political and material support" to the opposition.
Speaking at the UN assembly in New York on Monday, Syria's Permanent Representative to the UN Bashar al-Jafari condemned the League's decision, adding that it was wrong for Qatar to host the leaders of opposition movements who were killing people in Syria.
“[Qatari capital] Doha is now playing host to opposition groups that refuse national dialogue, that refuse the national plan,” he said.
"The Syrian leadership spared no effort in responding to legitimate reform demands and issued a reform program based on political plurality," al-Jafari said. "Syria has the right to protect its citizens, combat terrorism and armed violence and put an end for them."
He addressed the assembly after UN human rights chief Navi Pillay's speech condemned the Syrian government and warned the country could slide into civil war.
“I am outraged by these serious violations of human rights,” she said. “The deliberate stirring of sectarian tensions might soon plunge Syria into civil war.”
However, Jafari said the condemnation was based upon the Western-led agenda which deliberately sidelines other issues, including the stalled Palestinian bid for statehood which the US has promised to veto.
“We would have wished to see the same level of enthusiasm [for condemning Syria used] to take up the membership drive of Palestine,” he said.
Violence in Syria continued on Tuesday with Syrian security forces and activists clashing in the town of Al-Tayba, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
Syrian security forces also continued to shell Bab Amro in Homs, the Observatory said.
The SANA state news agency reported that thousands of Syrians flocked to the al-Mohafaza Square in Lattakia to express support for the regime.
(Al-Akhbar, AFP)
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