KUWAIT CITY, Feb 13: Syria should look to a negotiated settlement of the crisis as the aspirations of people can’t be suppressed for long, says Dr Najma Heptulla, Member of the Upper House of the Indian Parliament.

The MP was talking to the Arab Times Wednesday during her visit to Kuwait to attend the International Conference of Council of Arab and International Relations.

Heptulla was quick to add that Indian’s foreign policy has consistently been to stay out of the internal affairs of a foreign state. However, wherever there’s an opportunity for a negotiated settlement of conflicts, “we are always there to help and support.”

The MP stressed that the will of the people must be respected, and Syria should have thought of conflict avoidance, because innocent civilians are dying.

Heptulla recalled Kuwait’s invasion by Iraq when refugees were pouring into Saudi Arabia and Jordan. We are seeing a similar if not worse situation now in Syria.

The influx of refugees from Syria into Turkey was discussed at the conference when a Turkish minister raised the topic. The border is turning volatile, she noted, and there was a blast there.

The MP said that when there is violence in a country it doesn’t remain without affecting the neighboring countries, warning that if Syria is not handled more deftly, it can unsettle the entire region.

India wants peace to prevail in Syria. She also expressed her concern over the happenings in Libya and Egypt. In her view, the conference was held at an appropriate time, because the Arab world is in turmoil.
Although Iran is not an Arab country, it was given considerable time on the first day alongside Syria and Turkey.

At the conference, Heptulla spoke about Indo-Arab relations, touching on the centuries old relationship between the two civilizations. India’s Silk Route passed through the Arabian Gulf region up to Aleppo on its way to Europe. India’s trade relations with the Arab countries, especially Kuwait, date back to centuries.

The MP dwelled on the close ties between Kuwait and India, “standing beside Kuwait during invasion, and expressing strong condemnation of Saddam Hussein’s claims over Kuwait.”

India’s growing world class companies and businesses have much to offer Kuwait, which is now rearing to launch into developmental projects emerging out of the shadows of occupation, Heptulla noted.
She took the example of TATA and Mittal who made international headlines for their acquisitions of top European companies.

India’s trade exchanges with Kuwait is valued at $18 billion, and more than 6.5 million Indians are working in the Gulf states, Heptulla added to highlight the symbiotic relationship between the two states.
On the issue of Palestine, Heptulla said India has always supported the cause of the Palestinian people. “We were among the first countries in the world to recognize Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO).
“India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharalal Nehru, had unequivocally said that Palestine belongs to Palestinians as England belongs to the British and France to the French.”

When asked about the emerging cordial relations between India and Israel, the MP replied that when the Arab countries had no ties with Israel, India refrained from having any ties with Isreal.

Israel and South Africa (for apartheid) were two countries that India distanced itself from. India deeply respected the Arab sentiments.

However, when some Arab states opened up to Israel, India found it necessary to establish relations with Israel to be in a position to play a positive role in the search for a negotiated settlement between the conflicting sides. India then opened its embassy in Israel.

Heptulla added we don’t mix our relations. “Our relations with Arabs are there, our support for the Palestinian cause is there, and the idea that Palestinians should be able to live happily in a secure border is there.

At the last UN General Assembly India cosponsored the resolution to get Palestine the full membership of the UN. “We still stand on that position. We don’t want violence and are against Israeli settlements in the Palestinian area.”