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Terming the situation in Syria as a matter of concern, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Thursday said the ongoing crisis in that country should be resolved peacefully. Addressing the XVI Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit in Tehran , Dr. Singh said: "The deteriorating situation in Syria is a matter of particular concern. Our Movement should take a stand on the issue in keeping with universally accepted principles. We should urge all parties to recommit themselves to resolving the crisis peacefully through a Syrian-led inclusive political process that can meet the legitimate aspirations of all Syrian citizens." "The West Asian and North African region is undergoing profound change. As the world's largest democracy, India supports popular aspirations for a democratic and pluralistic order. Nevertheless, such transformations cannot be prompted by external intervention, which exacerbate the suffering of ordinary citizens," he added. Asserting that NAM has always championed the cause of the Palestinian people, Dr. Singh said: "Today, we should renew our pledge to support an early resolution of the Palestinian question, so that the long suffering people of Palestine can live in peace and dignity in a state of their own." "In the past, individually, we may have had little economic and military clout, but the collective voice and reasoned interventions of our movement commanded respect and credibility. That voice should again find true expression on a variety of issues," he said.

Syrian crisis should be resolved peacefully, says PM at NAM Summit