China, Russia veto Syria vote

The international community must fully respect the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Syria.

CHINA’S Permanent Representative to the United Nations Zhang Jun (center, front) vetoes a UN Security Council draft resolution on Syria at the UN headquarters in New York, on Thursday. XINHUA

UNITED NATIONS (Xinhua) — China’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Zhang Jun on Thursday explained his country’s vote against a Security Council draft resolution on Syria was arrived at as it did not tackle humanitarian issues and failed to address China’s core concerns.

The draft prepared by Belgium, Germany and Kuwait won the support of 12 of the 15 members of the Security Council, but was unable to be adopted because of “No” votes from Russia and China, which have veto power.

The Security Council closely follows the humanitarian situation in Syria.

Starting 31 August, Russia and the Syrian government have implemented a cease-fire in Idlib, which has been maintained in general.

The diplomatic efforts by relevant parties of the international community are ongoing and the situation in Idlib is developing toward a positive direction. Under such a context, pushing a draft resolution that has major controversies to a vote is clearly unconstructive, and this move will not achieve the expected result, Zhang said.

Terrorist organizations continue to expand their sphere of influence in the northwest region of Syria. This is the source of the humanitarian issue in Idlib. It also poses a grave risk to the safety and security in the region. The council should be united in tackling this grave challenge together, he said.

The humanitarian situation in Syria is a very complicated and sensitive issue. All categories of humanitarian issues in Syria should be considered in a comprehensive manner and be addressed in a balanced way, instead of only selectively focusing on certain issues, much less to politicize humanitarian issues, Zhang said.

The international community must fully respect the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Syria; fully listen to the views of the Syrian government; and seek a comprehensive solution to the Syria issue through political means. At the same time, more attention should be paid to the post-war reconstruction of Syria and its economic and social development so as to help Syrian people lead a peaceful, stable and happy life, said the ambassador.

China firmly rejects the groundless accusations made by the representatives of Britain and the United States against China at the meeting, Zhang said.

China has the right to make an independent decision on how it votes in accordance with to the rights and wrongs of a situation and the interests of the Syrian people. No country has the right to make willful accusation on this, he said.

“I would like to point out that the current situation of Syria and the sufferings of the Syrian people are exactly the results of the wrongful conducts by some countries. It is these countries that should reflect on their own behavior,” Zhang said.