China urges implementation of UN Syria aid resolution

Chinese Permanent Representative to the United Nations Liu Jieyi speaks to media reporters after the UN Security Council adopted a resolution on Syria, at the UN headquarters in New York, on Feb. 22, 2014. China on Saturday called for the comprehensive implementation of a resolution adopted earlier by the UN Security Council to boost humanitarian aid access in Syria. (Xinhua/Niu Xiaolei)

China on Saturday called for the comprehensive implementation of a resolution adopted earlier by the UN Security Council to boost humanitarian aid access in Syria.

"The current humanitarian situation in Syria must not continue, " Liu Jieyi, China's permanent representative to the UN, said after Resolution 2139 was approved unanimously by the 15-member Security Council at an open meeting on the situation in the Middle East.

In the resolution, the Security Council demanded "that all parties, in particular the Syrian authorities, promptly allow rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access for UN humanitarian agencies and their implementing partners, including across conflict lines and across borders."

Liu said that China "urge all parities in Syria to set their sight on the interests of their nation and people, comprehensively implement the resolution, fully cooperate with the UN and other organizations, and make common efforts to the improvement of the humanitarian situation in their country."

The international community should also ensure the implementation of the resolution, continue to provide humanitarian assistance to Syria and actively support the efforts made by neighboring countries in receiving Syrian refugees, he said.

The Chinese envoy said the Saturday adoption is "another unanimous action" taken by the Security Council on Syria since the adoption of resolution 2118 last year on ridding Syria of chemical weapons.

"This is the result of the common effort of the Council members, " he said.

However, Liu stressed that under the current circumstances, actions taken by the Security Council on the humanitarian situation in Syria should be "objective, balanced and conducive" to the maintenance of the international humanitarian norms and to the momentum for the political settlement of the Syrian crisis.

He pointed out that Resolution 2139 reiterates the respect for the independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Syria, adding that it is the responsibility of all parties concerned in Syria to improve the humanitarian situation.

While noting the significance of the resolution, Liu said that humanitarian means can offer "only temporary relief" to the suffering of the Syrian people.

"Only by seeking a political settlement of the Syrian issue, can it be possible to achieve a fundamental improvement of the humanitarian situation of Syria," he added.

Therefore, Liu called on all parties concerned in Syria to act as required by the Council resolution, engage in dialogue and negotiations to establish mutual trust, meet each other halfway so as to find a solution that meets national needs and takes into consideration the interests of all of the parties.

"As a permanent member of the Security Council and a responsible member of the international community, China will continue to make positive contribution to the promotion of an early realization of the comprehensive, lasting and appropriate settlement of the Syrian issue," said the envoy.