Chinese envoy urges immediate, full lift of sanctions on Syria
China, through its envoy at the UN General Assembly, urges the lifting of draconian unilateral sanctions imposed on Syria and says that forcing a veto only serves to exacerbate discrepancies.
During a UN General Assembly meeting, on Thursday, the Chinese envoy urged relevant nations to swiftly and completely suspend their sanctions against Syria and asked the UN Security Council to adopt explicit provisions to that effect.
"We have always supported the United Nations and the international community in extending humanitarian relief to Syrians in line with the principles of humanity, neutrality, and impartiality," Dai Bing, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, said in a UN General Assembly meeting on the Syrian humanitarian issue.
Remarks by Ambassador Dai Bing at the UN General Assembly Debate on the Syrian Humanitarian Issuehttps://t.co/iBWnK6qC2x pic.twitter.com/qLY2bvyGxe
— Chinese Mission to UN (@Chinamission2un) July 21, 2022
Dai added that "such measures have become the most significant obstacle to solving the Syrian humanitarian issue, and must thus be immediately and fully lifted. The Security Council must make clear provisions to this end.”
He noted that because unilateral sanctions have impeded the work of international humanitarian organizations in Syria, the effects on the nation's socio-economic recovery and development have been extremely detrimental.
On July 12, the Security Council approved Resolution 2642, renewing a six-month authorization for cross-border humanitarian supplies into Syria. The resolution decides to prolong until January 10, 2023, the authority for humanitarian delivery through the crossing at Bab Al-Hawa on the Turkish border. A different Security Council decision is necessary for an additional six-month extension.
In his remarks, Dai stated that resolution 2642 permits a more flexible mechanism for extending the Security Council's permission for cross-border humanitarian aid to Syria. This will make it easier for the Security Council to promptly evaluate and modify its authorization.
"Most Council members voted in favor of this resolution. We expect all parties to strictly abide by the basic principles governing international humanitarian assistance, stringently adhere to the provisions in the Council resolution, ensure the neutrality and transparency of relief efforts, and make them more targeted and effective," he said.
China urged all parties to remain in consultation and discussion during the consultation on the resolution in an effort to come up with a workable and beneficial solution. Sadly, the Security Council purposefully turned to a vote two days before the authorization's expiration, when there was still room for compromise, which resulted in the use of the veto, Dai stated.
"Forcing a vote in such a manner was not necessary," he noted.
This instance demonstrates how, in the face of disagreements and inconsistencies, Security Council members can only resolve the current problem successfully via continued communication and collaboration. He claimed that forcing a vote would only serve to exacerbate these discrepancies and divergences and would hinder the Security Council's ability to effectively carry out its mandate.
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