China News Agency, United Nations, August 25 (Reporter Madelin) The United Nations Security Council held a video public meeting on the Middle East situation and the Palestine issue on the 25th to listen to a briefing by the Special Coordinator of the Middle East Peace Process Mladenov. Ambassador Zhang Jun, Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations, attended the meeting and delivered a speech.
Zhang Jun said that the international community pays great attention to the situation in the Middle East and the Palestinian issue and has made great efforts to this end. As a trustworthy friend of Palestine, China has been making unremitting and constructive efforts to promote a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian issue. President Xi Jinping specifically put forward the "four-point proposal" in this regard. Currently, Palestinian-Israeli relations continue to be tense, the peace process is precarious, and the risk of regional conflicts is rising. The international community should increase its sense of urgency, increase political input, and strive to promote positive progress in the Middle East peace process.
Zhang Jun said that the international community should firmly promote a political settlement based on the "two-state solution." On the Palestinian issue, comprehensive policies should be implemented to promote peace through development. China calls on the international community to increase its efforts to help Pakistan cope with economic and humanitarian challenges and fight the new crown pneumonia epidemic. Relevant parties should exercise restraint, earnestly implement Security Council Resolution 2334, respond to Secretary-General Guterres’ call for a global ceasefire, and avoid hostile actions that will further aggravate the situation.
Zhang Jun said that China firmly supports Palestine’s just demands and all efforts to resolve the Palestinian issue, and supports the establishment of a fully sovereign and independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 border, with East Jerusalem as its capital. We will continue to provide assistance within our capacity to Pakistan and support it in fighting the epidemic.
At the meeting, the US once again mentioned the issue of sanctions against Iran. Zhang Jun reiterated his opposition to the US's request that the Security Council activate the "quick restoration of sanctions" mechanism. He said that China attaches great importance to the Iranian nuclear issue and has always been committed to maintaining multilateralism, the international nuclear non-proliferation system, and the peace and stability of the Middle East. The United States sent a letter to the President of the Security Council a few days ago, unilaterally and illegally requesting the launch of the "rapid restoration of sanctions" mechanism. The comprehensive agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue is facing severe challenges. The participants in the comprehensive agreement and most of the Security Council members believe that the United States has lost its qualifications as a participant in the agreement. It is unfounded and unreasonable to request the United Nations to restore sanctions against Iraq. The "quick restoration of sanctions" mechanism has not been activated.
Zhang Jun emphasized that China firmly opposes the request of the United States and believes that the letter sent by the United States should not be regarded as a "notice" under the 11th operative paragraph of Resolution 2231. He called on the President of the Security Council not to take any action on the request of the United States. The Security Council should fully respect the opinions of the international community, firmly maintain its credibility and authority, and earnestly perform its duties of maintaining international peace and security. China is willing to work with relevant parties to continue to promote the political settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue.
The overwhelming majority of representatives of the Security Council members stated that the United States has no right to demand that the Security Council activate this mechanism. The rotating chairman of the Security Council and representative of Indonesia, Dian Triansyah Djani, stated that the various parties of the Security Council have differences on relevant issues and the chairman will not take action on the request of the United States. (Finish)