China News Agency, United Nations, February 28th. On the 28th, the UN Security Council held an open meeting on political and humanitarian issues in Syria.
Dai Bing, Chargé d'affaires ad interim of the Chinese Permanent Mission to the United Nations, spoke at the meeting, urging relevant countries to immediately and unconditionally lift all illegal unilateral sanctions against Syria, and stop man-made and exacerbated humanitarian disasters.
On the same day, UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy on Syria Pei Kairu, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Griffiths and others made briefings.
Pei Kairu said that the unresolved issues at the core of the Syrian conflict directly affect the effective implementation of the earthquake emergency rescue work to a certain extent, and will make post-disaster recovery face a dilemma.
The international community should remove all obstacles to the delivery of relief supplies.
Griffiths pointed out that more than 70% of Syria's population is in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, and the country's 2023 humanitarian response plan will require US$4.8 billion in funding.
Dai Bing said in his speech that the illegal unilateral sanctions that have lasted for many years have seriously exacerbated the crisis of Syria's economy and people's livelihood, and greatly weakened Syria's ability to respond to disasters.
In the face of the humanitarian crisis superimposed by earthquakes, severe cold, and cholera epidemics, the humanitarian consequences of unilateral sanctions are even more incalculable.
This month, some countries announced the temporary relaxation of unilateral sanctions against Syria, which also proves the seriousness of the problem from the side.
China hopes that the relevant policy adjustments will be implemented as soon as possible, so as to truly loosen the constraints on humanitarian agencies and effectively facilitate disaster relief work.
It must be pointed out that unilateral sanctions have caused systematic damage to Syria's economic foundation and development capabilities, and interim measures and partial exemptions are not enough.
Dai Bing said that China welcomes the decision of the Syrian government to open the cross-border points of Bab al-Salam and Rai.
This is a positive effort made by the Syrian government to alleviate the difficulties of the affected people. It reflects the sincere willingness of the Syrian side to cooperate with the United Nations. It also shows that the United Nations is capable of solving specific problems faced by cross-border humanitarian assistance through coordination with relevant parties.
Such benign interactions should be encouraged.
Regrettably, the delivery of relief supplies to the disaster-stricken areas in northwestern Syria through cross-line arrangements is still hindered.
China calls on all parties to put the interests of the Syrian people first, maintain a constructive attitude, strengthen communication and coordination, break through all obstacles, and give full play to the role of the cross-line rescue mechanism.
Dai Bing introduced China's assistance and assistance after the strong earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.
He said that under the current situation, whether it is bilateral aid or the humanitarian appeal of the United Nations, it is timely help and should be welcomed and encouraged.
China appreciates all parties, especially the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and other Arab countries for extending a helping hand to the Syrian government and people, appreciates Deputy Secretary-General Griffiths and Special Envoy Pei Kairu for their immediate visit to the disaster area and mobilization of international support, and welcomes the UN’s emergency humanitarian Appeal, hope that the assistance from various channels will be effective as soon as possible, and a joint force will be formed.
Dai Bing said that China's position on the Syrian political issue is consistent and clear.
A "Syrian-led and Syrian-owned" political process is the fundamental solution to the Syrian issue.
China welcomes Special Envoy Pei Kairu to continue to follow the "action-for-action" approach to assist various factions in Syria to negotiate and build mutual trust.
It is hoped that relevant parties in Syria will overcome political differences, speed up consensus building, and make efforts for the early holding of the ninth meeting of the Syrian Constitutional Council.
Dai Bing said that the political process in Syria cannot be separated from a stable security environment.
The international community should adopt unified standards in accordance with international law and Security Council resolutions, and attack all terrorist forces in Syria with a zero-tolerance attitude.
Relevant parties must stop conniving, shielding and politically exploiting terrorist forces.
China calls for earnest respect for Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The illegal presence of foreign troops and illegal military operations in Syria must end, and the illegal plundering of natural resources in Syria must stop immediately.
(over)