United Nations, 3 Mar (ZXS) -- Geng Shuang, deputy permanent representative of China to the United Nations, said in a statement after the Security Council voted on the draft resolution on the "Nord Stream" pipeline on 27 March that China supports authorizing the United Nations to set up an international independent investigation committee to investigate the explosion of the "Nord Stream" pipeline.
On the same day, the Security Council voted on a draft resolution calling for an independent investigation into the explosion of the Nord Stream pipeline, with Russia, China and Brazil voting in support and 12 other countries abstaining. The draft resolution was not adopted.
Geng Shuang made an explanation after the vote, saying that after the explosion of the "Beixi" pipeline in September last year, many Council members, including China, immediately expressed concern about the major negative impact of the explosion on global energy supply, ecological environment and shipping safety. This vicious incident is not only about Europe, but also about the security of global transnational infrastructure. It concerns the interests and concerns of every country to conduct an objective, impartial and professional investigation into the incident, to publish the results of the investigation as soon as possible, and to hold the perpetrators accountable.
Geng Shuang said that China supports authorizing the United Nations to set up an international independent investigation commission to investigate the incident. China would like to thank Russia for circulating the relevant draft resolution, for organizing in-depth consultations among Council members for more than a month, and for having shown flexibility and openness in incorporating the amendments proposed by China and other members in the draft resolution. China regrets the outcome of the Security Council's draft resolution on the Nord Stream pipeline.
Geng Shuang said that some members believe that there is no need for the Security Council to authorize an international investigation now that the countries concerned are conducting national investigations. In fact, international and country surveys are not contradictory. On the contrary, an international investigation led by the United Nations can play a coordinating role between different country investigations, ensuring that the chain of evidence is intact and closed, and the conclusions drawn are more authoritative and widely accepted.
Geng Shuang said some members said that international investigations should be considered before waiting for the conclusions of the country survey. In fact, it has been more than half a year since the explosion of the "Nord Stream" pipeline, and if an international investigation is to be carried out, then the on-site evidence must be collected quickly, so as not to delay the collection of evidence for too long and affect the results of the investigation.
Geng Shuang said that some members advocated avoiding groundless speculation and accusations and avoiding presupposing conclusions on the results of the investigation. Indeed, authorizing the United Nations to conduct an international investigation is precisely the best way to respond to speculation and allegations. If the countries concerned frankly welcome the Security Council's authorization of an international investigation into the Nord Stream pipeline explosion, it would at least appear that they have a clear conscience. If the States concerned covertly obstruct the Council's authorization of an international investigation, it raises suspicions that they have other hidden intentions.
Geng Shuang said that although the members of the Council did not reach an agreement on authorizing an international investigation, all parties supported finding out the truth and bringing the perpetrators to justice at an early date. China expects that the countries conducting country investigations will enhance their sense of urgency, report to the Security Council on the progress of the investigations in a timely and regular manner, and identify and publish the results of the investigations as soon as possible. The Security Council has the responsibility to continue to pay attention to the bombings, including by holding regular briefings and taking necessary further actions, so as to effectively shoulder its responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. (End)