1st LD: Chinese envoy calls for lifting unilateral coercive measures on Syria

0 Comment(s)Print E-mail Xinhua, July 8, 2020
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UNITED NATIONS, July 7 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Tuesday urged the relevant countries to immediately lift the unilateral coercive measures imposed on Syria.

"As long as the unilateral coercive measures are not lifted, there will be no fundamental improvement in the humanitarian situation in Syria. Some country, while claiming to be concerned about the suffering of Syrian civilians, has imposed additional unilateral coercive measures on Syria, ruthlessly stifling the livelihoods of Syrian people," Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, said in his remarks in explanation of China's vote for the Security Council draft resolution on the mandate renewal of cross-border mechanism in Syria.

"China once again calls on the Security Council to address this critical issue, and urge the relevant countries to immediately lift the unilateral coercive measures imposed on Syria," he said.

"We also request a comprehensive assessment by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs on the impact of unilateral coercive measures on the overall humanitarian situation in Syria, to be presented by the secretary-general in a focused report to the Security Council," said the envoy.

Members of the Security Council on Tuesday voted on the draft resolution submitted by Germany and Belgium on the mandate renewal of cross-border mechanism in Syria. China and Russia voted against it. The draft resolution was not adopted.

Speaking of the effects of unilateral coercive measures, Zhang said that these measures "have further aggravated the economic and humanitarian crisis in Syria."

"Years of illegal sanctions have had immeasurable impact on the economic and social development of Syria, devastated livelihoods, and brought untold sufferings to innocent civilians. The unilateral coercive measures have also severely undermined Syria's capacity to respond to COVID-19," said the envoy.

The ambassador noted that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Special Envoy Geir Pedersen have repeatedly called on the relevant countries to lift unilateral coercive measures.

"To this end, China proposed amendments to the draft resolution. It is disappointing that the draft resolution submitted by copenholders completely ignores China's amendments and does not contain a single word about unilateral coercive measures. China is compelled to vote against such an unobjective and unbalanced draft resolution," Zhang said. Enditem

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