China backs UN resolution on Syrian relief

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Sunday that China supports the UN Security Council's unanimous approval of a resolution that "demands rapid, safe and unhindered access" to humanitarian aid in Syria.

UN Security Council Resolution 2139 shows the international community's determination and consensus to relieve Syria's humanitarian situation, Wang told a joint news conference with his Iraqi counterpart Hoshyar Zebari.

Syria said on Sunday it is ready to cooperate with the resolution to allow humanitarian access, so long as it respects "state sovereignty".

The Syrian Foreign Ministry also said in its statement that the "root causes" of the humanitarian crisis must be treated, singling out "foreign-backed terrorism" and sanctions against President Bashar al-Assad's rule by Western and Arab countries.

The resolution, approved unanimously on Saturday by the 15-member UN Security Council, also indicates a big step forward in the process of seeking a political solution to the Syrian issue, Wang said.

China urges all sides in Syria to take the opportunity to ensure the implementation of the resolution and achieve a cease-fire as soon as possible, he said.

"China and Syria maintain good relations," Wang said. "We can feel the sufferings of the Syrian people and always work actively to relieve Syria's humanitarian situation."

Wang said China has already provided humanitarian aid to the Syrian people, including the refugees living outside the country.

During the discussion of the draft resolution, China played its part in helping to achieve a unanimous approval by mediating between various parties to narrow their differences, he added.

According to the Syrian Foreign Ministry statement, which was published by state news agency SANA, Damascus is "ready to cooperate with the UN Resident Coordinator and with international humanitarian organizations working in Syria, to agree on the implementation of Resolution 2139".

It said the resolution must be implemented "with respect for the principles laid out in the UN Charter, international law and the basic foundations of humanitarian work, especially state sovereignty and the role of the state, and principles of neutrality, transparency and non-politicized assistance".

Damascus said the resolution, which condemns terror attacks by al-Qaida-linked organizations, was an "admission" by the Security Council of the presence of "extremist al-Qaida-linked terrorism" in Syria.

It described the UN condemnation as "a step in the right direction".

Since the March 2011 start of Syria's conflict - which began as peaceful protests but escalated into a civil war - Assad's government has blamed foreign-backed "terrorism" for violence in the country.

Xinhua - AFP

(China Daily 02/25/2014 page12)