Ceasefire in Syria 'most pressing' issue

Fighting continues in Syria with casualties increasing, but a political solution is drawing near under a push by relevant parties, including China, a Foreign Ministry official said on Friday.

What's "most pressing" for now is to "realize the ceasefire as soon as possible, in order to create conditions for promoting a political solution to the Syrian crisis", said Chen Xiaodong, head of the Foreign Ministry's West Asia and North African affairs division, on a Web chat hosted by the website of People's Daily, a major Chinese newspaper.

According to the AFP, fighting raged on Friday between army deserters and forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

The international community is paying great attention to the Syrian crisis, said Chen, adding that under the active efforts from relevant parties, including China, "some light has appeared for a political solution to the Syrian crisis".

The clashes came after the UN Security Council stepped up pressure on Assad's regime to implement a plan to pull its forces out of urban areas, ahead of an April 10 truce deadline.

Chen said the fighting will only endanger the peace, stability and development in Syria and the region, but do no good to the country and the region.

"The Syrian crisis could only be resolved through political means. What has happened in Libya will not be allowed to be repeated in Syria. This is truly responsible toward the people of Syria and the region," Chen said.

According to statistics provided by the Syrian embassy in Beijing, terrorist groups killed 6,143 people in various attacks since the start of the crisis on March 15, 2011. Of that total, 3,211 were civilians.

In addition, 987 civilians and 573 men in uniform were kidnapped and taken hostage by terrorist groups, the embassy said, adding that the fate of 931 hostages is still unknown.

Chen said the complexity of the Syrian issue means a political solution will not be realized easily, but it is still "the only realistic way that costs the least and has the fewest after-effects".

"All parties should remain patient, and give UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan and other parties sufficient room and time for their efforts in promoting a political solution," Chen said.

China welcomes the Syrian government's acceptance of the six-point proposals made by Annan and the making of a timetable for a truce, said Chen, adding that he hoped the opposition in Syria would respond positively to the six-point proposal to create conditions for an early end to violence and the start of political dialogue.

Chen said China is ready to continue providing humanitarian aid to Syria, in addition to the $2 million cash aid to the Syrian people made through the International Red Cross.

Chen said China could not accept the irresponsible criticisms from some Western diplomats of China's stance on the Syrian crisis.

Some Western countries lashed out at China and Russia when they vetoed Syria-related, UN-drafted resolutions.

"These people should ask themselves - what do you actually want from the Syrian crisis?" said Chen.

Chen said as a friend of all the Syrian people and a good brother to the Arab people, China always makes its decisions with the aim of protecting the long-term and fundamental interests of the Syrian and Arab people and protecting peace and stability in Syria and the region.

"Because countries, including China, have stuck to their principles in the UN Security Council, the situation in Syria has not deteriorated further and shows the prospect of a political solution," Chen said.

As for the promise made by the Syrian government for a truce before April 10, Chen said it also needed cooperation from the Syrian opposition.

"The opposition should also help bring about a ceasefire as soon as possible and join the process of finding a political solution," Chen said.

chengguangjin@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 04/07/2012 page7)