CHINA: Foreign Ministry says that both Beijing and Moscow oppose foreign intervention or forced regime change in Syria, as Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in the Chinese capital for a security summit

Record ID: 280918

  • Title: CHINA: Foreign Ministry says that both Beijing and Moscow oppose foreign intervention or forced regime change in Syria, as Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in the Chinese capital for a security summit
  • Date: 6th June 2012
  • Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (JUNE 5, 2012) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY CHINESE NATIONAL FLAG FLYING CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN LIU WEIMIN WALKING IN FOR REGULAR NEWS CONFERENCE JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN LIU WEIMIN SAYING: "Firstly, there should be an immediate end to violence, to promote the easing of tensions
  • Embargoed: 21st June 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China
  • Country: China
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA2IQN4GH07VB53SZ5V7X2PAV0U
  • Story Text: China said on Tuesday (June 5) that both Beijing and Moscow oppose foreign intervention or forced regime change in Syria as Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives for a security summit.
    China and Russia, both permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, have blocked efforts by Western powers to condemn or call for the removal of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad whose forces the United Nations says have killed more than 10,000 people since March last year.
    Both countries have stayed in close touch on Syria and believe there should be an immediate end to violence, adding that political dialogue should begin as soon as possible, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin told a daily news briefing.
    "Firstly, there should be an immediate end to violence, to promote the easing of tensions quickly. Secondly, the political dialogue process should be launched as soon as possible. Thirdly, we should unwaveringly support the mediation of special envoy Annan. China and Russia share the same position on these points," he said.
    Russia and China, wary of any Western-led military intervention in Syria, say U.N. mediator Kofi Annan's plan is the only way forward, but have twice blocked U.N. Security Council resolutions which would have condemned Damascus and perhaps led to sanctions.
    "Both China and Russia are consistently opposed to external intervention in the Syrian situation and oppose regime change by force," Liu added.
    Syrian rebels said on Monday (June 4) they were no longer bound by a U.N.-backed truce because Assad had failed to observe their Friday (June 1) deadline to implement the ceasefire and had only attacked government forces to defend "our people".
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