EGYPT: A Chinese special envoy to Syria says that China was committed to the principles of the United Nations Charter when using the veto

Record ID: 838265

  • Title: EGYPT: A Chinese special envoy to Syria says that China was committed to the principles of the United Nations Charter when using the veto
  • Date: 14th February 2012
  • Summary: CAIRO, EGYPT (FEBRUARY 13, 2012) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF ARAB LEAGUE HEADQUARTERS FLAGS OF ARAB LEAGUE MEMBER STATES VARIOUS OF SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE ARAB LEAGUE NABIL ELARABY WITH CHINESE SPECIAL ENVOY ON SYRIA, LEE HOUCHIN LEE WITH REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) CHINESE SPECIAL ENVOY ON SYRIA, LEE HOUCHIN, SAYING: "Everything we do and everything we think about is the basic interests of the Syrian people and the Arab people, as well as for peace and stability in the region and of course peace and stability around the world. Everything we commit to is the objectives and principles of the United Nations charter, and of course, China has its own independent policies concerning international affairs. This is the basis of our thoughts on exercising the veto, or not. We use this right with complete wisdom and interest." REPORTER ASKING LEE QUESTION (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) CHINESE SPECIAL ENVOY ON SYRIA, LEE HOUCHIN, SAYING: "We call on all sides in Syria to immediately end all acts of violence, especially violence against innocent civilians. This is the first issue. The second issue is to launch the process of political dialogue for an immediate political solution in Syria. This process must be pushed forward in order for opinions and ideas to be exchanged between all sides to overcome the differences for a political and peaceful solution to be reached." REPORTER ASKS QUESTION (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) CHINESE SPECIAL ENVOY ON SYRIA, LEE HOUCHIN , SAYING: "Indeed a meeting of foreign ministers convened in Cairo yesterday. We read about the contents of the closing statement, and we noticed that it included many factors. For now, it is still in the first stages of raising these factors, and it's too early to take the next step. We need time to study the matter. But I can assure that we will study and follow it with complete responsibility and interest." END OF NEWS CONFERENCE WITH LEE U.N. AMBASSADORS MEETING WITH ELARABY U.S. AMBASSADOR TO EGYPT, ANNE PATTERSON, DURING MEETING U.N. AMBASSADORS MEETING ELARABY
  • Embargoed: 29th February 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Egypt, Egypt
  • City:
  • Country: Egypt
  • Topics: Conflict
  • Reuters ID: LVAD5VZ7K081LUV322HKFYYQMIG6
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: China's use of veto in a resolution against the Syrian president stemmed out of its commitment to the principles of the United Nations charter and its independent policies concerning international affairs, an official said on Monday (February 13).
    Chinese special envoy to Syria, Lee Houchin, spoke to reporters in Cairo following a meeting with Secretary General of the Arab League Nabil Elaraby.
    Both Russia and China vetoed a United Nations resolution on February 4 pressing Syria's president Bashar al-Assad to step down.
    Lee defended his country's use of veto.
    "Everything we do and everything we think about is the basic interests of the Syrian people and the Arab people, as well as for peace and stability in the region and of course peace and stability around the world. Everything we commit to is the objectives and principles of the United Nations charter, and of course, China has its own independent policies concerning international affairs. This is the basis of our thoughts on exercising the veto, or not. We use this right with complete wisdom and interest," Lee told reporters on Monday.
    Lee met Elaraby one day after Arab League foreign ministers met and called on the U.N. Security Council to authorise the deployment of a peacekeeping force to Syria.
    A resolution approved by the Arab League's ministers called for "opening communication channels with the Syrian opposition and providing all forms of political and material support to it" - a remarkable statement from a body once known for keeping out of the internal affairs of its members.
    The resolution did not spell out whether its proposed joint U.N.-Arab peacekeeping force would involve armed troops, or whether the aid offered to the opposition would include weapons.
    Lee called for an end to violence and the start of political dialogue.
    "We call on all sides in Syria to immediately end all acts of violence, especially violence against innocent civilians. This is the first issue. The second issue is to launch the process of political dialogue for an immediate political solution in Syria. This process must be pushed forward in order for opinions and ideas to be exchanged between all sides to overcome the differences for a political and peaceful solution to be reached," he continued to say.
    Any peacekeeping mission would require consensus from foreign leaders, who have been divided on how to resolve a conflict that is descending into a civil war.
    Lee said it was too early for any step to be taken on Syria but promised that China would study the resolution thoroughly.
    "Indeed a meeting of Foreign Ministers convened in Cairo yesterday. We read about the contents of the closing statement, and we noticed that it included many factors. For now, it is still in the first stages of raising these factors, and its too early to take the next step. We need time to study the matter. But I can assure that we will study and follow it with complete responsibility and interest."
    Following his meeting with Lee, Elaraby met ambassadors from the U.N. to further discuss the possibility of peacekeeping forces.
    It would be the second time in less than a year that the Arab League had called for outside intervention in an Arab state. Its decision to back a no-fly zone in Libya last March led to West-led bombings that helped bring down Muammar Gaddafi.
    Syria called the League's resolution "a flagrant departure from the group's charter and a hostile act that targets Syria's security and stability." Assad's government says it is fighting an insurgency by militants funded from abroad, and Arab states have turned against it as part of a regional power grab.
    At the United Nations, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's spokesman said he supported the League's efforts to stop the violence and seek a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
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