张军大使在安理会叙利亚政治和人道问题视频公开会上的发言

Remarks by Ambassador Zhang Jun at Security Council Open VTC on Syria (Political and Humanitarian)

 

2021年1月20日

20 January 2021

 

主席先生，

Mr. President,

 

我感谢裴凯儒特使和洛科克副秘书长的通报。中方支持安理会同时审议叙利亚政治和人道问题。

I thank Special Envoy Mr. Pedersen and USG Mr. Lowcock for their briefings. China supports the Council in considering both the political and humanitarian issues of Syria in one meeting.

 

今年距叙利亚危机爆发已过去10年。早日实现叙利亚问题政治解决，恢复叙利亚和平与安宁是叙人民的共同愿望，也是国际社会普遍期待。就此，我愿谈以下几点：

Since the outbreak of the crisis, ten years have passed, political solution of this issue at an early date and resumption of peace and tranquility in the country are the common wishes of the Syrian people, and the shared expectation of the international community. On this, I would like to make the following points.

 

一是坚定推进“叙人主导、叙人所有”的政治进程。叙利亚宪法委员会第五轮会议将于下周在日内瓦举行，中方赞赏裴凯儒特使所作斡旋努力，希望叙利亚双方在宪法委员会框架下通过对话解决分歧、扩大共识,推动有关工作取得实质性进展。宪法委员会的工作必须保持独立性，不受外来干涉。国际社会应为叙利亚双方开展对话创造有利条件，给予鼓励和引导，而不是一味对某一方施压。叙利亚政府多次表达对裴凯儒特使的支持和积极参与宪法委员会工作的意愿，国际社会应予肯定。

First, firmly promoting the Syrian-led, Syrian-owned political process. The 5th session of the Constitutional Committee will convene in Geneva next week. China commends Special Envoy Pedersen for his good offices. We hope that Syrian parties could work under the framework of the Constitutional Committee and deepen dialogue to resolve differences, broaden consensus and promote substantial progress in relevant work. The Constitutional Committee’s work must remain independent and free from outside interference. The international community should create favorable conditions for dialogues between the Syrian parties, and provide encouragement and guidance, instead of willfully putting pressure on one single side. The Syrian government has expressed repeatedly its support of Special Envoy Pedersen and its willingness to actively participate in the work of the Constitutional Committee. This should be acknowledged by the international community.

 

二是稳定叙安全局势。叙利亚当前的安全威胁主要来自外部占领和恐怖活动，只有解决这两个问题，才能为叙利亚政治进程创造良好安全环境。在外来军队和恐怖势力面前，叙利亚政府有权捍卫本国主权和领土完整，有权采取反恐行动，维护国家安全。安理会很多成员对叙利亚境内恐怖活动和溢出风险都存在关切。国际社会应根据国际法和安理会决议，采取统一标准，支持叙方加大反恐努力，不能允许恐怖势力一直盘踞在伊德利卜地区。

Second, stabilizing security situation in Syria. The current security threats for Syria are mainly from foreign occupation and terrorist activities. Only through addressing these two questions can a favorable security environment be created for the political process in Syria. Faced with foreign military and terrorist forces, the Syrian government has the right to defend the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and has the right to conduct anti-terrorism operations to defend its national security. Many Council members are concerned about terrorist activities inside Syria and the spillover risks. The international community should, in accordance with international law and Council resolutions, adopt uniform standards and support Syria in enhancing its counterterrorism efforts, and should not allow sustained presence of terrorist forces in the Idlib region.

 

三是改善经济和人道状况。过去几个月，叙利亚燃油、面包价格飞涨，叙磅贬值，民众缺乏燃料抵御严寒，新冠肺炎疫情确诊病例不断增多。叙利亚严峻的人道局势值得高度重视和关注。叙利亚政府正在担负起自身责任，积极采取行动恢复经济，改善民生，防控疫情。国际社会应向叙方施以援手，为缓解当地人道危机作出努力。中方已通过双多边渠道向叙方提供约1.3亿美元援助，愿继续帮助和支持叙利亚人民。联合国有关部门应对叙人道局势积极采取举措，加强与叙政府及有关方面的合作，提高人道行动的有效性。

Third, improving the economic and humanitarian situation. Over the past few months, the prices of fuel and bread in Syria have skyrocketed, and the value of Syrian pounds dropped. Its people don’t have enough fuel in the cold winter, and the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases keeps increasing. The dire humanitarian situation in Syria warrants high level attention and focus. The Syrian government, shouldering its responsibility, is actively taking actions to promote economic recovery, improve livelihood and control the pandemic. The international community should assist the country and make an effort to ease the humanitarian crisis on the ground. China has used bilateral and multilateral channels to provide assistance to Syria worth around 130 million US dollars, and we are ready to continue to help and support the Syrian people. Relevant UN departments and agencies should take active measures to address the humanitarian situation in Syria, improve their cooperation with the Syrian government and relevant parties, and enhance the effectiveness of their humanitarian operations.

 

四是尽快解除对叙单边强制措施。必须指出，叙利亚经济和人道困境在很大程度上是经济封锁等单边强制措施导致的。单边强制措施严重削弱叙利亚经济基础，严重阻碍叙利亚人民获得医疗物资和服务。在去年11月举行单边强制措施问题阿里亚模式视频会议上，叙利亚红新月会秘书长详细介绍了单边强制措施对叙人道局势的负面影响和人道豁免机制在实际操作中的困难。联合国人权理事会单边强制措施对人权负面影响问题特别报告员近日明确表示，制裁阻碍了叙利亚重建医院等基础设施，损害了叙利亚人民的居住、医疗等生存和发展权，加剧了人道危机，敦促有关国家解除制裁。希望有关国家尊重事实，认真听取意见。

Fourth, removing unilateral coercive measures (UCMs) against Syria at an early date. It must be pointed out that the economic and humanitarian difficulties in Syria, to a large extent, are the results of economic blockade and other UCMs. These UCMs severely undermine its economic base and hinder Syrian people’s access to medical supplies and services. In the virtual Arria Formula meeting on UCMs last November, the Secretary General of the Syrian Red Crescent gave a detailed briefing on the negative impacts of UCMs on the humanitarian situation in the country and the difficulties in the actual implementation of the humanitarian exemptions mechanism. The Special Rapporteur on the negative impacts of UCMs on human rights of the Human Rights Council recently stated very clearly that UCMs hamper the rebuilding of infrastructure such as hospitals in Syria, and undermine its people’s rights to survival and development, including their rights to housing and medical care, thus worsening the humanitarian situation. She urged the country concerned to remove the sanctions. We hope that relevant country could respect the facts and heed the voices carefully.

 

中方再次强调，制裁外交无法解决任何问题，只会给当事国人民带来无尽苦难。我们敦促有关国家响应古特雷斯秘书长的呼吁，顺应国际社会的强烈呼声，立即解除对叙利亚的单边强制措施。

China would like to reiterate that diplomacy that relies on sanctions will get us nowhere and will only lead to endless sufferings for the people of target countries. We urge the country concerned to respond to the appeal of Secretary-General Guterres, listen to the strong voices of the international community and immediately remove its UCMs against Syria.

 

谢谢主席先生。

Thank you, Mr. President.