China warns against attempts to create difficulties for mediation
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E-mail Xinhua, April 15, 2012
Chinese UN Ambassador Li Baodong on Saturday warned against any attempt to create difficulties or make trouble for the mediation efforts of Kofi Annan, the UN and Arab League special envoy for Syria.
The statement came as Li addressed the Security Council after the 15-member Council adopted a resolution to send an advance team of up to 30 unarmed military observers to Syria.
The advance team is tasked to "liaise with the parties and to begin to report on the implementation of a full cessation of armed violence in all its from by all parties".
"We need to guard against any attempt to create difficulties or trouble for Mr. Annan's mediation," said Li. "Any words or deeds that stand in the way of Mr. Annan's mediation efforts are unacceptable, and must be opposed."
With the consent of the Syrian government, the emergent deployment of the advance team to swiftly kick off the task of supervision and cessation of violence will "help consolidate the progress made by Special Envoy Annan's mediation efforts, fully implement Mr. Annan's six-point proposal, and launch the political process at an early date," Li noted.
The ambassador also stressed that "what the relevant parties say and do about the Syrian issue should contribute to the ease of the tensions, cessation of violence, launch of political dialogue, and maintenance of peace and stability in Syria and the Middle East, rather than the other way around".
"We hope the advance team will fully respect Syria's sovereignty, act in strict accordance with the authorization of the Security Council, carry out its mission in a neutral, objective and just manner, make good preparation for the deployment of the supervision mission, and play an active and constructive role in sustaining the cessation of violence and bringing about lasting peace and stability in Syria," he said.
China also hopes the Syrian government and other relevant parties will vigorously support and cooperate with the advance team, and that the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will put forward his proposals on the deployment of the supervision mission as soon as possible.
After the consultations between the secretary-general and the Syrian government, the Council is expected to establish immediately a UN supervision mission in Syria to monitor a cessation of armed violence and the implementation of the six- point peace plan by Kofi Annan.
Annan's six-point plan, widely backed by the international community, calls for the withdrawal of heavy weapons and troops from population centers, a daily halt in fighting for the delivery of humanitarian aid and treatment for the wounded, as well as talks between the government and opposition.
"Special Envoy Annan's mediation is the practical way out and an important channel for the political settlement of the Syrian crisis," said Li. "We urge all parties in Syria to take real actions to support and cooperate with Mr. Annan in his mediation, and maintain the process of political solution of the Syrian issue. " China also urges all parties including the Syrian government and the opposition factions to strictly honor their commitments to cease all acts of violence and create conditions for the launch of a Syria-led inclusive political process, he added.
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