Pressure on single party won't help Syrian issue: China

UNITED NATIONS - Putting pressure only on one party won't help resolve the Syrian issue, instead, it will only derail the issue from the track of political settlement, Wang Min, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN, said Friday after the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution condemning the Syrian government.

"What has happened proves that imposition of pressure only on one party will not help resolve the Syrian issue, on the contrary, it will only derail the political settlement of the issue, cause further escalation of turmoil, and let the crisis spill over to other countries in the region, thus jeopardizing regional peace and stability," Wang said after voting against the resolution, which is not legally binding.

The UN General Assembly adopted on Friday a resolution condemning the Syrian authorities' increasing use of heavy weapons as well as continued widespread and systematic gross violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Drafted by Saudi Arabia with support of other Arab nations, the resolution received 133 votes in favor, 12 against and 31 abstained.

"China opposes and condemns all forms of terrorism and violence against innocent civilians. We urge all parties concerned in Syria to immediately and completely cease violence and create conditions for a political settlement to the crisis," said the Chinese envoy.

Wang also stressed that the Syrian issue must be resolved through political means, and military means would go nowhere.

According to him, China has all along maintained that the future and destiny of Syria should be independently determined by the Syrian people themselves, and the political settlement of the Syrian issue should only be led by the Syrian people and be accepted by all relevant parties in the country.

"To impose a solution from outside will not help defuse the Syrian crisis," Wang said. "China is opposed to any action forcing a 'regime change' in Syria, and sanctions can only make the situation more complicated."

He emphasized that China has no self interests in the Syrian issue and its purpose is to safeguard the interests of the Syrian people and Arab countries, and the interests of all countries, the small and medium-sized countries in particular, as well as the basic norms governing international relations, including sovereign equality and non-interference in other countries' internal affairs.

"This is China's consistent position on international affairs. It is not targeted at a particular incident or at a certain time," said Wang.

The Chinese diplomat also expressed China's regret over former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's resignation as international peace envoy for Syria.

Friday's resolution is the second one that the UN General Assembly has adopted concerning the situation in Syria, which has plunged into a political crisis since March 2011. The first resolution, endorsed on February 16, voiced support for political transition in Syria, which was accused by some member states of pushing for a "regime change" in the conflict-plagued country.