China regrets wording, timing of UN resolution on Sudan’s Darfur

Aug 31, 2006 (UNITED NATIONS) — China’s envoy to the United Nations said that his country is favourable to the UN force takeover in Sudan’s Darfur but he regretted the wording of the text and the timing, the official Xinhua reported.

Chinese Permanent Representative to the United Nations Wang Guangya .

Explaining China’s position on the UNSG resolution n° 1706, Chinese Permanent Representative to the United Nations Wang Guangya said China is in favor of replacing African force with UN operation, but has major reservation over the wording of the text and timing of the vote.

Guangya said the Chinese side has urged the cosponsors to clearly put in “with the consent of the Government of National Unity” to the text, and urged the cosponsors to carefully reconsider the timing of vote.

The vote was 12 in favor, with abstentions from Russia, China and Qatar, the only Arab council member.

The United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution Thursday to send a UN peacekeeping force in Sudan’s Darfur region to help improve the humanitarian condition there. The resolution calls for up to 22,500 UN troops and police officers and an immediate injection of air, engineering and communication support for the 7,000-member African force.

“Regrettably, the cosponsors have failed to earnestly heed to China’s sincere efforts. Due to our principal reservations on the timing of vote and the text itself, China cannot but abstain from the vote,” he said.

The vote was 12 in favor, with abstentions from Russia, China and Qatar, the only Arab council member.

The Chinese Ambassador stressed that the deployment of UN peacekeeping force is possible only with the consent of the Sudanese Government, which is the understanding and decision of the African Union and the Security Council respectively.

He also noted that as a direct high-level dialogue at the Security Council among parties involved is likely to be held in early September, the Chinese side deems it unnecessary for the Security Council to put the draft to the vote in a hurry, which on the contrary “may trigger further misunderstanding and confrontation from the country directly involved and even cause problems on implementing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement process.”

The United States and Britain, the two original sponsors of the resolution, hoped the vote would help put new pressure on the Sudanese government.

“It is imperative that we move immediately to implement it fully to stop the tragic events in Darfur,” said U.S. ambassador John Bolton, adding that though unanimity is preferable, council members are not going to sacrifice the need for taking stronger action.

(ST/Xinhua)