YouSaid · the spoken record

Zhang Jun

lines on the record: 2,260
first: 2019-08-02
most recent: 2023-12-19
sittings or episodes: 311
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“How can the Security Council really make a difference and break the vicious cycle? Last October, with the facilitation of China and other Council members, the Security Council requested that the Secretary-General conduct an assessment of the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) in the light of the actual conditions in Haiti (see resolution 2600 (2021)), which would serve as a reference for the Council to strengthen the mandate in a targeted manner. Over the past nine months, Haiti’s State institutions have been paralysed across the board. Most of the country has fallen into a security vacuum. Gang violence has become more rampant, and the economic and humanitarian situations have been in free fall.”
2022-07-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9095 (2022) · source
“Mr. Zhang Jun (China) (spoke in Chinese): Haiti has been one of the most complicated and intractable challenges on the Council’s agenda. For China, each time the Council discusses the mandate of a United Nations mission, the key has never been whether to renew it or not, nor has it been the length of the renewal. It is about what kind of mandate is needed for the mission and what kind of mandate can effectively help the people of Haiti. The United Nations began its engagement in Haiti in the early 1990s, yet Haiti today, compared with 30 years ago, is hardly in any better shape. On the contrary, it is caught in a more severe crisis. Anyone who truly cares about the Haitian people and the reputation of the United Nations will have grave concerns over that. Exactly what has gone wrong?”
2022-07-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9095 (2022) · source
“As the second-largest contributor to the peacekeeping budget and a major TCC, China has always been committed to peace through concrete actions. We have included strategic communications in our training system, which has provided peacekeepers from dozens of TCCs with targeted training, helping them to improve their communication capacity. Peacekeepers from China have provided free medical services and built infrastructure in mission areas in South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Lebanon, which has helped improve local communities’ understanding and trust of peacekeeping operations and maintained the good image of the blue helmets. China will continue to work with peace-loving nations to contribute to the maintenance of world peace and security.”
2022-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9090 (2022) · source
“We hope that the Secretariat will take this opportunity to integrate strategic communications into all components and units of peacekeeping operations and, in the process, keep close communication with stakeholders, including TCCs. The Secretariat should include strategic communications in trainings for peacekeepers, so that they will have a deeper understanding of local cultures and the situations of host countries in order to more closely facilitate the implementation of the priority national policies of these countries. The communication capacity of a mission’s management is of critical importance. During the appointment process, the Secretariat should fully consider equitable geographic distribution and, in particular, ensure that middle and senior managers in a force have a good grasp of the realities on the ground.”
2022-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9090 (2022) · source
“A mission should, based on thorough communication with the countries concerned and relevant regional organizations, promote the resolution of conflicts through dialogue and communication. Military means alone cannot fulfil the mandate to protect civilians. Missions should improve communication with local communities so as to be able to detect and address security risks as soon as possible, to effectively prevent conflicts and better protect the safety of civilians. When reporting on a human rights situation, a mission should check facts with host countries. While investigating human rights violations, missions need to get the consent of host countries. Fourthly, with regard to improving strategic- communications capacity-building, the Secretariat will soon update the strategic-communications and public-information policy.”
2022-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9090 (2022) · source
“There is a need to enhance security-information exchanges between missions and host Governments and improve the situational awareness and risk- prevention capacities of missions. In areas where many forces conduct operations, host Governments could consider creating an information-sharing mechanism to avoid misunderstanding or misjudgement. Missions, host countries and the Secretariat should work together to prevent the emergence of any misinformation on peacekeepers and create safe and favourable public opinion environments for them in order to facilitate effective mandate implementation in peacekeeping operations. Thirdly, with regard to promoting the effective discharge of the mandates of peacekeeping operations, restoring peace in the host country is a primary responsibility for peacekeeping operations.”
2022-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9090 (2022) · source
“The Council should create a mandate in a reasonable manner based on the needs of the host country. Missions should also improve their communication with local communities to facilitate the public’s understanding and support of their mandates and their means to fulfil these mandates. Secondly, on better protecting the safety and security of peacekeepers, these days, peacekeepers are faced with increasingly serious safety and security challenges. Last October, in Abyei, because of the lack of communication and mutual trust between the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei and local tribes, a medical evacuation was delayed, leading to the death of a peacekeeper. Strategic communications could help reduce such heart-wrenching losses of life and property.”
2022-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9090 (2022) · source
“The host country is the most important of all stakeholders. The deployment of a peacekeeping operation requires consent from the host country. The security of personnel needs to be ensured by the host country, and the implementation of its mandate requires cooperation from the host country. The United Nations should therefore continue to improve communication with host countries, listen to their opinions, attach importance to their concerns and seek their support. The monitoring of ceasefires, among other things, is traditionally a core part of the mandate for peacekeeping operations, and it has stood the test of history. At present, the mandates of some missions keep expanding in a mindless way. They try to cover all aspects but fail to yield intended the intended results.”
2022-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9090 (2022) · source
“Strategic communications can help the world know more about peacekeeping and help peacekeeping better serve the world. The Secretary-General’s Action for Peacekeeping initiative includes strategic communications in the peacekeeping operation toolbox, as it is an important measure to enhance safety and security for peacekeepers and improve the performance of peacekeeping operations. China believes that to enhance strategic communications, we need to work on the following four areas. First, we must create stronger partnerships. A peacekeeping operation can be compared to a concerto performed by stakeholders. The United Nations should enhance communication with the host country, troop- and police-contributing countries and regional organizations in order to share information, align goals and coordinate activities.”
2022-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9090 (2022) · source
“Mr. Zhang Jun (China) (spoke in Chinese): China welcomes you, Mr. President, to New York to preside over this meeting. China commends and supports Brazil’s initiative to hold this meeting on strategic communications and adopt a presidential statement. We believe that this meeting will make a major contribution to increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of peacekeeping operations. I would also like to thank Secretary-General Guterres, Lieutenant General Da Costa and Ms. Russo for their briefings. China aligns itself with the statement to be delivered by the representative of Indonesia on behalf of the Group of Friends on the Safety and Security of United Nations Peacekeepers. I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to all Blue Helmets committed to peacekeeping under the banner of the United Nations.”
2022-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9090 (2022) · source
“The mandate set forth in resolution 2585 (2021) expires on 10 July. We still have some time, and we also have many bases for consensus. We have also heard a lot about addressing the humanitarian situation in Syria and the suffering of the Syrian people. We call on all parties not to give up, but to continue the consultations and increase mutual trust, demonstrate greater flexibility and find practical solutions for arrangements after the mandate expires.”
2022-07-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9087 (2022) · source
“Under the current situation, it is necessary to increase input in a targeted manner, and relevant donors should give priority to providing unconditional and sufficient financial support for this, so that more projects can be implemented as soon as possible. The Council must make tangible efforts to this end. Fifthly, unilateral sanctions have greatly weakened the Syrian Government’s ability to raise resources and carry out reconstruction, which is the most important obstacle to improving the humanitarian situation in Syria. China once again urges relevant countries to immediately and comprehensively lift unilateral sanctions against Syria so as to provide maximum convenience for humanitarian activities in the country. The Security Council should make a clear request in that regard.”
2022-07-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9087 (2022) · source
“Thirdly, the cross-border humanitarian assistance mechanism is a temporary arrangement based on the particular situation in Syria. In the light of developments on the ground, the Security Council should assess the effectiveness and applicability of the mechanism in a timely manner and make corresponding adjustments. The Security Council must come up with a clear timetable for the termination as soon as possible of cross-border delivery and advance the gradual transition from cross-border relief to a cross- line approach. The specific duration of the Council’s extension of the mandate should give the Council the room and the necessary flexibility to make timely assessment and adjustments. Fourthly, early-recovery projects can bring self- generated impetus to the recovery and development of the Syrian economy.”
2022-07-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9087 (2022) · source
“China also actively provides various types of assistance to Syria through a number of different channels, plays a constructive role in improving the local humanitarian situation and helps people overcome the difficulties impacting the economy and their livelihoods. Secondly, China has reiterated many times that, in order to resolve the humanitarian issue in Syria, we must fully respect Syria’s sovereignty and the leadership of the Syrian Government. Cross-line relief should become the main channel for humanitarian assistance in Syria. The Security Council must put forward specific requirements on improving the efficiency and scale of cross-line relief and push all parties to strengthen relevant capacity-building, effectively ensure the safety of relief channels and support the work of international humanitarian agencies.”
2022-07-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9087 (2022) · source
“Mr. Zhang Jun (China) (spoke in Chinese): With regard to the two draft resolutions that were just put to the vote, China abstained in the voting on draft resolution S/2022/538 and voted in favour of draft resolution S/2022/541. We regret that no consensus was reached in the Security Council on extending the authorization of cross-border humanitarian assistance in Syria. I would like to make the following points. First, the humanitarian situation in Syria continues to face great challenges. China has continuously supported the United Nations and the international community in providing humanitarian assistance to the Syrian people in accordance with the principles of humanity, neutrality and impartiality.”
2022-07-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9087 (2022) · source
“At the same time, China also considers the legitimate security concerns of the countries of the region to be important. In that regard, Mr. Wang Yi has put forward an initiative aimed at building a multilateral dialogue platform in the Gulf region, supporting all the parties in continuing to build mutual trust through dialogue and consultation and ultimately finding a solution for ensuring lasting peace in the region.”
2022-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9085 (2022) · source
“As a permanent member of the Security Council and participant in the JCPOA, China has been consistently committed to promoting a political and diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear issue. Since the start of this year, China’s State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi has engaged repeatedly with the parties concerned on the Iranian nuclear issue and stayed in close communication and coordination with them. China will continue to maintain an impartial and objective position, firmly safeguard the authority and effectiveness of the JCPOA and resolution 2231 (2015) and constructively participate in the negotiations on Iran’s return to compliance in order to facilitate the restoration of the agreement to the right track as soon as possible.”
2022-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9085 (2022) · source
“In his report (S/2022/490), the Secretary-General recommends that Member States fully support and apply the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges and the procurement channels described in resolution 2231 (2015), among others, in order to engage in trade with Iran so as to assist its response to coronavirus disease-related challenges and enable its people to enjoy tangible economic dividends. China subscribes to that, and we hope that the countries concerned will heed and respond positively to the Secretary-General’s appeal. At the same time, we also hope that the legitimate concerns that Iran has expressed will be taken seriously and properly addressed.”
2022-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9085 (2022) · source
“Regardless of how those three countries may choose to name their nuclear- submarine cooperation, they cannot conceal the essence of their nuclear-proliferation behaviour. Its negative impact on the political and diplomatic settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue cannot be undone, and the risk it poses to regional peace, security and stability is a reality that cannot be changed. The practice of applying double standards to the detriment of the NPT’s objectives and purposes must be done away with if we are to maintain the authority and effectiveness of the international nuclear non-proliferation regime.”
2022-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9085 (2022) · source
“We hope that the parties concerned will accurately interpret the provisions of Council resolutions on the issue of Iran’s missile launch and avoid undermining the bigger picture of the implementation of the JCPOA. Fourthly, we need to abandon double standards. The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) is the cornerstone of the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and plays a vital role in preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons, and all parties must strictly abide by it. The cooperation between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia on nuclear submarines marks the first time since the NPT was concluded that a nuclear-weapon State has openly transferred nuclear-weapon materials to a non-nuclear-weapon State.”
2022-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9085 (2022) · source
“In that context, all parties should be guided by reason, exercise restraint and refrain from taking unconstructive steps that would cause tensions to escalate. China objects to the politicization of the mandate of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which was apparent in the IAEA Board of Governors resolution on Iran, whose adoption was recently forced through by a number of countries. We support settling outstanding issues through dialogue and cooperation between the Agency and Iran. As a member of the international community, Iran has every right to benefit from the peaceful uses of outer space. We all have different interpretations of the nature of Iran’s missile and space programmes.”
2022-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9085 (2022) · source
“The United States should live up to its words and lift all relevant unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction measures against Iran so that Iran can fully benefit from the economic dividends of the JCPOA. Thirdly, we need to eliminate interference in the negotiation process. All parties have invested a tremendous amount of energy and effort in the negotiations on the return to compliance. There is only one last mile to go before the negotiations are concluded. In the words of Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo, we must not “simply let the painstaking efforts of many years slip between our fingers”. As we approach the final hurdle, it is critical for all parties to reinforce confidence, reject any and all interference and preserve the hard-won results achieved to date in the negotiations.”
2022-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9085 (2022) · source
“The previous United States Administration, while disregarding the objections of the international community, unilaterally withdrew from the JCPOA and launched a maximum pressure campaign against Iran. That is undoubtedly the root cause of the current Iranian nuclear crisis. As the party responsible for the Iranian nuclear crisis in the first place, the United States should face up to its responsibility, correct that mistake definitively, make a political decision as soon as possible and take concrete measures to respond positively to the reasonable demands of Iran. While repeatedly stating its readiness to seek a return to compliance, the United States is nevertheless escalating the sanctions against Iran and third parties even during the process of resumed talks, which is obviously detrimental to any positive progress in the talks.”
2022-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9085 (2022) · source
“All the parties concerned should move in the same direction, stay the course towards a political and diplomatic solution, work together to encourage and facilitate peace talks, show diplomatic wisdom and political resolve and seek consensus on outstanding issues. China welcomes and supports all efforts conducive to the peaceful resolution of the crisis and appreciates the recent good-offices efforts of the European Union. We hope that the European Union, in its capacity as JCPOA coordinator, will continue to play its unique role and work harder to encourage greater flexibility from the parties. Secondly, we need to follow the correct logic to distinguish right from wrong.”
2022-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9085 (2022) · source
“China wishes to underscore the following points with a view to keeping the resumed Iranian nuclear talks on the right track and ensuring their early and positive outcome. First, we need to commit to the overarching goal of reaching a political solution. Upholding and effectively implementing the agreement is about maintaining multilateralism and the authority of the Security Council while safeguarding the international nuclear non-proliferation regime. As Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo rightly mentioned, the JCPOA represents the triumph of non-proliferation and multilateralism. There is no better alternative to the Plan of Action, because engaging in dialogue and consultations is the only right way forward for resolving the Iranian nuclear crisis.”
2022-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9085 (2022) · source
“Since last year, positive progress has been made in the negotiations to resume compliance with the JCPOA. Those negotiations are now in their final stages. We welcome the resumption in Doha of indirect talks between the United States and Iran. We also hope that all the parties concerned, driven by a greater sense of urgency, will resolve the remaining outstanding issues without delay in order to remove any obstacles that stand in the way of restoring the agreement’s integrity and ensuring its effective implementation. The future of the Iranian nuclear issue is critical to the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, regional stability and international peace and security.”
2022-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9085 (2022) · source
“Mr. Zhang Jun (China) (spoke in Chinese): I would like to thank Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo; Ambassador Skoog, Head of the Delegation of the European Union; and Ambassador Byrne Nason, Permanent Representative of Ireland, for their briefings. We also welcome the presence of the representatives of Iran and Germany in today’s meeting. As the product of 10 years of work, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was a major win for multilateral diplomacy that was endorsed by a number of Security Council resolutions. It is a key pillar of the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, a buttress for peace and stability in the Middle East and a model success story for the resolution of regional hotspot issues through dialogue and negotiation.”
2022-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9085 (2022) · source
“We also hope that the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo can enhance its management of weapons and ammunition in order to gain greater confidence from the Council members to waive the notification requirement in relation to the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”
2022-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9084 (2022) · source
“France, as penholder, did try, but we were unable to reach consensus owing to the opposition of some Council members. China finds that regrettable. The resolution will continue to subject the great majority of the weapons and equipment needed by the FARDC to mandatory notification. It will artificially complicate the process, create difficulties and affect international partners’ security cooperation with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It will be detrimental to the improvement of the Congolese security capacity and to efforts to find a fundamental solution to the situation in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. For the aforementioned reasons, China had to abstain in the voting.”
2022-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9084 (2022) · source
“But the Forces armées de la République démocratique du Congo (FARDC), affected by the arms embargo and other factors, do not have adequate security capacity in the face of the threat posed by such armed groups as the M-23. Special Representative of the Secretary-General Keita told the Council in her briefing yesterday that the M-23 is far better equipped and armed than the FARDC and the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (see S/PV.9081). It is a worrisome situation, and this issue needs a solution. During the consultations on resolution 2641 (2022), China and the African members of the Council expressly supported the removal of the notification requirement for the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”
2022-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9084 (2022) · source
“Mr. Zhang Jun (China) (spoke in Chinese): The Security Council’s sanctions regime imposed on the Democratic Republic of the Congo were designed to curb the violent activities of armed groups. Regrettably, 18 years after its initial implementation, armed groups in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo remain rampant while the Democratic Republic’s Government’s security capacity has been constrained. The Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has repeatedly requested that the Council lift the arms embargo on country. Lately, we have seen a deterioration in the security situation in the eastern part of the country, with many civilian casualties and displacements caused by the insurgency by the Mouvement du 23 mars (M-23).”
2022-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9084 (2022) · source
“We urge NATO to learn its lessons and not to use the Ukraine crisis as an excuse to stoke worldwide bloc confrontation or a new Cold War, or look for imaginary enemies in the Asia-Pacific region and artificially create contradictions and divisions. We firmly oppose those that advocate NATO’s involvement in the Asia-Pacific region or an Asia-Pacific version of NATO based on military alliances. The long- outdated Cold War script must never be re-enacted in the Asia-Pacific region. The kind of turmoil and conflict that afflicts some parts of the world must not be allowed to spread to the Asia-Pacific region. The Asia-Pacific countries share an appreciation of their hard-won peace and prosperity, as well as a wish to focus on mutually beneficial cooperation in pursuit of common development and revitalization.”
2022-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9080 (2022) · source
“It is necessary for NATO to reconsider its positioning and responsibilities and abandon the Cold War mentality based on bloc confrontation; instead, it should strive to build a balanced, effective and sustainable European security framework, in line with the principle of indivisible security. Like all peace-loving countries and peoples around the world, China is paying close attention to NATO’s strategic adjustment and is deeply concerned about the policy implications of its so-called strategic concept. Recently, a number of NATO leaders have portrayed other countries as threats. But the fact is that it is NATO itself that has caused trouble in different parts of the world.”
2022-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9080 (2022) · source
“Delaying and obstructing diplomatic negotiations for geopolitical purposes will only add fuel to the fire, intensifying confrontations and amplifying the conflict — and we will inevitably end up hurting ourselves. The Ukraine crisis has once again sounded an alarm for the world. Security is indivisible. Blind faith in one country’s position of strength, the expansion of military alliances and the pursuit of one country’s security at the expense of other countries’ security will inevitably lead to security dilemmas. NATO’s five eastward expansions after the Cold War have not only failed to make Europe more secure but also sowed the seeds of conflict. That is a lesson worth reflecting on. The Cold War ended a long time ago.”
2022-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9080 (2022) · source
“All of us have a vocation to strive for and defend peace. All members of the international community should work responsibly for the proper resolution of the crisis and refrain from taking actions to the contrary. All parties should work in concert to create the necessary environment and conditions for peace talks between the parties. The facts clearly show that sending weapons cannot bring about peace and that imposing sanctions and pressure cannot solve the security conundrum. Attempts to weaponize the world economy and coerce other countries into taking sides will artificially divide the international community and make the world even less secure.”
2022-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9080 (2022) · source
“We are committed to promoting peace talks and have worked tirelessly to de-escalate the situation, restore peace at an early date, mitigate the humanitarian situation and stabilize the global economy. It is regrettable and worrisome that the conflict is continuing. The crisis is trending in a protracted and extended direction. The humanitarian situation remains dire. Civilian casualties are increasing, and people are suffering. Multifaceted spillover effects are exacerbating global challenges. We stress again that dialogue and negotiation is the only viable way to restore and consolidate peace. The international community is eager to end the hostilities at an early date. China supports direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. We also welcome the Secretary- General’s good offices on the issue of grain exports, among other things.”
2022-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9080 (2022) · source
“Mr. Zhang Jun (China) (spoke in Chinese): The military conflict in Ukraine has already lasted more than four months. With regard to that geopolitical crisis, which is of great concern to the international community, China has always made its own assessment based on the historical context and the merits of the issue. Chinese leaders have repeatedly pointed out the necessity of respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries; adhering to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations; taking seriously the legitimate security concerns of all countries; and supporting all efforts that are conducive to the peaceful settlement of the crisis. For some time now, China has joined all peace-loving countries in calling for a ceasefire.”
2022-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9080 (2022) · source
“Improving the working methods of the Security Council is a long-term process that must start now on the basis of specific measures and must involve every single Council member. I hope that the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions will play an important role in comprehensively sorting out all the proposals put forward at this meeting and actively push for follow-up work on their further development and implementation. China stands ready to effectively fulfil its responsibilities as a permanent member of the Security Council and to work with all parties to draw on our experience and improve the working methods of the Security Council on an ongoing basis so that it can play a more effective role in the maintenance of international peace and security.”
2022-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9079 (2022) · source
“They exploit their numerical advantage to dominate the setting of the agenda of the Security Council, the designation of penholders and the drafting of documents. More often than not, they try to push through draft resolutions while avoiding the holding of full consultations, which results in the exercise of the veto. To address those problems, it is important to work on the root causes and allow more developing countries and countries that pursue independent policies to participate in the work of the Security Council. I would like to stress that independent countries must be brought into the Council in order for a decisive solution to be found to the Security Council’s lack of compositional equity and balance.”
2022-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9079 (2022) · source
“To minimize collateral damage, sanctions measures should also be reviewed in a timely manner in order to adjust those that need to be adjusted and eliminate those that should be eliminated. Some Council members have referred in their statements to the issue of the veto power. I would like to point out that the exercise of the veto is a consequence of the inequitable composition of the Security Council and the division of Council members into camps. The unbalanced composition of this body inevitably leads to unfair decision-making. Many members of the Security Council belong to one particular political bloc. They pursue identical or very similar foreign policies and have great influence in political, economic, military and other spheres. To some extent, they even control the media.”
2022-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9079 (2022) · source
“We support the Security Council in inviting civil society representatives to participate in its meetings, and we hope that the monthly presidencies will strengthen the screening of invited representatives to ensure that they are genuinely well informed about the topics under consideration and that their positions are objective and impartial in order to facilitate the Security Council’s discussions and search for solutions. Fifthly, it is important to take a sensible approach to the question of Council sanctions. Sanctions are an important tool of the Security Council. However, they are only the means of achieving a political settlement. The Security Council must exercise restraint and control its impulse to resort to sanctions too readily. It should be prudent in terms of the intensity and scope of the sanctions it applies.”
2022-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9079 (2022) · source
“In practice, it is not uncommon for the media or non-Council members to have access to draft documents even before Council members. In addition, when some members brief the media on the proceedings of closed consultations, they distort the positions of other members by quoting them out of context. While that is done to reflect transparency, in practice it seriously undermines Security Council consultations and affects their outcomes. It also erodes unity among Council members. We hope that all members will take that more seriously, because our work in the Security Council should be carried out in a serious and professional manner.”
2022-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9079 (2022) · source
“On occasion, some penholders have placed their national positions above our collective organ, resulting in mounting controversies. We therefore advocate a systematic restructuring of the penholder arrangement. As a general principle, there should be two or three co-penholders per topic, to be shared between permanent and non-permanent members. The chairs of the subsidiary bodies should be invited to act as penholders for their mandated issues. Penholders should engage closely with the countries concerned, Council members and the competent departments of the Secretariat in order to maximize consensus, reduce differences and avert confrontation. Fourthly, it is important to strike a balance between increased transparency and credible confidentiality.”
2022-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9079 (2022) · source
“As well as hogging many delegations’ finite resources, those meetings, due to the way in which they were organized, barely achieved the purpose of enhancing information-sharing and promoting mutual understanding. Some meetings are merely a breeding ground for quarrels. We call on all members to exercise restraint and encourage the Council presidency to demonstrate good leadership in steering Arria Formula arrangements onto a more rational track. Thirdly, with regard to the penholders or co-penholders for each agenda item, we wish to stress that penholderships are an informal arrangement that is supposed to reflect shared responsibility and collective engagement. In practice, however, the penholderships on various issues have long been held by certain permanent members.”
2022-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9079 (2022) · source
“We propose either reducing the frequency of deliberations or combining the different tracks, which would help us approach the Syrian dossier from a more holistic perspective and render the Council’s work more efficient. Secondly, there is a need for better management of Arria Formula meetings. The original purpose of the Arria Formula was to provide Council members with an opportunity to learn more about the issues on its agenda and exchange views thereon in an informal setting so as to enhance and broaden consensus. In recent years, however, the pattern of Arria Formula meetings has deviated from that original intent. A total of 32 Arria Formula meetings took place last year.”
2022-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9079 (2022) · source
“First, the Council has seen a steady increase in the number of emerging issues and a continuous proliferation of cross-cutting issues, some of which are clearly beyond its core mandate. The Council should focus on the major pressing issues that threaten international peace and security and avoid taking on new topics without due consideration, which does not produce the desired effects while taking up too much of its resources. On cross-cutting issues, there should be a reasonable division of labour with other bodies to avoid overlapping and redundancy. The issues on the Council’s agenda and arrangements for deliberations should be adjusted as and when the situation on the ground changes. For example, the Council currently meets on the Syrian dossier three times a month, which is unnecessary in the light of the reality on the ground.”
2022-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9079 (2022) · source
“It should listen to wide-ranging views in the course of its work, taking the concerns of States and regional organizations seriously and striving to work in greater coordination and synergy with the President of the General Assembly, the Secretary-General, the Economic and Social Council and the Peacebuilding Commission. In recent years, the Security Council has been actively exploring ways to improve its working methods and enhance its efficiency, with many positive outcomes. It is worth mentioning in particular that, at the height of the coronavirus disease pandemic, the Council made timely adjustments in its working methods to ensure its normal functioning. With regard some of the more salient issues that persist in the Council’s work, China wishes to make the following points so that we can discuss them here in the Chamber.”
2022-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9079 (2022) · source
“The Council must remain committed to promoting the political resolution of hotspot issues while working more strenuously at the diplomatic level for good offices and mediation to actively push for negotiations and dialogue and to dissolve tensions. Council members should demonstrate mutual respect, consult one another fully and accommodate one another’s concerns as far as possible while refraining from deliberately intensifying tensions and divergences, not to mention artificially creating division and confrontation. The Security Council belongs to all Member States.”
2022-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9079 (2022) · source
“Given the rapidly shifting international political landscape and evolving security risks, as well as all scientific and technological advances and improving conditions in the physical world, it is imperative that the Council improve its working methods in order to keep up with changing circumstances, enhance its capacity and efficiency and better fulfil its mandate. At the centre of the Council’s myriad working methods lies the core principle of solidarity and unity. Members of the Council must always bear in mind that our sole agenda is the common agenda of international peace and security, to which there is no alternative. However multifarious and complicated the challenges confronting us, standing together in solidarity and unity for the maintenance of international peace and security is always our primary responsibility.”
2022-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9079 (2022) · source
“Mr. Zhang Jun (China) (spoke in Chinese): China thanks the Executive Director of Security Council Report, Ms. Karin Landgren, and the Director of Security Council Procedure, Ms. Loraine Sievers, for their briefings. I also thank those non-Council members present for their interest and active participation in this meeting. Working methods are vital to the effective discharge of the Council’s duties. They are highly political and have never been — and never will be — mere technicalities.”
2022-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9079 (2022) · source