Syria’s Future Should Be Determined by Syrians, Says Chinese Foreign Minister

BEIJING, (ST) — Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on Wednesday received the UN Special Envoy Lakhdar Brahimi, who is visiting China for the first time since replacing former UN chief Kofi Annan as the UN Envoy to Syria on Sept. 1.

During the meeting, Yang underlined that the situation in Syria is at a crucial stage, and is important to the fundamental interests of the Syrian people, as well as to peace and stability in the Middle East, adding, “A political settlement is the only viable solution in Syria.”

The future of Syria should be determined by the Syrian people themselves, and its sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity should be respected and preserved, Minister Yang Jiechi underscored.

He called on relevant parties in Syria to respond positively to the consensus reached by the international community on a peaceful settlement of the issue.

China has worked with the international community for a “just, peaceful and proper” resolution on Syria by upholding the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the basic norms governing international relations as well as peace and stability in the Middle East and the fundamental interests of the Syrian People, Yang said.

China has always supported the diplomatic mediation efforts of Brahimi and former envoy Kofi Annan, and is willing to work with the international community to make continuous efforts in this regard, Yang said.

Brahimi introduced the latest developments in Syria and his recent mediation efforts, especially his visit to some countries in the region. He said political resolution is the only feasible approach to the situation in Syria .

 Brahimi thanked China for its firm support for his mediation. He also expressed appreciation for Chinese efforts toward a political resolution in Syria, as well as his hope that China will continue to play a positive and constructive role in this regard.

In Paris, Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, underlined that the obstinacy of some Western Countries as far as the crisis in Syria will only escalate the violence.

Minister Lavrov, following his talks with Minister Laurent Fabius of France reiterated that the “Syrian people should determine their fate themselves.”

”There is no military solution to the Syrian crisis as mercenaries fighting on the side of the Syrian insurgents keep arriving in the country from neighboring states,” the veteran Russian Foreign Minister added.

M. Daoud/ M.A. Al-Ibrahim