Statement by Mr. Shang Zhen At the 69th Session of the UN General Assembly On Agenda Item 81 Report of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization |
2014-10-14 22:18 |
Mr. Chairman, The Chinese delegation thanks Mr. Marcel Bogaard, Chairman of the Special Committee, for his introduction to the Committee’s work at its 2014 annual session. The Special Committee is the only permanent meeting mechanism within the UN framework to discuss issues related to the UN Charter and the strengthening of the role of the Organization. Since its establishment in 1975, the Committee has played an important role in preserving the authority of the UN Charter, maintaining international peace and security and promoting peaceful settlement of international disputes. The Chinese delegation has always supported the Committee in carrying out its work within its purview as mandated by the GA, and appreciates the full communication, the cooperation-oriented attitude and the spirit of consensus that states have demonstrated during the deliberations of the Committee. Mr. Chairman, 2015 marks the 70th anniversary of the signing of the UN Charter, the 70th anniversary of the victory of the war against fascism, and the 40th anniversary of the Special Committee. The Chinese delegation is of the view that the international community should firmly bear in mind the untold human sufferings brought by WWII and, leveraging platforms such as the Special Committee, resolutely safeguard the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, consolidate the post-war international order, promote the leading role of the UN in international peace and security, international cooperation and development, and work together towards durable peace and common prosperity. Mr. Chairman, This year, the Special Committee continued its deliberation on the item of “assistance to the third states affected by sanctions”. The Chinese delegation has always believed that the Security Council should exercise caution in imposing sanctions and use sanctions as the last resort after all other peaceful means have been exhausted. The UN Charter and other relevant principles of the international law must be complied with, and negative effects on ordinary people and third states minimized. We hope that the Security Council will continue to improve its working methods and steadily reduce the negative impact of sanctions on third states. On the improvement of the working methods and efficiency of the Special Committee, the Chinese delegation hopes that states will, in the spirit of consensus and in a pragmatic approach, explore new ideas and ways for addressing this issue. The Chinese delegation, while open to the consideration of relevant and feasible new agenda items, believes that no new item must involve the amendment to the Charter unless clearly mandated by the General Assembly. The Chinese delegation appreciates the progress made by the Secretariat in compiling the Repertory of Practice of United Nations Organs and updating the Repertoire of the Practice of the Security Council. We hope that the Secretariat will continue to push for the simultaneous publication of the Repertory and the Repertoire in all UN official languages. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. |