On October 16, the Security Council held internal consultations on the situation in northeast Syria, and listened to the briefings by UN Assistant Secretary-General for Asia and the Pacific Mohamed Khaled Khiari and Under-Secretary-General for humanitarian affairs Mark Lowcock. Members of the Council exchanged views on the situation in northeast Syria and Turkey’s military operation. After reaching consensus among the parties, Ambassador Jerry Matjila, President of the Security Council and Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations, issued press elements, saying that the Council members expressed deep concerns over the risks of the dispersion of terrorists from UN-designated groups, including ISIL, and over the risk of a further deterioration of the humanitarian situation.

After the meeting, Ambassador Zhang Jun, Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations, met with Chinese and foreign media and laid out China’s position on the situation in northeast Syria. Zhang said that the unilateral military operation by Turkey has made the situation in northeast Syria more complex and fragile. It will make the counter-terrorism situation in Syria more severe. It could result in dispersion of terrorists and an opportunity for ISIL to stage a comeback, posing a threat to peace and security in Syria, the Middle East and even the wider world. The Turkish military operation will also worsen the humanitarian situation in Syria and do harm to political settlement of the Syrian issue. China is greatly concerned.

Ambassador Zhang said that China opposes the use of force in international relations. China believes that all parties should observe the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and the basic norms governing international relations, and solve problems through political and diplomatic means under the framework of international law. Syria’s sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity should be respected and safeguarded. Political settlement is the only way out and military means will lead to nowhere. China calls on Turkey to stop the military operation and return to the right track of political settlement. China urges Turkey to take up its responsibility and work with other countries to jointly fight terrorism. The UN Secretariat should closely monitor the situation in northeast Syria and latest developments regarding counter-terrorism and dispersion of terrorists to give timely updates to the Security Council.

Ambassador Zhang said that the parties in Syria agreed on establishing a constitutional committee recently. China supports the UN’s continued efforts of mediation to ensure the implementation of resolution 2254 and push for a political settlement that accommodates the concerns of all parties.