(Photograph by Shen Hong/Xinhua News Agency)

On June 19, Ambassador Li Baodong, President of the Security Council for the month of June and China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, briefed the Chinese and foreign media on the informal consultations held by the Security Council on the situation in Syria.

Ambassador Li said that the Security Council just heard the briefings on the latest developments in Syria and the work of UNSMIS given by Mr. Hervé Ladsous, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, and Major-General Robert Mood, Head of the UN Supervision Mission in Syria. He said that the members of the Security Council commended the efforts made by UNSMIS to carry out its mandate under dangerous and difficult circumstances, and had taken note of its decision to suspend its activities. Ambassador Li said the members of the Security Council had also taken note that UNSMIS would assess its decision as necessary and resuming its normal activities remained the objective of UNSMIS. He said that the members of the Security Council urged all the parties concerned in Syria to ensure the safety and security of UNSMIS, and create favorable conditions for performance of its duties. The members of the Security Council again urged the parties concerned to fully implement Kofi Annan's six-point proposal and Security Council resolutions 2042 and 2043.