China Expresses Concerns About Geneva II

Chinese Ambassador Liu Jieyi ON Monday (4 November) expressed concerned at the current pace of negotiations in convening the Geneva II peace conference on Syria.



Jieyi said that "things are not progressing as smoothly as we would wish" and urged for "efforts to be made with greater determination" to persuade the parties to go to the negotiating table "without preconditions".



On the work of Joint Mission of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the United Nations overseeing the destruction of Syria's weapons programme, the Chinese Ambassador saw "good progress on the ground" and said he hoped "the positive momentum generated will continue."



He noted the "very constructive role" played by China, including through the participation of experts, and added that China was also "prepared to help with financial aspects of the elimination process."



On the situation in the Middle East, Jieyi said "all important players should work together to move the process forward."



He said he expected "the Security Council will play a constructive role" but added that the Council "is only as good as its members" and pointed out that this issue has been in its agenda for decades.



On the current P5+1negotiations over Iran's nuclear programme, the Ambassador said that "if the development of the situation requires Council consideration of whether or not the Council should respond to progress in the actual negotiations and dialogue in the Iranian nuclear issue, I am sure the Council will take up the issue as necessary."



China holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council for the month of November.



SHOTLIST:



4 NOVEMBER 2013, NEW YORK CITY



Exterior United Nations headquarters



Ambassador Liu Jieyi at the dais



Journalists



Cameras



Journalists



End of press conference



SOUNDBITE (English) Liu Jieyi, Permanent Representative of China to the United nations:



"It is highly important to convince the relevant parties to sit down at the negotiation table for the Geneva II conference to be held as early as possible. We are concerned that things are not progressing as smoothly as we would wish and we would hope that efforts will be made with greater determination at the national, regional and international levels so that the relevant sides are persuaded to go to the negotiating table without preconditions."



SOUNDBITE (English) Liu Jieyi, Permanent Representative of China to the United nations:



"We see good progress on the ground and we see close collaboration with the OPCW and the United Nations. We do hope that progress on the ground will continue and the positive momentum generated will continue. And in this respect China is very happy to play a very constructive role because our experts have also participated in the work of OPCW and UN joint missions, and we are also prepared to help with financial aspects of the elimination process."



SOUNDBITE (English) Liu Jieyi, Permanent Representative of China to the United nations:



"All important players should work together to move the process forward. The Council is only as good as its members. These are issues that have been on the agenda of the United Nations and the Security Council for decades. We share the urgency. We in China share the urgency of seeking the solution to these problems, and certainly we hope also that the Security Council will play a constructive role."



SOUNDBITE (English) Liu Jieyi, Permanent Representative of China to the United nations:



"If the development of the situation requires Council consideration of whether or not the Council should respond to progress in the actual negotiations and dialogue in the Iranian nuclear issue, I am sure the Council will take up the issue as necessary."



DURATION: 02: 50