Sha Zukang, Chinese delegate and ambassador to the Office of the United Nations in Geneva, urged Wednesday all parties involved in the conflict in the Middle East to restrain and stop violence against civilians to prevent any further deterioration of the situation.
Sha, also delegate of China to other international organizations in Switzerland, made the call at the conference of High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention which was held in Geneva on Wednesday.
He said, "We oppose any form of terrorism and are gravely concerned and worried about large civilian casualties caused by the Palestinian-Israeli conflict."
He emphasized that "The Chinese government always believes that each and every High Contracting Party has an unshakable legal obligation to respect and comply with international humanitarian law by protecting the legitimate rights and interests of victims of war as well as civilians."
"It is hoped that all parties to the conflict will effectively respect and comply with relevant provisions of the Convention as well as the basic principles of international law," said the Chinese ambassador.
He said China has supported the proposal by the League of Arab States that a conference of the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention be reconvened.
Sha Urged All Sides to Make Efforts to Realize Peace
Sha urged all sides to take effective steps to reopen negotiations and make efforts to achieve a negotiated political settlement at an early date, thus contributing to the realization of peace in the region.
The conference, attended by 122 participants, issued a declaration reaffirming the applicability of the Fourth Geneva convention to the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem.
( December 6, 2001)
