Mr. President,
Dear Colleagues,

The unfortunate assassination of Mr. Hariri last February is indeed distressing. The Foreign Ministers' Meeting hosted by the Security Council today carries positive significance for the fact-finding efforts, and for bringing the perpetrators to justice and preventing the recurrence of similar incidents.

In the past several months, the International Independent Investigation Commission led by Mr. Mehlis did a lot of work. China takes the questions mentioned in the Commission's Report seriously.

The Security Council is duty-bound to urge the relevant parties to have comprehensive, thorough and serious cooperation with the Commission under the Security Council Resolution 1595. We also hope that the Commission will continue with the open and impartial investigation, acquire ironclad evidence as early as possible, bring the truth to light, do justice to the victims, and safeguard the authority of the Security Council.

It is precisely out of this consideration that China believes it necessary for the Security Council to adopt a resolution, urging the relevant parties to strengthen cooperation with the Commission, so as to send an unequivocal signal to the international community.

China always holds that no willful use or threat of sanctions should be allowed in international relations. The use of sanctions can only be authorized by the Security Council with prudence in light of actual situations. The Mehlis Report is merely a preliminary report, and the Commission itself also believes that the investigation is yet to be finished and that there is no final conclusion.

Under such circumstances, it is inappropriate for the Security Council to prejudge the investigation outcome and threaten to impose sanctions. It does not help with the settlement of the issue, and will add new destabilizing factors to the already complex situation in the Middle East. This is a legitimate and reasonable concern of China, Islamic countries and many other nations. Regrettably, however, the sponsors have not revised their draft resolution in a way that resolves this concern.

Mr. President,

The current situation in the Middle East is complicated with various factors intertwining with each other. Last June, I visited some Middle East countries, including Lebanon and Syria. During that visit, I felt profoundly the wishes of the governments of those countries for peace, stability, good-neighborliness and friendship, and the expectations of their people for a tranquil, harmonious and happy life.

Therefore, in handling the relevant issues, the Security Council should take into full consideration the unique and complicated situation in the Middle East, and respect sovereignty of those countries and the will of their people, so as to avoid causing new tension and turmoil in the regional situation.

Thank you, Mr. President.