Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said Friday that
China has decided to offer emergency humanitarian aid to
Lebanon.
Liu made the remark when commenting on a presidential statement
issued Thursday by the United Nations Security Council on the
Israeli attack on a UN observer post in southern Lebanon, which
killed four UN military observers including a Chinese.
"We demand Israel to cooperate with the UN and carry out
all-round investigation, and announce its result as soon as
possible," Liu said.
Thursday's statement says the Security Council is deeply
concerned about the safety and security of UN personnel, stressing
that Israel and all concerned parties must fully comply with their
obligations under international humanitarian law related to the
protection of UN and its associated personnel and ensure that UN
personnel are not the object of attack.
"China also urges Israel and related sides to implement their
international obligations and take practical measures to ensure the
security of UN peacekeepers," the spokesman said.
He said China has repeatedly expressed its solemn stance on the
issue and strongly condemned the attack.
China is strongly concerned about the current situation in the
Middle East, now in tensions and turbulence, Liu said.
China urges all parties to the conflict to cease fire
immediately, launch humanitarian assistance, and return to the
track of negotiations for political solution, so as to resume peace
and security in the region as soon as possible, he said.
After the attack, Chinese President Hu Jintao on Wednesday
expressed his "deep condolences" over the death of Chinese UN
observer Du Zhaoyu, a Lieutenant Colonel of the Chinese People's
Liberation Army with a postgraduate degree.
Du was sent to Lebanon in January this year as a UN
observer.
President Hu "demanded the Chinese departments concerned
properly handle the aftermath of the incident and take every
measure necessary to ensure the safety of Chinese nationals in
Lebanon."
"China urges the concerned sides, especially Israel, to take
tangible measures to ensure the security of UN peacekeepers," Liu
said Wednesday.
The UN presidential statement said the Council "is deeply
shocked and distressed" by the Israeli attack.
"The Security Council calls on the Israeli government to conduct
a comprehensive inquiry into this incident, taking into account any
relevant material from the UN authorities, and make the results
public as soon as possible," said the statement.
The statement expressed the Council's deep concern for Lebanese
and Israeli civilian casualties and sufferings, the destruction of
civilian infrastructures and the rising number of internally
displaced people in Lebanon.
(Xinhua News Agency July 29, 2006)