China: Syrian draft resolution would complicate situation

BEIJING -- China on Friday said a UN draft resolution on Syria would complicate the situation and urged the international community to insist on a political settlement.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei made the remarks while commenting on China's veto on Thursday of a draft resolution by France to refer the Syrian civil war, currently in its fourth year, to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for review of alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.

"Referring the Syrian issue to the ICC will complicate the situation and make it more difficult to solve. That will afflict the Syrian people and countries in the region," Hong said.

The draft resolution, proposed by France, received 13 votes in favor and two against. The other veto was from Russia.

Hong said China is always reserved when the UN Security Council refers a country's domestic situation to the ICC.

The international community should insist on a political settlement to the Syrian issue, promote cease fire and end to violence, ease the humanitarian situation, and promote parties in Syria to find a middle way that accords with Syria's situation and gives consideration to the interests of all sides through the Geneva negotiation process, the spokesman said.

He added that China attaches great importance to all sides, especially reasonable concerns by countries in the region on the Syrian issue, and China is ready to work with all sides to make positive efforts for a proper settlement of the issue.