China favors replacing the African Union peacemakers in Darfur with a UN operation, but has major reservation over the wording of the text and the timing of the vote, therefore cannot but abstain from the vote, said a top Chinese UN envoy here Thursday.

Addressing the Security Council after the vote, China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Wang Guangya said that China has agreed upon or accepted almost all contents of the resolution. Meanwhile, the Chinese side has urged the cosponsors to clearly put in "with the consent of the Government of National Unity" to the text, and urged the cosponsors to carefully reconsider the timing of vote.

"Regrettably, the cosponsors have failed to earnestly heed to China's sincere efforts. Due to our principal reservations on the timing of vote and the text itself, China cannot but abstain from the vote," the ambassador said.

Wang described replacing the African Union force in Darfur ( AIMS) with UN troops as a "realistic option," which will help improve the situation in the region and serve the interests of all parties.

"We therefore support, with the consent of the Government of National Unity, to deploy UN troops in Darfur as soon as feasible. We also agree that the Security Council needs to make necessary decision at an early date, so as to effectively fulfill the responsibilities set forth in the UN Charter and assist the Government of National Unity in achieving comprehensive and lasting peace and stability in Darfur," he added.

Ambassador Wang said the Darfur Peace Agreement has instilled new dynamics and offered new opportunities for resolving the Darfur issue. But unfortunately, the good momentum was not fully used by the parties involved, and the provisions of the agreement failed to yield peace yet.

What is more alarming, he noted, is that the security situation and the humanitarian condition in Darfur have further deteriorated. AMIS, as the only peace-keeping force in Darfur, shoulders arduous tasks and is also confronted with enormous difficulties.

"To address and resolve the Darfur crisis, we need to bear in mind both the sense of urgency and sober assessment of the complexity. We need to demonstrate both the firm determination and corresponding patience, as well as effective approach," Wang said.

The Chinese ambassador stressed that the transition of AMIS to a UN mission can only be possible and the mission can only be deployed with the consent of the Sudanese Government. This is the understanding and decision of the African Union and the Security Council respectively.

He noted that as a direct high-level dialogue at the Security Council among parties involved is likely to be held in early September, the Chinese side deems it unnecessary for the Security Council to put the draft to the vote in a hurry, which on the contrary "may trigger further misunderstanding and confrontation from the country directly involved and even cause problems on implementing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement process."

Wang Guangya reiterated China's firm support for the peace process in Sudan. "We call upon all major parties to act in a good faith, show mutual respect and understanding, continue to conduct frank dialogue, increase mutual trust and reinforce cooperation, so as to create good political conditions for the final settlement of the Darfur issue," he said.

The Security Council adopted the resolution on Thursday to create a UN peacekeeping force in Sudan's Darfur region. China, Russia and Qatar abstained from the vote.

Source: Xinhua