UNITED NATIONS, March 8 (Xinhua) -- The Security Council on Friday adopted a resolution calling for the immediate cessation of hostilities in Sudan during the holy month of Ramadan.
Resolution 2724 also calls on the warring parties in Sudan to seek a sustainable resolution to the conflict through dialogue.
The resolution won 14 positive votes among the 15 members of the council. Russia abstained.
Dai Bing, the charge d'affaires of the Chinese mission to the United Nations, called on the Sudanese parties to put the interests of the country and its people first, effectively observe a cessation of hostilities, and implement the Security Council resolution through concrete actions.
The international community should continue to step up diplomatic and mediation efforts to create favorable conditions for peace negotiations between the parties, with a view to restoring comprehensive peace in Sudan at an early date. At the same time, the relevant actions should be carried out with respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sudan and should not interfere in Sudan's internal affairs, he said.
China welcomes the recent efforts by the Sudanese government to open some border crossings to UN humanitarian agencies. China calls on the international community to, on the basis of compliance with UN humanitarian principles, continue to help Sudan and its neighboring countries improve their humanitarian response capacity to prevent the humanitarian crisis from getting worse, said Dai.
The lives of all people in the world are precious. While adopting a resolution on a cease-fire during the month of Ramadan in Sudan, the Security Council must not forget that the people of Gaza are still suffering under bombardment. The international community must push for an immediate cease-fire and an end to the conflict in Gaza to give the people some hope for survival and provide the basic security necessary for religious activities by the Muslims there, he said.
The Security Council on Friday also adopted Resolution 2725 to extend the mandate of the Panel of Experts assisting the Sudan Sanctions Committee for another year, till March 12, 2025.
China and Russia abstained while the remaining 13 members of the council voted in favor. China and Russia said the mandate of the Panel of Experts should not have been extended beyond the expiration date of the sanctions regime: Sept. 12, 2024.
Dai said China has always insisted that the Security Council should take a prudent and responsible approach on the issue of sanctions.
"We emphasize that sanctions are only a means to an end, not an end itself, and must be reviewed in a timely fashion and be adjusted or terminated as appropriate. We regret to see that the draft resolution which was voted on is not working in this direction," he said.
Security Council Resolution 2676 of 2023 clearly provides that the sanctions against Sudan in relation to the Darfur region are to expire in September 2024. The just adopted resolution renewing the mandate of the Panel of Experts to March 2025 is apparently unjustified and in conflict with the previous resolution, he said. ■
