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Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan said Thursday the Iraq issue should be resolved by political means within the framework of the United Nations, calling on Iraq to comply with UN resolutions in a comprehensive and frank manner.
Tang made the remarks in Beijing in response to a media question on China's position as the international community watched the recent escalation of events in Iraq.
Noting the situation was evolving rapidly and had entered another crucial stage, Tang cited the reports submitted to the Security Council Monday by two UN agencies. He said the political solution approach was rational as the reports held the view that the inspections had generally been carried out smoothly while further inspections would need more time.
He pointed to resolutions on Iraq adopted by the UN Security Council and said he believed the international community shared a common view which focused on a political solution to the issue within the framework of the United Nations.
China, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, had kept close contact with all parties concerned and was working with them for a political solution, Tang said.
The UN Security Council and the international community should continue to make more efforts at this critical time, he said.
United Nations chief arms inspector Hans Blix and International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Mohamed Elbaradei on Monday submitted key reports to the UN Security Council on their two-month inspections in Iraq.
(Xinhua News Agency January 31, 2003)
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