Regional mechanisms must abide by int'l law in conflict settlement: Chinese UN envoy

UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Friday said that regional mechanisms must adhere to international law and the basic norms governing international relations in conflict settlement.

The Security Council bears the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations (UN).

Over the years, various regional arrangements have been made to promote the settlement of conflicts and disputes and safeguard international peace and stability, playing a role that complements the United Nations', he said.

In today's world with heightened turmoil at the international and regional levels as well as continuous flare-ups of geopolitical conflicts and hot-spot issues, it is all the more important for regional mechanisms to work in sync with the United Nations to maintain common security, he told a high-level debate of the Security Council. The debate focused on the contribution of regional, subregional and bilateral arrangements to prevent and peacefully resolve disputes.

"Regional mechanisms must always abide by international law and the basic norms governing international relations, respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, and respect the will and choices of the people of the countries concerned," said Zhang.

Any enforcement must strictly comply with Security Council authorization, regional efforts must be guided by openness and tolerance and bloc confrontation should be avoided, he said.

International and regional mechanisms should draw on and reinforce each other in trust-building and maintaining peace. Regional mechanisms are uniquely positioned to resolve regional issues through regional solutions. The United Nations should strengthen overall coordination, optimize resource allocation and enhance the capabilities of various mechanisms, said Zhang.

"Regional mechanisms should embrace a common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security concept, peacefully resolve disputes through dialogue, consultation, mediation and good offices, and avoid the escalation or proliferation of crises," he said.

Regional mechanisms should make coordinated efforts along the peace continuum in peacekeeping, peacebuilding, and post-conflict reconstruction. In particular, regional mechanisms should help developing countries and least developing countries build capacity and improve living standards. It is also vital to have post-conflict countries engage in regional cooperation so as to achieve lasting peace, he said.