U.N. Security Council Holds Summit Meeting

The United Nations Security Council held Thursday its second summit meeting since 1992 at the U.N. headquarters, with the participants reaffirming their support for the council to continue to play its positive role in safeguarding world peace and security.

The meeting, attended by all the leaders of the Security Council's 15 members and U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, adopted a resolution and a declaration, reaffirming that the Security Council shoulders the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.

At the meeting, which was under the main theme "Ensuring the Security Council's Role in Maintenance International Peace and Security, Particularly in Africa," the leaders expressed their determination to enhance the U.N. ability in peacekeeping operations and its cooperation with regional organizations such as the Organization of African Unity.

Chinese President Jiang Zemin delivered a speech at the meeting, elaborating China's stand on such issues as enhancing the Security Council's authority, U.N. peacekeeping operations, the reform of the Security Council and the African issue.

He stressed, "Willful use of force and interference in the internal affairs of other countries in the name of 'humanitarianism' not only run counter to the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter, but also will cause severe negative consequences."

On peacekeeping operations, Jiang said facts have proven that the success of the U.N. peacekeeping operations depends on observance of the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter. "It is essential to treat symptoms and remove the root causes that lead to conflicts at the same time," he added.

With regard to the reform of the Security Council, the Chinese leader said that the expansion of the Security Council should be based on the principle of equitable geographical distribution and should first of all address the under-representation of the developing countries in the council.

Jiang expressed his agreement to give priority to the African question at this summit, calling for greater attention paid by the U.N. and the Security Council to Africa and increasing input into that continent.

He expressed China's readiness to work together with other U.N.member states to strengthen the role of the Security Council in maintaining international peace and security.



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