Golan Heights are internationally recognized as occupied Syrian territory: Chinese envoy

UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Monday stressed that the Golan Heights are internationally recognized as occupied Syrian territory.

Syria's sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity should be fully respected, and the Golan Heights are internationally recognized as occupied Syrian territory, said Sun Lei, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations.

As early as 1981, Security Council Resolution 497 explicitly declares the occupation of the Syrian Golan Heights as null and void. The relevant Security Council resolutions must be implemented, Sun said in an explanation of vote after the Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2811, which renews the mandate of the UN peacekeeping force on the Golan Heights, known as UNDOF, for six months.

All parties are obligated to fully implement the 1974 disengagement agreement between Israel and Syria, and unauthorized foreign forces should not be stationed in the area of separation between the two countries, said Sun, emphasizing that the fulfillment of UNDOF's mandate, as authorized by the Security Council, must be ensured.

A comprehensive solution to the Syrian issue cannot be achieved without a peaceful and stable domestic environment, said Sun, noting that a terrorist attack in Homs on Friday resulted in heavy casualties and shows that the counter-terrorism situation in Syria remains grave and complex.

"We call on the Syrian transitional government to fulfill its international obligations and take all effective measures to resolutely combat all international terrorist organizations listed by the Security Council, including the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, in order to achieve security and stability in the country," said the envoy.