US vetos UN Bosnia mission, then grants reprieve
( 2002-07-01 09:23 ) (8 )

China expressed its regret after the United States vetoed a resolution extending the UN peacekeeping mission in Bosnia on Sunday.

Zhang Yishan, the deputy Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations, made the statement after US vetoing the six-month extension, and agreed to keep the UN peacekeeping mission in Bosnia going for three more days.

"China regrets that the draft resolution can not be adopted," Zhang said. "China is in favor of the extension of the UN Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and we appreciate the contribution by the UN Mission to the stability and peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina."

China, one of the five permanent members of the 15-nation body, voted for the draft together with other 12 members, including Britain, France and Russia, also the three permanent members who has veto power on the council.

"China understands the concerns of the US delegation on the International Criminal Court," he said, referring the explanatory statement by the US ambassador to the United Nations, John Negroponte, who said that he voted the draft because he can not accept the jurisdiction of the new criminal court over the American people who took place in the UN peacekeeping operations.

"Regrettably, however, the parties concerned failed to reach an agreement" after nine days of extensive negotiations, during which all countries, including the US European allies, spoke against the US demand to get immunity from the criminal court, which comes into existence on July 1.

"We hope that the parties concerned will continue their consultations just not to affect the UN peacekeeping operations in Bosnia and Herzegovnia and other regions in the world, and not to put in jeopardy the achievements that the United Nations and the international community made after many years of hard working," he said.