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Chinese envoy calls for integrated approach to addressing migrant crisis in Mediterranean

Xinhua, October 10, 2015 Adjust font size:

The international community should take an integrated approach to address migrant crisis in the Mediterranean, with a focus on root causes like poverty, social unrests and armed conflicts, said a Chinese envoy here on Friday.

Liu Jieyi, China's permanent representative to the UN, made the appeal at a UN Security Council meeting after the 15-member body adopted a resolution aimed at curbing human trafficking and the smuggling of migrants on the high seas off the coast of Libya.

The resolution 2240, which gained 14 votes in favor with Venezuela abstaining, authorizes member states, for a period of one year since its adoption, to inspect vessels suspected of being used for migrant smuggling or human trafficking from Libya.

"China understands the gravity and urgency of this question and hopes that the adoption of this resolution will contribute to a proper solution to that question," Liu said.

"We also hope that member states will implement resolution 2240 in a comprehensive and accurate manner by scrupulously respecting the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the countries concerned and giving top priority to saving innocent lives and protecting human dignity in strict compliance with the relevant rules of the international law," he said.

According to UN Refugee Agency, this year as of August, the number of refugees and migrants crossing the Mediterranean has exceeded 300,000. Some 2,500 refugees and migrants, including those from Libya, are estimated to have died or gone missing when they were trying to reach Europe.

Liu noted that while addressing the crisis, the international community should also respect the will of countries concerned and coordinate with regional and sub-regional organizations.

Libya, a major oil producer in North Africa, has been witnessing a frayed political process after former leader Muammar Gaddafi was toppled during the 2011 political turmoil, as two rival parliaments vying for power and several groups have been fighting for control of national resource wealth.

The United Nations on Thursday proposed to a national unity government to the warring factions of the country. Endit