UN secretary-general urges unity on Syria

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said that the situation in Syria was unacceptable and asked for a united international position on the issue. Ban told a press conference in the Indonesian city of Bogor that the UN's mission was to "stop the violence and begin a political dialogue". UN secretary-general urges unity on Syria "We absolutely cannot waste any time. Every minute, every hour of delay means more and more deaths," said Ban, according to an Itar-Tass report. The AFP news agency said that Ban made this statement before today's debate in the UN Security Council on a draft presidential statement which refers to the possible "further action" if Syrian President Bashar al-Assad fails to implement a peace plan of the special envoy of the World Organization and the Arab League, General Kofi Annan . The draft statement on Syria, which was submitted to the Security Council France, aims to provide strong support for Anna's peace efforts to stop the one-year conflict in Syria. In a presidential statement proposed by France, "deep concern" is expressed about the deteriorating crisis in Syria, and "deep regret" for the victims of the conflict between government forces and armed opposition rebels. Also, Assad and the Syrian opposition are called to "immediately and fully" implement Annan plan of six points. The AFP points out that the presidential statement has less weight than a resolution, but is adopted by consensus and is easier to reach agreement on. Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and President of the International Committee of the Red Cross Jakob Kellenberger met in Moscow to discuss the humanitarian situation in Syria and agreed to seek a halt to the fighting for at least two hours a day, to enable access to the wounded and civilians. "Both sides invited the Syrian government and armed groups to immediately agree to a daily humanitarian cease-fire so that the Red Cross would be able to access the wounded and civilians can to be evacuated," said Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement issued after the meeting. Moscow has stressed the need to allow the Red Cross access to all detainees in Syria who were protesting against the regime, while the Red Cross officials in Geneva and Moscow previously said they had "received positive indications" of Russian officials on this proposal. Ban Ki-moon (FoNet, file) Tanjug

UN secretary-general urges unity on Syria

"We absolutely cannot waste any time. Every minute, every hour of delay means more and more deaths," said Ban, according to an Itar-Tass report.

The AFP news agency said that Ban made this statement before today's debate in the UN Security Council on a draft presidential statement which refers to the possible "further action" if Syrian President Bashar al-Assad fails to implement a peace plan of the special envoy of the World Organization and the Arab League, General Kofi Annan .

The draft statement on Syria, which was submitted to the Security Council France, aims to provide strong support for Anna's peace efforts to stop the one-year conflict in Syria.

In a presidential statement proposed by France, "deep concern" is expressed about the deteriorating crisis in Syria, and "deep regret" for the victims of the conflict between government forces and armed opposition rebels.

Also, Assad and the Syrian opposition are called to "immediately and fully" implement Annan plan of six points.

The AFP points out that the presidential statement has less weight than a resolution, but is adopted by consensus and is easier to reach agreement on.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and President of the International Committee of the Red Cross Jakob Kellenberger met in Moscow to discuss the humanitarian situation in Syria and agreed to seek a halt to the fighting for at least two hours a day, to enable access to the wounded and civilians.

"Both sides invited the Syrian government and armed groups to immediately agree to a daily humanitarian cease-fire so that the Red Cross would be able to access the wounded and civilians can to be evacuated," said Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement issued after the meeting.

Moscow has stressed the need to allow the Red Cross access to all detainees in Syria who were protesting against the regime, while the Red Cross officials in Geneva and Moscow previously said they had "received positive indications" of Russian officials on this proposal.