Secretary-General Deeply Regrets Security Council Unable to Agree on Resolution

 

to Address Rapidly Deteriorating Situation in Syria

 

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General deeply regrets that the Security Council has been unable to agree on a resolution today to address the rapidly deteriorating situation in Syria.  Today’s vote is disappointing at a time when more resolve and pressure were needed to achieve the goals endorsed by the Security Council, of a full cessation of violence to protect civilians and of facilitating a Syrian-led political transition leading to a democratic political system.

The hour is grave.  The international community has a collective responsibility to the Syrian people.  The Syrian Government has manifestly failed to protect them.  The Secretary-General, together with the Joint Special Envoy and the United Nations as a whole, will spare no efforts in the search to end the violence and human rights violations, and to bring a peaceful democratic Syrian-led transition that meets the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people.

The onus is also on the parties, and with the Syrian Government in the first place, who must stop the killing and stop the use of heavy weapons against population centres.  The Secretary-General reiterates his urgent call upon all sides to cease violence in all its forms, and move towards a peaceful, Syrian-led political transition. 

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For information media • not an official record