The Secretary-General today met with H. E. Mr. Walid Al-Moualem, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Syrian Arab Republic.

The Secretary-General raised in the strongest terms the continued killings, massive destruction, human rights abuses, and aerial and artillery attacks committed by the Government.  He stressed that it was the Syrian people who were being killed everyday, and appealed to the Government of Syria to show compassion to its own people. 

The Secretary-General noted that reduction of violence could prepare the Government for a political process.  He expressed deep frustration that, after 19 months of repression and fighting, the situation was still getting worse. 

The Secretary-General and Foreign Minister discussed the growing humanitarian crisis inside Syria, and which was spilling over into neighbouring countries to an alarming degree.