Geneva
Switzerland
Secretary-General's remarks to the media on the Security Council Resolution on Syria
Rencontres avec la presse | Ban Ki-moon, Ancien Secrétaire général
Rencontres avec la presse | Ban Ki-moon, Ancien Secrétaire général
I welcome the unanimous decision by the Security Council to dispatch the observer mission to Syria and I am grateful to such a strong political support of the Security Council.
I have had an in-depth discussion with Joint Special Envoy Mr. Kofi Annan on the way forward, how we can help this cessation of violence continue without any break. It is important at this time that the whole international community, in accordance with Security Council Resolution, do all what we can in one voice to help this cessation of violence continue.
We have discussed the next steps. I will make sure that this advanced observer mission will be dispatched as soon as possible and try to make concrete proposals by 18 April for an official observer mission.
That I will discuss with Syrian authorities and I will instruct DPKO to take the necessary measures. At the same time, the political negotiations should continue in an inclusive way involving all the Syrian people. Kofi Annan told me that he will continue to discuss this matter with the Syrian authorities.
On the humanitarian front, we are very much concerned that at least one million people have been displaced inside Syria and there are still many Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries in Turkey and Lebanon and Jordan. Valerie Amos, the head of OCHA will convene a Syrian humanitarian forum on 20 April here in Geneva and I hope that [it] will be able to mobilize the necessary humanitarian resources so that all needy people will be able to get the necessary humanitarian assistance.
What is important at this time; first cessation of violence should continue. The political dialogue should continue with humanitarian assistance and access should be provided at this time.
Q: How optimistic are you, given the continued violence, that a small group of observers can make an effective difference?
SG: This will be about 250 people. I know that it is a very big country so we will try to have a very effective way of monitoring the situation there. We need complete freedom of movement, the security provided by the Syrian authorities. This is very important at this time. I'm sure that we will be able to have an effective monitoring team even with a small number of people.
I have had an in-depth discussion with Joint Special Envoy Mr. Kofi Annan on the way forward, how we can help this cessation of violence continue without any break. It is important at this time that the whole international community, in accordance with Security Council Resolution, do all what we can in one voice to help this cessation of violence continue.
We have discussed the next steps. I will make sure that this advanced observer mission will be dispatched as soon as possible and try to make concrete proposals by 18 April for an official observer mission.
That I will discuss with Syrian authorities and I will instruct DPKO to take the necessary measures. At the same time, the political negotiations should continue in an inclusive way involving all the Syrian people. Kofi Annan told me that he will continue to discuss this matter with the Syrian authorities.
On the humanitarian front, we are very much concerned that at least one million people have been displaced inside Syria and there are still many Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries in Turkey and Lebanon and Jordan. Valerie Amos, the head of OCHA will convene a Syrian humanitarian forum on 20 April here in Geneva and I hope that [it] will be able to mobilize the necessary humanitarian resources so that all needy people will be able to get the necessary humanitarian assistance.
What is important at this time; first cessation of violence should continue. The political dialogue should continue with humanitarian assistance and access should be provided at this time.
Q: How optimistic are you, given the continued violence, that a small group of observers can make an effective difference?
SG: This will be about 250 people. I know that it is a very big country so we will try to have a very effective way of monitoring the situation there. We need complete freedom of movement, the security provided by the Syrian authorities. This is very important at this time. I'm sure that we will be able to have an effective monitoring team even with a small number of people.