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UN chief calls for cooperation with special envoy to Syria in order to end violence

16 March 2012 00:15 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday marked the one-year anniversary of the beginning of protests in Syria, with a call for the international community as well as the parties in Syria to support the efforts of Kofi Annan, UN-Arab League joint special envoy to end the crisis in the troubled Middle East country, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

"He urges the Syrian government and opposition to cooperate with the efforts of the joint special envoy, and appeals to the international community to offer its determined and unified support to stop the bloodshed and find a political solution that responds to the will of the Syrian people and ensure respect for their fundamental rights," said a statement issued here by Ban’s spokesman, Martin Nesirky.

Annan, Ban’s predecessor in the position of secretary-general, was appointed joint special envoy to Syria on Feb. 23, after a UN General Assembly resolution recommended the establishment of such a position to try and bring a peaceful end to the ongoing crisis.

The joint envoy has since held talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Syria offering proposals on a halt to fighting, humanitarian access, and political dialogue.

Syrian Foreign Ministry spokesman Jihad Makdesi said on Wednesday that the tone of Syria’s reply to Annan’s proposals was "positive" and that the government had offered "clarifications" on the implementation of some of the proposals.

In his statement, Ban emphasized the importance of a solution in Syria that is peaceful and prevents any further escalations. He called the status quo in the country "indefensible."

"It is urgent to break the cycle of violence, stop military operations against civilians and prevent a further militarization of the conflict in Syria," said the statement.

Protests against the government of Syrian President Assad began in March 2011 in Damascus and spread to the city of Deraa and other locations across the country.

"The secretary-general stands in solidarity with the people of Syria and their legitimate aspirations to dignity, freedom and justice," said the statement. "He calls for all violence to end, and for a resolution of the crisis through peaceful means."

Annan is due to brief the UN Security Council on the situation in Syria via videoconference from Geneva on March 16.

The United Nations has reported that more than 7,500 people have died in Syria since the violence began, while the Syrian government has said that "armed terrorist groups" have killed more than 2,000 army and security personnel during the unrest.