UNITED NATIONS, Sept 18: Terming the use of chemical weapons in Syria as “tip of the iceberg”, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called for unity among Security Council members for an “enforceable” resolution to end the crisis in the troubled country.
Ban said he will use his meetings with world leaders during the General Assembly next week to a make a “strong appeal” for “action now.”
“This is a crucial period for global cooperation. Syria is the biggest peace, security and humanitarian challenge we face. Let us be clear: the use of chemical weapons in Syria is only the tip of the iceberg,” Ban said here yesterday.
Asserting that the suffering in Syria must end, Ban said he was encouraged by the framework agreement reached between US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on dealing with Syria’s chemical weapons.
“I hope that that spirit of very friendly negotiations on the basis of good rapport, according to their expressions, will really help forge unity among the Security Council and address all these issues on an urgent basis by adopting a Security Council resolution, which can really be an enforceable one,” he said, adding that the agreement should be translated into action as “there is not much time to lose.”
About 130 world leaders would assemble here next week for the 68th session of the UNGA, during which the situations in Afghanistan, Egypt, Mali and the Central African Republic would be high on the agenda.
Ban said the Security Council, which is the main UN body responsible for peace and security of the international community, should be united at this time.
He termed the findings by the UN weapons inspectors on the use of chemical weapons in Syria as “indisputable and overwhelming.”
“They (the findings) are based on scientific facts. Therefore, we must not take the business as usual (approach). I sincerely hope that Russia and the United States demonstrate their leadership at this time, particularly the countries of the permanent members of the Security Council. They have a crucially important historical and moral political responsibility.”
He said he hoped the Council took action quickly because, “while we welcome the belated accession by the Syrian Government to the Chemical Weapons Convention, there are many obligations (which) must be implemented.” (PTI)
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