Conflict in Syria reaching new and appalling heights of brutality and violence: Ban
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Ban Ki-moon addressing the General Assembly
A military solution will not bring an end to violence in Syria, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the General Assembly on Friday. Rather, he says, it will plunge Syria into a destructive process from which it will be very hard and take very long to recover, with dangerous consequences for the entire region.
Secretary-General Ban warns that under the prevailing military logic, all Syrians will lose. We will all lose.
"The formation of a new coalition of the opposition could be an important step towards the conditions for a comprehensive and inclusive political process. Building a free and democratic Syria will require political dialogue and negotiations. The United Nations will facilitate such a process. We can only succeed if all sides take the necessary steps, and if there are converging actions by the international community, in particular the Security Council."
Secretary-General Ban says the conflict in Syria, now in its 21st month, is reaching new and appalling heights of brutality and violence. The government has intensified its campaigns to root out opposition strongholds and has increased shelling and air strikes.
At the same time, Opposition elements have also stepped up their attacks and human rights violations are being carried out on a wide scale by all combatants.
The Secretary-general says he plans to soon visit refugee camps in Jordan and Turkey to assess the situation on the ground.
Donn Bobb, United Nations
Duration: 1’28″
