Ban Ki-moon: Syrian and Ukrainian issues need urgent political solution

On April 1 addressing the International Conference on Genocide Prevention in Brussels, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon declared that defending human rights is a global responsibility, and called on all Governments to renew their commitment to vigilance and political will to prevent any mass atrocities from ever occurring again. UN official web-site informs about this.

Among other issues, UN Secretary General referred to Syrian and Ukrainian crisises as well.

Describing the conflicts in Syria and the Central African Republic as “nightmares for the vulnerable, most directly affected,” Mr. Ban also cited them as “a challenge to everything we have put in place – the pledges, the mechanisms – to exercise our collective responsibilities to prevent such crimes from happening or recurring.”

“All of us should be thinking about what more we can do about the atrocity crimes taking place before our eyes – and what more we can do, much earlier, to keep societies from splintering and descending into destruction and violence,” pleaded the UN chief.

Later in the day, Mr. Ban met with Belgian Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo and the two exchanged views on a number of pressing crises and global concerns, including Syria and the situation in Ukraine, agreeing on the urgent need for a political solution – and the value of ongoing efforts to de-escalate tensions, support dialogue and monitor developments.