Tue Dec 17, 2013 07:41:10
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged for implementing a ceasefire before the start of the second round of peace talks in Geneva.
The fighting in Syria must cease before political negotiations on a transitional government to restore peace to the war-ravaged country can commence, Ban told reporters in New York on Monday.
"We must have a cessation of hostilities before we begin political dialogue on Syria in Geneva," Ban said, adding, "This fighting must stop."
Representatives of the Syrian government and the opposition are scheduled to meet with peace mediator Lakhdar Brahimi in Switzerland on Jan. 22 to discuss ways of ending nearly 3-year-old conflict.
Syria has been gripped by deadly unrest since 2011. According to reports, the Western powers and their regional allies -- especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey -- are supporting the militants operating inside the country.
NTJ/BA
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