SWITZERLAND: The U.N. secretary general says the onus is on the Syrian government to keep its promise to observe a ceasefire that took effect on Thursday

Record ID: 280595

  • Title: SWITZERLAND: The U.N. secretary general says the onus is on the Syrian government to keep its promise to observe a ceasefire that took effect on Thursday
  • Date: 13th April 2012
  • Summary: SLATE INFORMATION
  • Embargoed: 28th April 2012 13:00
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  • Location: Switzerland
  • Country: Switzerland
  • Reuters ID: LVAC0FC65CY7P3ASLZHOL03YX28I
  • Story Text: The onus is on Syria's government to keep to its promise to observe a ceasefire that took effect on Thursday (April 12), U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told a news conference in Geneva.
    "The world is watching, however, with sceptical eyes since many promises previously made by the government of Syria had not been kept. The onus is on the government of Syria to prove that their deeds will be matched by their deeds - their words will be matched by their deeds at this time. Once again I call on the government of Syria to fully implement this commitment under the six-point plan", Ban said.
    But he warned that the international community must remain unified to prevent Syria descending into chaos.
    "If we are to stop Syria's descent into chaos, the international community must speak and act as one. I welcome the Security Council's recent and unanimous action," the U.N. secretary general told reporters.
    He stressed that "a militarization of the conflict" was not an option.
    "This is very sensitive and in terms of cessation of violence, a very fragile process. Joint Special Envoy Kofi Annan and I and many of world leaders have made it quite clear that any militarization or any military operation is not an option. It will only complicate and worsen the situation."
    Ban Ki-moon said the situation in Syria looked calmer and he was working with the U.N. Security Council to send an observer team to the conflict-torn country as quickly as possible.
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