Ban Ki-moon: Resolution of Syria Crisis Must Not Depend on Assad’s Fate

Local Editor

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said it's unacceptable that a solution to the Syrian crisis depends on the fate of one man, referring to President Bashar Assad.

Ban told a news conference on Wednesday that the United Nations Organization is pressing for a nationwide cease-fire and the start of negotiations on a political settlement in January to end the nearly five-year conflict "and we must not relent."

In the remarks he made ahead of a third round of international talks that are set to kick off Friday in New York, he welcomed the scheduled meeting of several key nations trying to restore peace to Syria and noted that some countries are talking about al-Assad staying in power for "limited months" during a transition "but that will have to be decided later on."

Ban further added that "in principle, it's up to the Syrian people who should make a decision about the future of President Assad." where foreign ministers from 17 countries including Iran, Russia, the United States and Saudi Arabia, will explore ways of ending nearly five years of foreign-sponsored militancy in Syria.

The first two rounds of such talks were held in the Austrian capital Vienna on October 30 and November 14.

There was consensus among the participants on the need to respect Syria's national unity and sovereignty, but they remained at loggerheads over al-Assad's role.

On the other hand, parties including Washington and Riyadh, have been insisting on Assad's removal while other sides such as Tehran and Moscow say it is up to the Syrian nation to decide the political future of their country.

On Tuesday, however, US Secretary of State John Kerry said the United States was not seeking regime change in Syria following lengthy talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

Meanwhile, the Syrian army is engaged in battles with the Takfiri terrorist groups on several fronts, inflicting heavy losses on them under a seven-week air cover provided by Russia.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team