Ban Warns of Syria-Turkey Escalation, Flow of Arms

Local Editor

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon warned Monday that rising violence along the Syrian-Turkish border and the effect of the Syrian conflict on Lebanon were extremely dangerous.

"The escalation of the conflict along the Syrian-Turkish border and the impact of the crisis on Lebanon are extremely dangerous," Ban said at the opening of the World Forum for Democracy in the French city of Strasbourg.
Ban also urged donors to provide more funding to help deal with the humanitarian disaster in Syria.

"As winter approaches, we need donors to contribute more generously to address the growing needs of those inside Syria and over 300,000 refugees in neighboring countries," he said.
In parallel, Ban also said the UN envoy to Syria al-Akhdar Ibrahimi would return to the region this week to continue international efforts seeking political transition in Syria.
The UN chief also raised concerns about arms supplies to both the Syrian regime and rebel forces.
"I am deeply concerned by the continued flow of arms to both the Syrian government and opposition forces. I urge again those countries providing arms to stop doing so," he said.

"Militarization only aggravates the situation," he said. "I am calling on all concerned to abandon the use of violence, and move toward a political solution. That is the only way out of it," he confirmed.


Source: News Agencies, Edited by moqawama.org