Ban urges Egyptian parties to commit to non-violence

On the third anniversary of the Egyptian revolution, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon late Thursday encouraged all parties to renew their commitment to peaceful dialogue and non-violence, his press office said in a statement. He reiterated the UN commitment to support Egypt in building the future for all Egyptians with dignity, freedom, responsible governance and development that inspired their uprising in 2011. He said he is convinced that one of the central challenges moving forward is pluralism: the guarantee that all voices are heard, represented and have a stake in the system, regardless of political or religious affiliation. Acknowledging the adoption of a new constitution, the Secretary-General underlined the crucial need to guarantee the political space on which a stable and inclusive democracy can be built. Encouraging all Egyptians to rediscover "common ground," he said "credible" parliamentary and presidential elections in a free and open atmosphere are "crucial steps ahead in the transition." He said the 'National Independent Committee for fact finding and gathering information and evidence surrounding the 30 June revolution and following events, and documenting them' can be an opportunity to combat impunity and to ensure effective investigation and prosecution of those responsible for serious violations of international law. Revolutions and political transitions are complex phenomena that can take years to play out, Ban concluded, adding that a peaceful and democratic Egypt is what the people of Egypt deserve, and is critical for the entire North Africa, Middle East region and beyond.