Geneva II conference on Syria shouldn't be open-ended

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Monday said the way to Geneva II Conference on Syria is not going to be easy or brief, but warned that it should not be open-ended as that would perpetuate the suffering of the Syrian people. In remarks to the Security Council made public during closed consultations, Ban said "there will be hurdles before the conference, and during the negotiations. The process is not expected to be brief, but neither should it be open-ended. "We hope for gestures of good will before the conference, to build confidence and diminish the suffering of the Syrian people. These could include a cease-fire or at least a lowering of the levels of violence," he urged. "The people want and need a new Syria that reflects their needs and aspirations. I am convinced we can get there if all -- most importantly those with influence on the warring parties -- exert all possible efforts to help the Syrians reach (a) political solution," he stressed. Ban convened the Council to brief the members on the findings of Ake Sellstrom, the Head of the Mission that investigated the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria, and who stated in a report last week that chemical weapons were used in various sites against against civilians and military targets. He briefed the General Assembly last Friday. "Those responsible must be held accountable. The Security Council has said repeatedly that the use of weapons of mass destruction is a serious threat to international (peace) and security, and thus the Council has a primary role in bringing perpetrators to justice," he urged. He said the report is an "important achievement. But it should also serve as a wake-up call about the need to strengthen the global disarmament and non-proliferation regime. I count on the Security Council to take the lead in that effort. "We must also do our utmost to deter future incidents, in Syria or elsewhere. I continue to urge all States that have not yet done so to sign, ratify and accede to the Chemical Weapons Convention without delay," he pleaded. On the humanitarian situation in Syria, Ban said UN agencies are now reaching millions of people with food, water, medicine, shelter and educational supplies, noting, however, that "obstacles to access remain severe. "The people of Syria need your governments and others to provide generous support at the pledging conference I am convening in Kuwait on January 15th. They also need your pressure on the Syrian sides to improve humanitarian access so that aid can reach all those in need," he said.