Ban: Syria ‘manifestly failed’ to protect civilians

BRIJUNI ISLAND, Croatia: UN chief Ban Ki-moon said yesterday that Syria’s rulers had “manifestly failed” to protect civilians and called on the world community to act to stop the bloodshed.
Ban, in Croatia as part of a week-long Balkans tour, also said he was sending to Syria the UN peacekeeping chief, French diplomat Herve Ladsous, as well as chief UN military adviser General Babacar Gaye.
“The Syrian government has manifestly failed to protect civilians, and the international community has a collective responsibility to live up to the UN charter and act on its principles,” said Ban, on Croatia’s Brijuni Island.
Syrian activists say more than 17,000 people have died in the past 16 months and Damascus has now become a major battleground.
The UN chief said he was “deeply distressed by the rising death toll and the number of people forced to flee their homes” as troops clashed with rebels in Syria’s second city of Aleppo Saturday, according to activists.
“The UN remains actively engaged and fully mobilized,” he said.
“I am sending my under secretary-general for peacekeeping operations Herve Ladsous to Syria to asses the situation as well as the top UN military adviser, General Gaye, to lead UNSMIS in this critical phase.”
Ban praised a UN Security Council vote on Friday to allow a “final” 30-day mandate extension to the UN Supervision Mission in Syria.
Permanent members Russia and China both voted in favor of extending the mission, after blocking a text that could have imposed sanctions.
“The unanimous vote on resolution 2059 is a constructive sign,” Ban said. “Now the council must redouble efforts to forge the united way forward and exercise collective responsibility under the charter of the UN.”
The UN secretary general also called on the parties in Syria, government and opposition forces alike, “to stop armed violence without any conditions.”
“The extension of the UNSMIS mandate for only 30 days is a strong signal that the onus is above all on the parties, with the Syrian government in the first place, who must stop the killings and the use of heavy weapons against population centers,” Ban said.