Secretary-General, Alarmed by Escalating Syria-Turkey Border Tensions,

 

Reiterates Concern over Growing Risk of Regional Conflict

 

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General is alarmed by escalating tensions along the Syrian-Turkish border.

The Secretary-General has repeatedly made clear his concern about the spillover of the Syrian crisis into neighbouring countries, as occurred yesterday with Turkey.

As the situation inside Syria deteriorates yet further — including the atrocious terrorist bombings in Aleppo this week which killed dozens of people, including civilians — the risks of regional conflict and the threat to international peace and security are also increasing.

The Joint Special Representative for Syria of the United Nations and the League of Arab States, Lakhdar Brahimi, has been in communication with officials from Turkey and Syria in order to encourage an easing of tensions.

The Secretary-General calls on all concerned to abandon the use of violence, exercise maximum restraint and exert all efforts to move towards a political solution.

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For information media • not an official record