Welcoming Russia-United States Announcement on Syria, Secretary-General

Says Goal Should Be Clear — End to Violence, Clean Break from Past

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

The Secretary-General warmly welcomes the announcement on Syria by Russian Foreign Minister [Sergey] Lavrov and United States Secretary of State [John] Kerry in Moscow yesterday.

The Secretary-General and Joint Special Representative [Lakhdar] Brahimi have asserted from the outset their conviction that a negotiated political solution is the only way to end this prolonged and ever-deepening crisis.

The goal should be clear to all — it must be an end to violence, a clean break from the past and a transition to a new Syria in which the rights of all communities are protected and the legitimate aspirations of all the people in Syria for freedom, dignity and justice are met.

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For information media • not an official record