Ban to make statement today on Syrian peace meeting following ‘intensive and urgent’ talks

20 January 2014 – “Intensive and urgent” discussions are currently under way over this week’s United Nations peace conference in Switzerland that seeks to end the nearly three-year-old Syrian civil war following the reported emergence of problems, Secretary-GeneralBan Ki-moon said today.

“I will have more to say about the situation later in the day,” he told the Security Council at the start of a debate on the Middle East, without elucidating on the problems beyond noting: “You will be aware of the latest developments concerning the Geneva Conference on Syria.

“For the moment, let me just appeal again for all involved to keep the needs of the Syrian people foremost in mind.”

According to published reports, Syria’s political opposition said today it will withdraw from the talks unless Mr. Ban retracts the invitation to Iran to attend the conference in Switzerland, which he announced last night.

The United States has suggested it could support Iran’s participation if it explicitly declares its support for a June 2012 plan for a political transition that Washington says means that President Bashar al-Assad would have to step down, according to these reports.

Mr. Ban announced last night that after “intensive” meetings and telephone conversations with many global leaders and others who are part of the diplomatic effort on Syria, he has decided to also invite Iran together with Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Greece, the Holy See, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands and the Republic of Korea to the 22 January opening gathering in Montreux, near Geneva.

“I believe the expanded international presence on that day will be an important and useful show of solidarity in advance of the hard work that the Syrian Government and opposition delegations will begin two days later in Geneva,” he added, stressing that he believes strongly that Iran needs to be part of the solution to the Syrian crisis.

Well over 100,000 people have been killed and more than 8 million others driven from their homes since the conflict erupted in March 2011 between the Government and various groups seeking the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad.

More than 30 other countries and organizations, including the Security Council’s five permanent members had already been invited to the conference last month.