UN chief responds to Russian military build-up in Syria saying there is no military solution
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says his response to Russia's stepped up military support for Syria is that "there is no military solution" to the nearly five-year conflict and more weapons will only worsen the violence and misery for millions of people.
The U.N. chief again urged all parties, including the divided U.N. Security Council, to unite and support inclusive negotiations to find a political solution.
Ban told a news conference Wednesday that he plans to meet with foreign ministers of the five permanent council nations — the U.S., Russia, China, Britain and France — on the sidelines of the General Assembly's ministerial session later this month to discuss Syria.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}He expressed regret that divisions in the council and among the Syrian people and regional powers "made this situation unsolvable."
Ban urged the five permanent members to show the solidarity and unity they did in achieving an Iran nuclear deal in addressing the Syria crisis.