United Nations: Chief Ban Ki-moon and the 15-nation Security Council have voiced alarm over the escalating tensions along the Syrian-Turkish border, warning that the risk of regional conflict and threat to international peace is increasing.
Ban called on all concerned parties to abandon use of violence, exercise maximum restraint and exert all efforts to move toward a political solution, a statement issued by his spokesperson said here. The Secretary-General is “alarmed” by the escalating tensions along the Syrian-Turkish border and has repeatedly made clear his concern about the spillover of the Syrian crisis into neighbouring countries, the statement said.
In a press statement, the Security Council “condemned in the strongest terms” the shelling by the Syrian armed forces of the Turkish town of Akcakale. “The members of the Security Council underscored that this incident highlighted the grave impact the crisis in Syria has on the security of its neighbours and on regional peace and stability,” Ambassador Gert Rosenthal of Guatemala, which holds the Presidency of the Security Council for October said in the press statement after a meeting of the 15-member body.
The Council called on the Syrian Government to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its neighbours. At least five Turkish civilians were killed and others injured on Wednesday after mortar fire from Syria hit the town of Akcakale in Turkey’s Sanliurfa province, which shares a border with Syria.
Turkey’s parliament on Friday authorised further military action against Syria, as Turkey began its second day of shelling targets within Syria in response to yesterday’s incident. More than 18,000 people, mostly civilians, have died in Syria since the uprising against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad began last year.
A further 2.5 million Syrians urgently need humanitarian aid, according to UN estimates. “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,” Ban’s spokesperson.
Joint Special Representative for Syria of the UN and the League of Arab States, Lakhdar Brahimi, has been in communication with officials from Turkey and Syria to encourage an easing of tensions. (PTI)