UNITED NATIONS, March 18 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday called on all parties in Syria and the international community to "seriously reflect" on the two-year Syrian crisis and to "inject urgency towards reaching a political solution."
The secretary-general made the appeal in a statement issued here by his spokesman, after the Syrian political crisis, which later turned into violence and armed clashes, entered its third year on March 15.
"Today, the world is watching the consequences with horror," the statement said.
"Indiscriminate air, missile, artillery and bomb attacks against civilian areas continue," the statement said. "Radical elements are taking hold. Well over 70,000 people have been killed. Serious abuses have also been committed, and those responsible must face justice."
"The country is facing a humanitarian crisis, with over three million people displaced from their homes, including one million seeking safety in neighboring countries," the statement said.
"Cities and villages, including some world heritage sites, have been destroyed. This is the result of a choice to resort to arms over peaceful political dialogue and genuine change," it added.
While calling for reflection and a sense of urgency, the statement said "the end goal is clear to all -- there must be an end to violence, a clean break with the past and a transition to a new Syria in which the rights of all communities are protected and the legitimate aspirations of all Syrians for freedom, dignity and justice, are met."
"The sooner a military solution is abandoned the better," it said. "There is no need for more people to die, flee or grieve in Syria."
"The secretary-general calls on the region and the international community, in particular the Security Council, to find unity and lend its full support to the efforts of Joint Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi to help the Syrian people reach a political solution to the conflict," the statement said.
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