UN chief visits camps and praises Turkey

GAZİANTEP

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visited a camp in southern Turkey hosting Syrian refugees Dec. 7 and thanked Turkey for its efforts, calling on the international community and the U.N. Security Council to unite and take decisive action to end the conflict in Syria.

U.N. chief thanked the Turkish government and people for their generosity and friendship, after his visit to a camp in the town of Islahiye in the southeastern province of Gaziantep.

“The government and the people of Turkey, you have a broad heart for generosity and friendship. I have so much to say after visiting this camp. Thank you very much for your support,” he said.

He was set to meet with Turkish President Abdullah Gül and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara later on the same day.

‘Military path dead end’

“I urge the international community - and in particular the Security Council - to stand united and act decisively to end the crisis,” Ban also said.


“The military path is a dead end. It only fills the streets with more blood; it only fills camps like this with more tears.” Russia and China have blocked resolutions in the Security Council designed to put pressure on the al-Assad regime.
The secretary-general said the number of Syrian refugees has tripled since July and a serious escalation in violence will increase numbers even further.

Compiled from AA, AP and AFP stories by the Daily News staff.