President of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Vuk Jeremic on Thursday called on UN member states to push for a political solution to the Syrian crisis by supporting efforts to bring all parties to the negotiating table at a proposed conference in Geneva.
"What happens in Syria in the weeks ahead will profoundly bear upon the security and well-being of the entire region of the Middle East, and possibly the whole world," Jeremic said in a statement.
"All our endeavors must be put in the service of bringing about the immediate unconditional cessation of hostilities, and inducing the conflicting parties to engage in dialogue," he said.
The UNGA president stressed that this is the "crucial moment" to push even harder for the International Peace Conference on Syria to take place.
"An outcome reached through political dialogue is the only way to end the bloodshed, and as the President of the UN General Assembly, I strongly urge member states to act in furtherance of this goal," Jeremic said.
"Continued militarization would only deepen the suffering of the people of Syria, and cause further radicalization of the conflict," he said.
Jeremic also said that if allegations regarding the use of chemical weapons by a party to the conflict are proven accurate, UN member states should unite and develop an appropriate response, in full respect of international law, including the centrality of the Security Council's role under the UN Charter.
"I also welcome all initiatives that can contribute to preventing the further exacerbation of the Syrian tragedy," he added. Endi