1st LD Writethru: UN chief calls on all Syrian parties to pave way for political solution

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon on Friday called upon all Syrian parties to de-escalate the conflict in order to provide a reprieve for the long-suffering civilians of Syria, saying that "an immediate de-escalation is a much needed step towards a political solution to the conflict."

"The last four years of war have led to the deaths of over 200, 000 civilians, the greatest refugee crisis of modern times and created an environment in which extremist groups and terrorist organizations such as ISIL/Daesh flourish," Ban said in a statement read to the press here by his spokesman Stephane Dujarric, referring to the Islamic Republic militants.

"This is a political conflict," the statement said. "Ending the killing, reversing the increasing fragmentation of Syria requires a political process, based on the full implementation of the Geneva Communique of 2012, that addresses the deep roots of the conflict and meets the aspirations of all Syrians."

The Geneva Communique, adopted after the first international meeting on Syria on June 30, 2012, called for the creation of a transitional government that would lead to holding of elections. The communique has long been seen as the political basis for peace talks on the Syrian crisis.

The secretary-general "stresses that there is no military solution to this conflict," said the statement. The United Nations has been firmly supports the international efforts to seek a political solution to the Syrian crisis, which broke out in March 2011.

Ban also took note of the indication reported by the UN special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, to the UN Security Council on Feb. 17 that the Syrian government has committed to suspend all aerial attacks and artillery shelling over the entire city of Aleppo for a period of six weeks.

"This is in order to allow the United Nations to implement a pilot project of unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid starting with one district in Aleppo and building incrementally to others," the statement said.

Ban "recalls that Security Council resolution 2139 called for an end to the indiscriminate employment of weapons in populated areas in Syria, including shelling and aerial bombardment, and expects the Syrian government to follow through on its commitment, " the statement said. "The secretary-general also appeals to all armed opposition groups in Aleppo to suspend their shelling of the city."

Syrian rebels have captured 32 soldiers and pro-government gunmen near the northern city of Aleppo, also the largest city in Syria, where fighting is raging as the two sides try to grab new territory ahead of a possible truce, reports said Thursday.

The fighting came as de Mistura is trying to broker a truce for war-ravaged Aleppo. On Tuesday, the UN envoy, who briefed the Security Council after his meeting with Syrian President Bashar al- Assad in Damascus, the Syrian capital, earlier this month, said that the Syrian president has expressed willingness to suspend bombing of Aleppo for six weeks.

"The government of Syria has indicated to me its willingness to halt all types of aerial bombing and artillery shelling for a period of six weeks, all over the city of Aleppo," de Mistura told reporters here Tuesday.

De Mistura said that the start date for the truce, which he described as a "freeze," will be announced by Damascus. However, he did not disclose when the Syrian government will make the announcement.

"I have no illusions, because based on past experiences, this will be a difficult issue to achieve," he said about the ceasefire in Syria. "Facts on the ground will prove if the freeze holds and can be replicated elsewhere." Endite