Roundup: Global problems interconnected, but good base laid for overcoming them, UN chief says

While looking back on 2015 with its seemingly disparate challenges, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Wednesday that the world's problems are "tightly interconnected" with root causes in "abject poverty and lack of good governance."

Yet, he believed the year "will be recorded as one of the most important, historic, years in the history of the United Nations," because, "We have laid down all good foundations" for solving global issues, citing adoption of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by world leaders here in September.

Ban also announced the next session of talks on the Syrian conflict, known as the Vienna process, would be held Friday in New York City, followed by a Security Council meeting on the topic.

"Syria is an open sore on the Middle East and the wider world," the secretary-general said. "We are pressing for a nationwide cease-fire and for the start of negotiations in January on a political transition, and we must not relent."

During a year-in-review session with reporters at UN Headquarters in New York, dominated by questions relating to the more-than four-year-old Syrian conflict, Ban was asked, if he saw any link between major global crises and "the entailing consequences, such as the refugee crisis and terrorism."

"In this world nothing is operating in isolation so everything is tightly interconnected whether it is migration or terrorism or peace and development and human rights," he replied. "We can find some causes of certain issues which are tightly connected. Some of the root causes would be abject poverty, lack of good governance, when there is a complete despair among the people."

"When there is a complete disregard by the leaders on the wishes and aspirations of the people, then people try to find other ways to address their own difficulties and concerns and sufferings," said the secretary-general.

"Nobody wants to suffer from any reason, whether it is of poverty, disease or abuse of authorities or abusive powers," he said. "That is why I've been always asking for good governance and inclusive dialogue and addressing abject poverty, those are the answers."

Ban said foreign terrorist fighters alone cannot be blamed as the cause of violence when other factors have driven people "to flee, to migrate or to become radical."

"We have to address all this in sync, in closer coordination," he said. "I think world leaders have provided some good sense of promise and hope" in adopting the "17 SDGs and the climate change agreement."

If implemented, "most of the people will be able to live in a much better, in much more stable situation and with much more prosperity," the UN chief said. "The year 2015 I believe will be recorded as one of the most important, historic years in the history of the UN where we have laid down all good foundations."

In his opening remarks at the 45-minute session, Ban said 2015 was "a pivotal year" not only for the SDG and Climate Change agreements, but also in marking the world organization's 70th anniversary, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda adopted as a blueprint for financing for development, to "avert crises down the road," and "The Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction."

These plans and pacts have set the stage for a future that leaves no one behind, said the UN chief.

"This year we have seen epic flows of refugees and internally displaced people," he said, referring to the multitudes fleeing the Middle East, West Asia and North Africa.

Calling for "a new global compact on human mobility," the secretary-general said, "Demonizing and scapegoating these people based on their religion, ethnicity or country of origin has no place in the 21st century."

It was an unvarnished response to recent anti-refugee statements.

As for what he called the other "daunting situations" facing the world body, Ban said that for Libya "the parties are close to a desperately needed agreement that would help the country move beyond prolonged crisis."

In another positive move, he recalled talks on Yemen got underway Tuesday "towards a lasting cease-fire and a resumption of the political transition."

While saying he would present to the Member States of the United Nations a plan of action on preventing violent extremism next month, Ban insisted many of today's conflicts have "provided a breeding ground for the spread of terrorism and violent extremism."

"I am alarmed by the escalating violence in Burundi," the UN chief said. "What we have seen over the past few days is chilling. The country is on the brink of a civil war that risks engulfing the entire region."

"An inclusive political dialogue is needed urgently," he said. "We must do all we can to prevent mass violence and act decisively should it erupt."

Ban also endorsed recent moves to improve the method and transparency of selecting the next UN secretary-general.

He is about to enter his 10th and final year on the job and recently has had to dispel reports he might have his eyes on the presidency of the Republic of Korea, his homeland, and that he might leave his current job prematurely.

"I remain focused on, during coming one year, during my time, until the very last day of next year," the UN chief replied. "I will focus all my time and energy to do my job as the secretary-general. Thank you." Endit