Didier Burkhalter at UN General Assembly: the international community should double its efforts to end the war in Syria and reduce suffering
Bern, 28.09.2015 - Stop the war in Syria, respond to immediate humanitarian needs created by the crisis in the region, introduce long-term prevention measures and make a case for a reform of the UN in order to serve the international community – these are the priorities which Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter will be speaking out in favour of at the annual general debate of the UN General Assembly, which opened on Monday in New York. The 70th session of the Assembly is being held at a time marked by numerous crises throughout the world, in the most troubled period the world has known since the Second World War.
"Four years of suffering is enough," claimed Mr Burkhalter, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), before a group of Swiss journalists today in New York, and stressed the importance of increasing humanitarian aid in crisis regions before the onset of winter. "The situation is urgent; the need is great," said Mr Burkhalter. He also advocated a political solution to the Syrian conflict, concluding that "to stop the suffering, we need to stop the war".
In order to avoid future conflict, medium- to long-term crisis-prevention measures should also be developed. "Last week the 2030 Agenda was adopted, a sustainable development programme which aims to combat poverty and inequality and to foster environmental protection – this is excellent news," Mr Burkhalter went on to say, underlining that Switzerland, in particular via the international organisations based in Geneva, would be actively involved in implementing the Agenda, which comprises 17 goals.
Mr Burkhalter is also in favour of the UN modernising its administration and taking steps to reform the Security Council's working methods. He calls on the UN to make greater use of the expertise to be found in Geneva.
The head of the FDFA will speak at about 15 meetings between now and Thursday on topics relating to security, combating violent extremism, migration issues, climate change and the fight against the death penalty.
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