Colombia offers hope to Syria on 2nd day of UN debate
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With a temporary truce in Syria in tatters, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon implored all warring parties to lay down their arms as the civil war consumed discussions Wednesday at the annual UN gathering of world leaders.
On the International Day of Peace, resurgent Syria violence assumed special significance. In a statement, Ban called on conflicting factions to observe a 24-hour global cease-fire, declaring: "The symbolism of a day without fighting is a crucial reminder that conflict can and must come to an end."
Colombia's peace accord stood out as a bright spot during the second day of speeches at the General Assembly, where leader after leader had their say on intractable problems from global refugee crisis to North Korea's nuclear activities. Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos basked in world praise as he formally submitted the peace deal with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia to the Security Council. The treaty will be signed later this month of Cartagena and must be submitted to a nationwide referendum Oct. 2.
