WASHINGTON - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Monday that he has "done a lot" to try and free kidnapped Israeli soldiers Ehud Goldwasser, Eldad Regev and Gilad Shalit ,but stressed that this was a matter that must be handled discretely.
Speaking on the backdrop of a rally outside the United Nations building in New York, demanding the international body do more to release the captive soldiers, Ban said, "Because of the sensitivity involving the safe return of the soldiers, I have not said much publicly. The less said publicly will be better for the situation."
Nonetheless, Ban told reporters that he would continue to work toward the release of all three Israeli soldiers.
The rally was attended by some 1,000 people, including Ehud Goldwasser's mother Miki, and his wife Karnit. The demonstrators expressed discontent with the UN for failing to bring about the implementation of Resolution 1701, which demands the soldiers' release.
In response to the protest, Ban told reporters that he was making great efforts, via a mediator, to have the two soldiers held by Hizbullah freed, and that he also told Palestinian leaders on many occasions that Gilad Shalit, who is being held in Gaza, should also be released.
Ban responded by saying he was encouraged by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's offer to speak with Syrian President Bashar Assad .
"As the secretary-general, I… would be happy to facilitate such initiatives," he said.