range of issues including regional peace and security as well as ways to create opportunities to guarantee development all over the world. On the Syrian issue, Ban Ki Moon said the situation there is deteriorating at all levels, particularly on the humanitarian level, leading to the increase of Syrian refugees who resorted to neighboring countries to 3.8 million, citing it as a humanitarian catastrophe that requires serious search by the Syrian dispute parties for peaceful solutions, noting that violence would never secure peace and stability. In this regard, he praised the generous and historic position of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and other GCC countries in support of Syrian refugees stationed in Syria's neighboring countries. He also lauded Saudi Arabia's step to open a consulate in the Iraqi city of Arbil, citing satisfaction over the postivie relation between the two countries which he said would be reflected in good beneficial ties at the security, political and development levels between the two countries.
