U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday reiterated his call for a peaceful resolution to the crisis in Syria one year after the beginning of protests calling for reforms. In a message to mark the anniversary of the uprising, Ban said that on March 15, 2011, "Syrians emboldened by the changing tide of history in their region stood up in the streets of Damascus to appeal for their universal rights and freedoms." "The Syrian authorities responded with brutal repression, which has continued unabated," Ban said. "Its consequences are tragically unfolding before the world's eyes. Well over 8,000 are dead as a result of the government's decision to choose violent repression over peaceful political dialogue and genuine change." The secretary-general said "it is urgent to break the cycle of violence, stop military operations against civilians, and prevent a further militarization of the conflict in Syria." "The status quo in Syria is indefensible," the U.N. chief said, adding that he "stands in solidarity with the people of Syria and their legitimate aspirations to dignity, freedom, and justice."
