Next Syria talks could be held in New York, says UN chief

NEW YORK

World powers attempting to hammer out a plan to end the Syria civil war may hold their next meeting in New York, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Thursday.

"It's my understanding that member states are very closely coordinating to have a third Vienna process meeting here in New York. I'm looking forward to that," Ban said during a news conference at UN headquarters.

The first two rounds of talks were held in Vienna where ministers from nearly 20 nations agreed to establish a UN-backed cease-fire and begin peace talks by Jan. 1.

Ban did not announce a date for the prospective meeting that is said to have been provisionally scheduled to take place later this month.

"The Vienna peace process has created new momentum," Ban said. "We are working to launch an initiative in early January that would involve both intra-Syrian political talks and a nationwide cease-fire."

He said much of the ongoing migrant and refugee crisis in Europe stems from the Syrian conflict, which has claimed more than 250,000 lives since 2011.

"Closed doors and discrimination are worsening the plight of forcibly displaced people across the world," Ban said, adding that he was concerned that recent terrorist attacks in Paris could stoke "misplaced suspicions about migrants and refugees, and widespread anti-Muslim discrimination and bigotry".

"The world’s response needs to be robust, and always within the rule of law and with respect for human rights. We cannot be ruled by fear," he added.

Nearly 4 million Syrians are now refugees and at least almost million have been internally displaced, according to UN figures.

Neighboring Turkey, which shares a 900-kilometer (560-mile) border with Syria, is now the largest refugee-hosting country in the world with more than 2 million Syrian refugees on its soil.