05 Nov 2013

Botswana is disappointed by the inability of the UN Security Council to bring an end to the Syrian crisis, President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama said.

In the State-of-the-Nation Address on November 4, he said the carnage in Syria had claimed over 100 000 lives and caused two million people to become refugees. Lt Gen. Khama said given Botswana’s commitment to human rights and universal values, government had associated itself with the global consensus that the atrocities committed by the Assad regime were clear threats to livelihoods of Syrian people and world peace and security.

“Our firm conviction (is) that robust action to hold the Assad regime accountable for its crimes is long overdue. This further convinces us of the need to reform the UN Security Council to enable it to respond to such behavior,” said Lt Gen. Khama.

He added that tragic consequences of acts of terrorism that occurred in Africa and elsewhere also worried government. This included instances of mass murder in Nigeria, Pakistan and Kenya.

“Our sympathies shall continue to go out to all victims of such violence, whatever may be their nationality, politics and faith. For whenever and whatever terror attacks are perpetrated, humanity as a whole is robbed of something of its material and spiritual well-being,” he said. ENDS