MaximsNewsNetwork: 08 March 2010 - UNTV: United Nations, New York - Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today (8 March) voiced his concern about the situation in the Nigerian city of Jos, where inter-religious violence has once again taken a deadly toll, and called for all sides to exercise maximum restraint.
Speaking to reporters at United Nations (UN) headquarters, Ban called the loss of life resulting from the Christian-Muslim clashes, which reportedly number in the hundreds, appalling.
The central Nigerian city witnessed similar clashes in January, as well as in November 2009, with several hundred people being killed and many more being displaced on both occasions.
The Secretary-General said that Nigerias political and religious leaders should work together to address the underlying causes and to achieve a permanent solution to the crisis in Jos.
At the press encounter this morning, Ban spoke about his recent trip to Chile where he visited Concepción, Chile's second largest city, and among the areas that suffered the most from the 8.8-magnitude quake that struck on 27 February.
He said that grief was widespread but was heartened by "a strong sense of unity among people, workers, and the family of victims, and governments leaders and survivors.
Together with President Michelle Bachelet and President-elect Sebastian Pinera the Secretary-General participated in a telethon which raised $60 million, twice what was expected.
He also authorized the release of $10 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund.
Speaking about the Middle East, Ban said that he hopes the upcoming meeting in the Russian capital of the diplomatic group supporting the Middle East peace process will lead to direct negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians.
Members of the so-called Quartet, comprising the UN, the European Union, the United States and Russia, are slated to meet in Moscow on 19 March.
Ban, who will be attending the meeting, told reporters the gathering will provide the Quartet with an opportunity to assess and encourage the earliest possible resumption of the proximity talks which will eventually, I hope, lead to direct negotiations between the parties.
On Sri Lanka, he expressed concerned about the lack of progress on the joint statement which he and President Mahinda Rajapaksa had agreed during the Secretary-Generals visit last year.
Following the end of operations against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the joint statement issued last year by President Rajapaksa and the Secretary-General, the Government committed to ensure the economic and political empowerment of the people of the north through its programmes while addressing the aspirations and grievances of all communities and working towards a lasting political solution was fundamental to ensuring long-term socio-economic development.
During a meeting last Thursday Ban said he made clear to President Rajapaksa that he intends to move forward on a group of experts which will advise him on setting parameters and standards on the way ahead on establishing accountability concerning Sri Lanka.
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Attack On A Village Near Jos March 07 2010by arinze2k17,023 views
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