CRI听力:No Single Minute to Waste in Addressing Syrian Conflict: Ban Ki-moon

Ban Ki-moon has confirmed a new round of international talks on Syria is set to be held in New York on Friday. The meeting will be followed by a Security Council meeting on Syria on the same day.

The last meeting in Vienna set an ambitious deadline, asking UN mediator Staffan de Mistura to organize talks among the warring Syrian parties by Jan. 1.

Also, world and regional powers, including the US, Russia, and China have voiced support for establishing a credible, inclusive government in Syria within six months and holding free and fair elections within 18 months.

Ban says it is an ambitious target that must be pursued.

"Some people may think it is too ambitious. But one needs to be ambitious. We do not have much time to waste - even a single minute."

Two rounds of international talks on Syria have been held already - in October and November in Vienna - seeking a roadmap to end the nearly five-year war in the country.

Ban Ki-moon is urging an early realization of a nationwide ceasefire in Syria.

"It is important that we should have a nationwide ceasefire as soon as possible. Of course there are certain areas controlled by ISIS, but as much as we can, we should expand this area to be covered by a ceasefire as wide as possible. For that possible, Stephen Misutrata will engage in intra-Syrian talks as soon as possible. Then we can expand the political space."

The in conflict in Syria has killed 250-thousand people and forced 13 million from their homes.

The UN Chief also outlined major UN achievements during his wide-ranging press conference, including the latest international climate deal reached in Paris earlier this month.

"The Paris Agreement surpassed expectations. World leaders recognized that we could and must do better than settling for the lowest common denominator. So they reached higher. The Paris Agreement gives us Plan A for the planet – A for ambition."

The Paris Agreement sets a target of holding the global average rise in temperature below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, and preferably below 1.5 degrees.

Other milestones Ban noted include the adoption of the 17-point 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which is widely believed as the most important result of the events to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the UN.

For CRI, I'm Su Yi in New York.