Ban, Kerry discuss Syria, possible extremism spillover in region

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday discussed in Kuwait City with US Secretary of State John Kerry and other Arab officials on the situation in Syria and the upcoming Geneva II Conference next week, his press office said in a statement. Meeting on the margins of the Kuwait II Pledging Conference for Syria which concluded today, Ban and Kerry "agreed on the need for a political solution to the (Syrian) crisis," and "expressed concern about the rising extremism in Syria and its possible dangerous spillover in the region, in particular in Iraq." The statement added that both officials discussed the "participation at the (Geneva II) Conference and the positive role that countries of the region could play during the process," the statement added in an indirect reference to Iran. While the UN views Iran's participation as important, the US links it to Tehran's acceptance that Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad should have no role in Syria's future. Ban also met in Kuwait City with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati and thanked him for the country's generosity in hosting the largest number of Syrian refugees. They also discussed the Geneva II Conference on Syria to be held next week. They stressed the "close cooperation" between the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the Lebanese Armed Forces, and Ban welcomed the start, tomorrow, of the trial of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) investigating the assassination of Lebanese former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri in 2005. Ban also met in Kuwait City with Ibrahim Saif, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation of Jordan who expressed his country's appreciation for the UN work in Jordan and for the strong cooperation on the ground to assist Syrian refugees. Ban reiterated the UN's commitment in that regard, praised Jordan's generosity and urged the country to continue to keep its border open. He also noted the "deteriorating humanitarian situation, the growing number of refugees and their impact on host communities," the statement said, adding that both officials stressed the need for a political solution to the Syrian crisis and looked ahead to next week's Geneva II Conference on Syria as an "important step toward that end."