UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has repeated a consistent them for this spring – Arab leaders need to be more responsive to their people and the need for reform. In part, this also reflects the Secretary General’s own frustration that his calls for an end to crackdowns in places like Syria and Yemen have heeded marginal or no results. public, In an interview yesterday with AFP, (From Combined UN News Centre Reports). Mr. Ban said he was troubled that many leaders in North Africa and the Middle East “have come out always too late, too little” to satisfy calls for change. “If you look at all the situations happening across the Arab world and North Africa, there is one common desire: that is genuine freedom, People have been oppressed under authoritarian rule for the past three or four decades. Now they believe that it is high time for rights to be respected and their aspirations to be heard.” The Secretary-General urged leaders to listen more closely to the “aspirations and challenges” of their people, saying they should extend greater freedoms. Arab leaders who have faced popular uprisings in their countries this year have been too slow to make the necessary reforms and compromises to meet the demands expressed by the people. Syria Mr. Ban said he had told Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on several occasions to carry out reforms and engage in meaningful dialogue with opposition groups and protesters “before it is too late.” He added that he has also tried to meet with other regional leaders who could influence the decision-making of Mr. Assad. (Above photo from UN with Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad and UN Secretary General 2009 & 2011 photo UNSG placing call to Assad urging end to violence). Libya Turning to Libya, where military forces supporting the regime of Muammar al-Qadhafi have been engaged in fierce fighting with opposition groups since mid-February, Mr. Ban said he was concerned that the humanitarian crisis in that country is only worsening. He stressed that the immediate goal must be a verifiable ceasefire so that aid can reach people in need, particularly in the besieged city of Misrata. An Drawn out Confrontation Between Status Quo and Change It appears likely that protests and reform in the Arab World are not the “Arab Spring” but unfortunately part of a drawn out process where progress will be on and off, protests will wane and rise, and violent repression will be strategically applied along with minimalist commitments to reform strategically deployed to secure change rather than deliver meaningful change in too many of the countries affected. Related Reports: ---“Ahead of the Curve Arab World Reform” (FILM REPORT) - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/ahead-of-curvearab-world-reform/24771 ---“Syria Debate – UN Security Council” (Film Report) - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/syria-debate-un-security-council/26501 ---“ Washington's Egypt Diplomacy-Creep Behind or Hurdle Ahead in Trying To Shape Change” (ARTICLE) - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/blog_post/washingtons-egypt-diplomacy-creep-behind-or-hurdle-ahead-in-trying-to-shape-change-by-ambassador-mo/24461 By Ambassador Muhamed Sacirbey Face Book at “Diplomatically Incorrect” Twitter - DiplomaticallyX