Ahtisaari says it is vital the UN observers’ mission should continue despite the very dangerous situation in the country. The former president and Nobel laureate said it was essential that both the Syrian leadership and military understood that responsibility for the safety of UN employees was primarily in their hands.
"The international community and individual member states must talk to both the President and military leaders and tell them to behave. They bear more responsibility than anyone else. Also individual opposition groups with a desire to fight must share responsibility if something happens to UN personnel," said Ahtisaari in Brussels on Wednesday.
Ahtisaari made the comments at a peace seminar at the European Parliament.
"There can be no talk of peace negotiations until a ceasefire is in place," he stressed.