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Syria: Jeffrey Feltman, USG for Political Affairs, briefed the SC this morning in consultations on Syria and the efforts by Lakhdar Brahimi. Speaking to the press after the meeting, Mr. Feltman said that the overriding message was one of “grave concern.”

Syria: On Sunday, Lakhdar Brahimi met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
and the SG of the League of Arab States, Nabil El-Araby, in Cairo. Speaking to press after the meeting, Mr. Brahimi said that there was no military solution to the Syrian crisis, and that the only possibility was a political solution.

Hurricane Sandy: The SG today offered his condolences to those currently suffering the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. The UN building itself suffered extensive damage from the hurricane, much of its basement flooded during the storm.

SG’s Travels: The SG will travel to the Republic of Korea on Saturday, where he will meet with Korean dignitaries as well as receive the Seoul Peace Prize, which he welcomes as a recognition of the UN’s efforts.

Syria Ceasefire: The SG welcomes the reported announcement of the ceasefire in Syria that will hopefully start tomorrow.

UN Day: In honor of UN Day, the SG called on individuals and the international community to reaffirm their commitment to building a better world.

Syria: Joint Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi has ended his trip to Damascus and is now in Cairo. Negotiations for the potential cease-fire this week are still underway, yet President Assad suggested that he would only agree if Western powers stopped supporting the opposition during his meeting with Brahimi.

Syrian Ceasefire: In a joint statement this morning, the Secretaries-General of the UN and of the League of Arab States appealed to all warring parties in Syria to heed the call of the Joint Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi for a ceasefire and a cessation of all violence during the period of Eid Al Adha next week.

The SG: This morning, the SG gave a speech at an event to celebrate of the opening of the Four Freedoms Park, the memorial to American President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, in New York.