Keep Syrian peace talks going: UN chief

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged parties to the Syrian peace talks to ensure that the next round proceeds as scheduled this month.

Speaking at the 50th Munich Security Conference here Saturday, Ban expressed his concerns about cyber security, nuclear weapons and the Syrian crisis in his speech.

"I urge leaders to use their influence to ensure talks proceed as scheduled Feb 10," Xinhua quoted Ban as saying.

"The parties may still be fighting. But talking is the only hope of a political solution," he said.

The UN chief said he was particularly concerned about the Syrian people trapped in places where aid could not be sent.

"Peace and development should go hand in hand," Ban said, adding that Syria could not develop without peace and security and peace could not be sustainable when there was no development.

The Syria peace talks concluded Friday with "small progress", according to UN-Arab League Special Envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi.

The date for the next round of talks has been agreed by delegates of the opposition, while those of the government said they needed to consult with Damascus.