A new agreement on climate change and an end to the divisive civil war in Syria are two of the United Nation's top priorities for 2013, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told The Associated Press. Ban will be attending the World Economic Forum in Davos this Wednesday where he plans to broach climate talks, which have failed in their goal of reducing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions. He also expressed concern about the deteriorating situation in Syria, which will be entering its third year. "I believe that world leaders must address this issue with a top priority and a sense of urgency. We cannot go on like this," Ban said, speaking about Syria. This year, the Davos forum will focus on attaining sturdy economic recovery that can withstand the external shocks seen over the past few years. Other items on Ban's ambitious wish list include jumpstarting the global economy, reviving Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations, and pushing for political solutions in Mali, Congo and the Central African Republic.
