Russia, UN chief call for Olympic truce

Russian police patrol near the Rosa Khutor Alpine Resort in Krasnaya Polyana near Sochi Feb 6, 2014. Sochi will host the 2014 Winter Olympic Games from Feb 7 to 23. [Photo/Agencies]

MOSCOW - The Russian government has called on all warring parties around the world to observe the Olympic truce during the upcoming Winter Olympic Games, scheduled to open Friday.

"Our message is primarily addressed to the sides in Syrian slaughterous conflict, which seriously destabilizes the situation in the country and the region as a whole," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in an online statement Thursday.

The statement also mentioned the "Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal" resolution, which was unanimously adopted by the UN General Assembly on Nov 6, 2013.

The call fully complied with the Olympic ideals and was aimed at restoring the Olympic truce tradition, the statement said.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also called Thursday for observance of the truce when giving a keynote speech at the 126th general assembly of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Sochi, where the games will be held.

He specially highlighted the situation in Syria, the Central African Republic and Southern Sudan.

The 22nd Winter Olympics will be formally opened in the Russian southern resort Friday with some competitions started Thursday.