Russia: Annan's mission offers last chance to Syria
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E-mail Xinhua, March 26, 2012
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Sunday the mission of Kofi Annan, the UN-Arab League joint envoy on Syria may be the last chance for Syria to avoid a civil war.
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UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan smiles as he speaks to the press on March 16, 2012 in Geneva after a videoconference briefing of the United Nations Security Council. [Xinhua] |
"The Annan mission, perhaps, is the last chance for Syria to avoid a long period civil war," Medvedev said in a meeting with Annan.
The Russian president also said that Moscow will offer its help to resolve the Syrian conflict in a peaceful way.
Medvedev hailed the former UN secretary-general's peacemaking efforts.
"We very much appreciate your intermediary efforts in solving Syrian problems," the president said, adding he hopes such efforts would bring "positive results."
Annan said he would make very endeavor to ensure access to humanitarian aid for strife-torn Syria. He thanked Russia's involvement in the Syrian issue and support for his mission.
"Hopefully, we will manage to make a positive contribution to the resolution of the Syrian issue with Russia's most active involvement," Annan said.
The meeting was held at the governmental airport, Vnukovo-2, before Medvedev's departure for a nuclear summit in Seoul and a BRICS summit in New Delhi.
Earlier Sunday, Annan also held a closed-door meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
According to a Russian Foreign Ministry statement, Lavrov called for an end to violence in Syria and establishing a Syrian- led political process.
The top Russian diplomat also urged the international community to provide consolidated assistance to Annan's mission, the ministry said.
Also on the same day, the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said Annan's plan has a chance to succeed if the Syrian authorities and opposition cooperate with him.
Annan mapped out a six-point plan to end the violence in Syria, which includes proposals for a cease-fire initiated by the Syrian government, a daily halt in fighting for the delivery of humanitarian aid and treatment for the wounded, and talks between the government and opposition.
On March 21, Russia voted for an official statement of the chairman of the United Nations Security Council that endorsed Annan's six-point proposal for peace in Syria.
The former UN secretary-general arrived in Moscow on Saturday. According to early reports, a delegation of the Syrian opposition will also visit Moscow in the coming days.
Annan was appointed joint special envoy to Syria on Feb. 23 after a UN General Assembly resolution recommended the establishment of such a position to try and bring a peaceful end to the ongoing crisis in Syria.
Moscow has reiterated several times that a political solution without any foreign intervention was the best option for the Syria crisis and supported Annan's peacemaking efforts.
