Iran has announced that it is prepared to offer its assistance and collaboration in the implementation of Kofi Annan’s peace plan for Syria.
IRNA reports that Mohammad Khazai, Iran’s envoy to the United Nations, said on Thursday: “The Islamic Republic believes that the Kofi Annan plan is the best solution to exit the current impasse in Syria and welcomes any cooperation or discussion with Kofi Annan.”
Annan, the UN special envoy to Syria, has tried to implement a peace plan in Syria that includes an immediate halt to armed violence, the initiation of talks between the involved parties in Syria, the removal of armed government forces from various regions, the delivery of humanitarian aid to victims and the release of prisoners.”
Khazai also criticized the opposition to Iran’s presence at a planned summit for the Syrian crisis, which he described as “a strategic error by the United States.”
“Iran’s constructive and central role in resolving the regional crises is undeniable,” Khazai said.
Annan has invited the permanent UN Security Council members — the U.S., Russia, China, Britain and France — as well as Turkey, Iraq, Kuwait, and Qatar together with EU and UAE representatives to participate in the summit to resolve the Syrian situation. Iran and Saudi Arabia have been excluded from the meeting.
Annan has said, however, that he will inform Iran of the outcome of the talks. Annan has been inclined to include Iran in the discussion, but Western countries have rejected the idea and described Iran as part of the problem, not the solution.
The meeting will take place next month in Geneva.
