Kofi Annan, the UN and the Arab League envoy for Syria, told Le Monde on Saturday July 7 that his mission to reach a peaceful resolution has failed, adding that Iran should take part in the efforts to solve the crisis.
THe former UN chief said the crisis has been going on for more than 16 months, and many efforts have been made to reach a peaceful diplomatic solution for it which so far they have not yielded any results.
Kofi Annan’s six-point peace plan, with a ceasefire for both sides as the first step, has not been followed, with violence continuing to escalate.
Annan rejected criticism against Russia for its refusal to back UN resolutions against Syria and said that countries that provide Syria with weapons and funds must be condemned.
While Russia and China have been adamantly rejecting all forms of foreign intervention in Syria, Qatar and Saudi Arabia have been advocating for the arming of the Syrian opposition forces.
Annan said Russia might have some influence on the situation but added that Iran was also very influential in Syria and must be part of the international efforts to resolve the crisis.
The United States has refused to include Iran in the international gatherings aimed at resolving the Syrian crisis and maintains that Iran is part of the problem and not the solution.
Iranian envoy to the United Nations has responded to Annan’s statements saying the Islamic Republic supports Annan’s efforts in Syria and is prepared to offer its assistance and advice to find a peaceful solution to the Syrian crisis.
Russia and China have so far vetoed two proposed UN resolutions against Syrian state aggression.
Annan also said that Russia and China feel they were deceived in the case of the UN resolution against Libya, which led to the intervention of NATO forces in support of the opposition and quickly toppled Moammar Gaddafi’s regime.
