Putin pledges support for Annan’s plan - Gayo Lues

“From the very start, from the first steps, we supported and continue to support your efforts aimed at restoring civil peace,” Putin told Annan in Moscow on Tuesday.

“We will do everything that depends on us to support your efforts,” he added.

In April, Annan suggested a plan to put an end to the 16-month-old violence in Syria and set up a transition government acceptable to all sides. However, the armed groups in the country violated the plan.

On Friday, the UN is set to discuss whether to wind down or receive an extension over UN monitors mission that was sent to Syria to observe the situation.

Russia has repeatedly said that it opposes any military intervention in Syria, proposing its own draft that would extend UN mission’s mandate for another three months.

However, the United States and its Western allies have called on President Bashar al-Assad to step down, while Russia and China opposed them.

The meeting with Putin concluded Annan’s two-day visit to Russia which also included talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

On Monday, Lavrov announced that Moscow is against attempts by Western powers at the UN to impose sanctions against the Assad government.

AGB/JR/IS