Kofi Annan: Geneva Deal Most Important Development In Region

Tehran, Jan 28, IRNA – Former UN chief Kofi Annan said on Monday that positive developments have taken place in the region’s political arena, the most important of which was the signing of the Geneva Deal between Iran and the P5+1 on November 24. Annan who is on a visit to Tehran at the head of a group of ex-global leaders known as the Elders, held a meeting with Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. After the meeting, Annan read a statement issued by the delegation which said although this is the first visit to Iran by the Elders, each one of the delegation had already paid separate visits to Iran. He described his meetings with Iranian officials, including Zarif, as deep and useful. Annan said the visit aims at meeting and conferring with Iranian officials and to hear their views about ongoing regional issues. On the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Syria, Annan said, “We share concerns about humanitarian crisis in Syria and should do every effort to alleviate sufferings of the Syrian people.” Former secretary-general of the United Nations referred to President Hassan Rouhani’s address to the UN General Assembly last September, saying the Iranian president brought message of peace and rejection of war. He called for respect and trust to be rebuilt in the region. Annan said that the Elders was founded in 2007 by late South African anti-apartheid icon, Nelson Mandela who called on its members to be the voice of the poor in the world./end