Syria should be given time to advance Annan’s plan: Iranian FM

TEHRAN, May 17 (MNA) – Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said that the Syrian government should be given enough time to advance Kofi Annan’s plan on Syria. Annan, the former UN secretary general, has put forward a six-point peace plan for ending the one-year crisis in Syria, which calls for a UN-supervised ceasefire by all parties, the withdrawal of soldiers and heavy weapons from cities, and the delivery of humanitarian assistance. Salehi said that other countries, especially regional countries, should help Annan’s plan come to fruition because otherwise the region will face a serious problem. He expressed hope that the countries which claim they care about the future of Syria would act in such a way that does not lead to regrettable consequences. Salehi added that if any incident occurs, all countries in the region will suffer its catastrophic consequences. He went on to say that Iran advises that the Syrian government be given enough time to advance Annan’s plan. The Syrian government, which recently held a parliamentary election, has announced that it is ready to hold talks with the opposition and this is in line with efforts to advance Annan’s plan, the Iranian foreign minister noted. Syrian voters turned out in large numbers on May 7 for a parliamentary election, which was seen as central to the Syrian government’s reform program. The election for the 250-member parliament was the first part of reforms Syria approved in February.