FM: Bashar-led Reforms, Iran's only Precondition To Back Annan Plan

Tehran, April 11, IRNA – Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said on Wednesday that Iran will support the peace plan offered by the UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan only if the reforms in Syria are implemented under the leadership of President Bashar al-Assad. In a joint press conference with the visiting UN-Arab League envoy, Salehi hoped Annan would fairly deal with the issue of Syria. Salehi called on all sides to help implement Annan’s six-point peace plan successfully as a gesture of goodwill. On Iran’s stands on Syria, Salehi said Tehran believes that the Syrian nation like any other world country is entitled to enjoy democracy, free elections and the constitution. He further said the Islamic Republic of Iran is against any foreign meddling in the internal affairs of Syria. He added any changes in Syria should be done by the Syrian government itself, not any other countries. Salehi said that the Syrian government should be given due time to undertake reforms. Kofi Annan arrived in Tehran Tuesday evening to confer with the Iranian officials on the issue of Syria./end