Iran Welcomes Russia's Conference on Ally Syria
Iran on Tuesday welcomed a Russian proposal on holding an international conference on Syria aimed at saving a faltering peace plan for that country's conflict.
"We support any method which helps positive talks between the government and the opposition in an appropriate environment, and also suitable reform actions for realizing the people's ambitions," Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast told reporters at a weekly press briefing.
Russia has proposed holding a multi-nation conference on Syria to shore up mediator Kofi Annan's tattered peace plan for the 15-month conflict that monitors say has claimed more than 14,000 lives.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, whose country enjoys close commercial and military ties with Tehran, has pressed for Iran to be included despite strong reservations from the United States, France and Britain.
"All nations should exert effort in the Syrian matter so it can attain appropriate results... The solution is internal and should be carried out without foreign intervention. Annan's plan should be helped," Mehmanparast said.
Annan said last week he was holding talks on bringing together world and regional powers to put pressure on Syria's leader, President Bashar al-Assad, and that he hoped Iran would be part of the "solution".
Tehran has repeatedly voiced its backing for Annan's six-point peace plan for Syria, calling it the only way to end the crisis.
Source: Agence France Presse
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