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Damascus ready for dialogue, committed to Annan plan, ambassador

The ambassador reiterated the Syrian leadership’s commitment to the Annan plan, readiness to start the an inter-Syrian political dialogue in the interests of all Syrian

MOSCOW, July 2 (Itar-Tass) — Damascus is ready to start inter-Syrian political dialogue and reiterates its commitment to the Joint Special Envoy of the United Nations and the League of Arab States for the Syrian Crisis, Kofi Annan’s plan, Syrian Ambassador to Russia Riayd Haddad said.

“The ambassador reiterated the Syrian leadership’s commitment to the Annan plan, including readiness to start the an inter-Syrian political dialogue in the interests of all Syrians,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said after a meeting between Haddad and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, who is also the Russia president’s special envoy for the Middle East.

Haddad thanked Russia for “the consistent stance in favour of the speediest end of violence in Syria and prevention of foreign armed interference, as well as for restoration of peace, security and calm in Syria”.

Bogdanov informed the ambassador about the results of the ministerial meeting in Geneva on June 30. “The Russian side stressed that the final document approved by its participants, in our opinion, opens up prospects for effective international assistance to a peaceful settlement in Syria on the basis of concerted steps and measures to be taken by the sides to ensure full implementation of the Annan plan and support the U.N./LAS special envoy’s efforts to launch and carry out the political process by the Syrians,” the ministry said.

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