Annan urges end to violence in Syria

“I believe there should be no preconditions for stopping violence,” Annan said in a press conference on Tuesday.

The former UN secretary general made the remarks after visiting refugee camps on the Syrian border in the southern Turkish province of Hatay.

“I again appeal to the Syrian government and the Syrian parties to cease violence in accordance (with) the plan,” Annan said, referring to a six-point plan he proposed to Damascus in March.

On April 5, Annan’s spokesperson Ahmad Fawzi said, “What we expect on April 10 is that the Syrian government will have completed its withdrawal from populated centers.”

The withdrawal was part of the six-point plan.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem said on Tuesday, “We have already withdrawn forces and army units from several Syrian provinces.”

Muallem made the remarks in a joint press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow.

The Syrian foreign minister also stated “despite all these positive measures we noticed on a daily basis the escalation of opposition by the armed terrorist gangs.”

On April 8, the Syrian Foreign Ministry said Kofi Annan had not presented “written guarantees” that armed groups will accept to stop violence in the country.

Head of the so-called Free Syrian Army Riyadh al-Asaad said hours after the Foreign Ministry statement was issued that the armed group will present its guarantees and commitments to “the international community, but not to this (Syrian) regime.”

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on March 6 the Syrian people have “proven their capacity to defend the nation and to build a new Syria through their determination to pursue reforms along with the fight against foreign-backed terrorism.”

HSN/JR/IS

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