China backs Annan’s call for Iran’s involvement in Syria talks

TEHRAN, July 12 (MNA) – China has thrown its weight behind the call by Kofi Annan, the UN-Arab League joint special envoy on Syria, for Iran’ involvement in internationally-brokered talks meant to resolve the crisis engulfing the Arab country, Reuters reported. “China believes that the appropriate resolution of the Syria issue cannot be separated from the countries in the region, especially the support and participation of those countries that are influential on relevant sides in Syria,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin told reporters on Wednesday. Annan, during a joint press conference with Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi in Tehran on Tuesday, said, “My presence here proves that I believe Iran can play a positive role and should therefore be a part of the solution (to) the Syrian crisis.” UN Security Council veto-holders China and Russia have for the past year blocked efforts by Washington and its European and Persian Gulf Arab allies to take any external move to pressure the Syrian government.