West is to blame for Annan’s resignation: Iran

TEHRAN,Aug.4(MNA) – Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said on Friday that the blame for the resignation of Kofi Annan, the UN-Arab League joint special envoy on Syria, lies with certain Western and regional countries. Salehi made the remarks in response to White House Press Secretary Jay Carney who said on Thursday, “Annan’s resignation highlights the failure at the United Nations Security Council of Russia and China to support meaningful resolutions against Assad that would have held (Syrian President Bashar) Assad accountable for his failure to abide by his commitments under the Annan plan.” Annan, who formerly served as secretary of the United Nations, announced on Thursday that he would leave office when his appointment expires on August 31. Annan, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, had put forward a six-point plan for ending the crisis in Syria, which calls for a UN-supervised ceasefire by all parties, the withdrawal of soldiers and heavy weapons from cities, and the delivery of humanitarian assistance. Announcing his resignation, Annan said, “The bloodshed continues, most of all because of the Syrian government’s intransigence, and continuing refusal to implement the six-point plan, and also because of the escalating military campaign of the opposition - all of which is compounded by the disunity of the international community.” He added, “At a time when we need - when the Syrian people desperately need action - there continues to be finger-pointing and name-calling in the Security Council.” Salehi said that the Americans are diverting attention from the realities on the ground, adding, “It was Western countries and certain regional states that did not want Mr. Annan’s plan to succeed because if the plan had succeeded, they would not have achieved their purposes.” Commenting on a meeting of the Action Group on Syria, which was held in Geneva on June 30 without Iran’s participation, Salehi stated, “Mr. Annan… had repeatedly announced that the resolution of the Syrian issue was not possible without the involvement of key players.” He added, “In Kofi Annan’s plan, the resolution of the Syrian issue through a Syrian-Syrian (solution) and without the imposition of views from outside had been emphasized, but (certain) Western countries and a number of regional states are under an illusion and are seeking to remove Mr. Assad from office and bring an unknown government to power.” Asked what will happen to the six-point plan, Salehi said, “Mr. Kofi Annan’s plan is still there because it is the best plan on the table.” The Iranian foreign minister praised Annan for his impartial handling of the Syrian issue and expressed hope that his successor would take an independent stance toward the crisis in the Arab country. He added that if an envoy who has aligned himself with the West assumes the post, he will not succeed because the other side will not cooperate with him.