Annan to Moscow Sunday, Beijing Tuesday

Local Editor

Russian Foreign Ministry announced Friday that UN Special Envoy to Syria Kofi Annan is set to hold talks in Moscow on Sunday.

A statement issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry clarified that "Annan will meet Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov."
"Talks with Annan will focus on formulating a peaceful settlement for the situation in Syria, which is the Special Envoy's primary task," it added.

The statement stressed that "Moscow places great significance on the upcoming communications with Annan," pointing out that "Russia supported entrusting him with this task since the beginning due to his political experience."

Earlier on Friday, Annan's spokesman Ahmad Fawzi said that the Special Envoy is set to meet Medvedev and Lavrov on Sunday in Moscow, and will head to Beijing afterwards.

For its part, Chinese foreign ministry declared that Annan will visit the country on the coming Tuesday and Wednesday.
"Chinese leaders will receive Mr. Annan, and officials from the foreign ministry will hold in-depth discussions with him," said spokesman Hong Lei in comments on the foreign ministry website, but did not give the names of the people who would meet Annan.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by moqawama.org