Lavrov Urges Syria to Support Annan Mission

Russia said Friday it was using its contacts with the Syrian regime of President Bashar Assad to urge Damascus to fully cooperate with the mission of U.N.-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan.

Speaking ahead of a video conference Annan was to hold with the U.N. in New York later Friday on his mission to find a settlement to the crisis, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also said all the U.N. Security Council members had a duty to support his efforts.

"We are working with Kofi Annan on a day-to-day basis and are sending relevant signals to Damascus to ensure full cooperation with his mission by the Syrian leadership," Lavrov told a televised news conference.

He added: "We are expecting all members of the Security Council to support his efforts."

"This means that not only China and we should send Damascus a signal to fully cooperate with Kofi Annan's mission, but other Security Council members should also do their job and demand the opposition not provoke an escalation of the situation."

The U.N. Security Council should also urge the Syrian opposition to "fully cooperate with Kofi Annan and constructively respond to the proposals which it (his mission) puts forward," he added.

The former U.N. secretary general -- who met with Assad in Damascus earlier this month -- has said his talks were centered on the need for an immediate halt to the violence and killings, as well as access to humanitarian organizations and further dialogue.

Russia, along with China, infuriated the West by vetoing two U.N. Security Council resolutions condemning Assad's regime and has shown little inclination to shift its policy despite heavy Western and Arab pressure.

However some Western officials have detected a possible adjustment in tone from Russia in recent days, with Lavrov openly criticizing Assad's reluctance to swiftly embrace reform.