Russian FM: UN Security Council responsible for Syria peace plan

 April 2, 2012 - 20:19 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Peace envoy Kofi Annan's plan for ending the violence in Syria should be judged by the United Nations Security Council and not by the Friends of Syria group, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said during the meeting with Yerevan State University Students.

"Now that Annan was given a mandate from the Security Council, the latter will decide as to those to implement Annan's proposals," Lavrov said.

According to Russian official, Friends of Syria group cannot be viewed as a replacement to UN Security Council.

Russia declined to participate in the Friends of Syria summit in Istanbul on April 1. Moscow supports implementation of the Annan Plan, which has received the backing of all members of the UN Security Council.

The plan proposed by UN special envoy to Syria calls for a UN-monitored end to the violence in Syria, provision of humanitarian assistance to those in need and launch an inclusive political dialogue. The proposals were unanimously supported by the UN Security Council on March 21.