MOSCOW. July 13 (Interfax) - Russia will call on UN-Arab League Envoy for Syria Kofi Annan, who is due to visit Moscow soon, to step up his work with the Syrian opposition.
"If the truth be told, we do not see our partners' readiness to work with the opposition as vigorously as Russia. Kofi Annan is the top negotiator in this process. Regrettably, we have not yet seen any practical results of his contacts and his team's contacts with the opposition," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov told Interfax.
Annan ought to intensify his efforts and work with Damascus, primarily with the opposition, he said.
During Annan's visit to Moscow at the beginning of next week, Russia plans to reaffirm its "political support for his efforts and his plan aimed at settling the crisis in Syria by political and diplomatic methods," Gatilov said.
"We remain convinced that this plan offers the sole viable platform for tackling problems inside Syria. The plan was subsequently confirmed and received a follow-up in the Geneva communique dated June 30," the deputy minister said.