Syria promises to support Annan's mission

DAMASCUS - Syria on Thursday criticized the Arab League (AL) summit statement as "biased decisions," but promised to make all efforts to make Annan's mission a success.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said in a letter sent to leaders of the five-nation BRICS bloc that his country has accepted UN-Arab League joint envoy Kofi Annan's six-point proposal, and would exert all efforts to make his mission a success.

In the letter, Assad said Syria would soon start a national dialogue involving all spectra of the Syrian people, who are working to restore stability and security to the unrest-torn country.

He explained the steps taken by the Syrian government to introduce reforms in the country and restore security and stability.

Assad stressed that in order to make Annan's mission successful, there should be concentration on halting all kinds of support to terrorism in Syria, especially by countries whose officials have declared their financing and arming of the armed terrorist groups in Syria.

In return for his government's commitment to Annan's initiative, he noted, there should be guarantees from other parties to halt all terrorist attacks.

Earlier the week, Annan said Syria has accepted his six-point plan, which includes commitments to end the violence, allow humanitarian assistance and permit protests.

Meanwhile, Syria's official SANA news agency criticized a statement issued Thursday at the end of the AL summit in Baghdad, saying the summit has made "biased decisions inspired by agendas of the Gulf sheikhdoms."

SANA said the statement ignored the terrorism against the Syrian citizens.

"In its statement, the summit stressed concern and keenness on Syria's stability and unity and to avoid foreign military intervention, however it stressed and called on the UN Security Council to shoulder its responsibilities toward Syria and that means an overt invitation for foreign intervention in Syria's affairs," said SANA.

Earlier in the day, the Arab leaders wrapped up the AL summit after approving the final statement, in which they called on the Syrian government to immediately stop violence, withdraw forces, and start talks with the opposition based on Annan's six-point peace plan, which should be implemented fully and immediately.

They pledged to adhere to a political solution and national dialogue away from foreign intervention, and called on the Syrian opposition to close ranks and prepare to start serious dialogue.

As a response to Assad's message, the five BRICS countries said in the Delhi Declaration that they called for dialogue to resolve the Syria crisis and "an immediate end to all violence and violations of human rights in that country."

On the same day, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev called on the AL member states to join forces to promote the rapid cessation of bloodshed in Syria, find a solution that is acceptable to everyone and launch dialogue between the Syrian authorities and the opposition.

Also on Thursday, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said Tehran opposes any intervention by foreign forces in Syria's internal affairs, and supports reforms in Syria.