Russia proposes Syria conference, backs Annan plan

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov Saturday proposed an international conference on Syria and reiterated Russia's support for a peace plan brokered by UN-Arab League joint special envoy to Syria Kofi Annan.

Speaking at a news conference, Lavrov said an international conference on Syria should become the "only framework" toward solving the crisis in Syria and the only platform to implement the UN Security Council resolutions on Syria.

Comparing the Russia-initiated Syria conference with the "Friends of Syria" group conference, Lavrov said the latter was in fact made up by friends of the Syria National Council and other opposition groups, while concerned players backing the Annan plan should "consolidate within" the former and speed up joint efforts to end the crisis.

Russia intended to include Iran in the Syria conference since the country could have influence on the Syrian government, Lavrov said. Calling Iran as part of the problem and not part of the solution was "thoughtless," he said.

Lavrov said Russia sees no alternative to the Annan plan and suggested to make it more "detailed" and "specified."

Meanwhile, Russia would not allow the Security Council to approve military intervention in Syria, which could lead to "the gravest consequences for the entire Middle Eastern region," he said.