Moscow supports the appointment of former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan as the UN and Arab League envoy for the crisis in Syria, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said on Friday, February 23, RIA Novosti reported.

“We expect that the activity of this authoritative politician will contribute to solving the pressing political and humanitarian issues in Syria on the basis of work with all parties in the interest of peace through inclusive political dialogue between the Syrian government and the opposition,” Lukashevich said in a statement. “Russia is ready for close cooperation with him in the search for mutually acceptable solutions to these issues,” the spokesman added.

The United Nations and the Arab League have appointed Kofi Annan as their Joint Special Envoy to deal with the crisis in Syria, the UN reported on its website.

In a joint statement, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Arab League Secretary General Nabil El-Araby said Annan will serve as their high-level representative on the crisis in Syria, and will be supported by an Arab deputy, to be chosen later.

Syria has been the scene of continuous anti-government protests for nearly a year. According to the UN, more than 5,400 people have died in the unrest.