Annan optimistic about upcoming Syria talksJune 29, 2012 - 14:22 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - International mediator Kofi Annan said on Friday, June 29 he is "optimistic" that ministerial crisis talks on Syria's conflict being held on Saturday would produce an acceptable outcome, Reuters reported. "I think we are going to have a good meeting tomorrow (Saturday). I am optimistic," Annan told Reuters Television in Geneva as he arrived for preparatory discussions due to begin at 0900 GMT. The talks being held by foreign ministers of major powers and regional players in the Swiss city will end "with an acceptable result", he said, without giving details. Russia proposed changes on Thursday to his plan for a national unity government in Syria, despite initially supporting it, but the United States, Britain and France rejected the amendments, Western diplomats said. The suggested changes are related to Moscow's refusal to support the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, diplomats in New York said on condition of anonymity. Annan's spokesman Ahmad Fawzi told Reuters: "The talks are on course and the preparatory meeting is going ahead this morning (Friday)." Western and Arab diplomats said that the preparatory meeting of senior officials would be key to paving the way to consensus on the prickly issue of political transition in Syria. But Assad on Thursday dismissed the notion of any outside solution to the 16-month-old uprising against his rule. "We will not accept any non-Syrian, non-national model, whether it comes from big countries or friendly countries. No one knows how to solve Syria's problems as well as we do," Assad said. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Welcome to CaseKey 2024. Byblos Bank Armenia firmly stands by future innovators Strategic business cases, invaluable experience, innovative approaches and more than 25 events are in store for the participants of CaseKey 2024. Macron honors Charles Aznavour on 100th anniversary French President Emmanuel Macron has paid tribute to the memory of French-Armenian crooner Charles Aznavour. Blinken says U.S. reviewing a number of aid requests from Armenia He said the U.S. is reviewing the requests to determine what more it can do to increase its assistance to Armenia. At least 2 CSTO members participated in preparing 44-day war against Armenia – PM Nikol Pashinyan has declared that at least two CSTO member countries participated in preparations for the 44-day war against Armenia. |