Kofi Annan believes that the "stalemate" in Syria can still be overcome if all sides are prepared for "genuine compromise." dpa reported
The outgoing international peace envoy for Syria, writing in the Financial Times (FT) Friday, urged Russia, China and Iran to make "concerted efforts to persuade Syria's leadership to change course and embrace a political transition."
The United States, Britain, France, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar should press the opposition in Syria to embrace a "fully inclusive political process."
"It is clear that (President) Bashar al-Assad must leave office."
"Syria can still be saved from the worst calamity," he wrote. But this would require "courage of leadership, most of all from the permanent members of the Security Council, including from presidents Vladimir Putin and Barack Obama," Annan wrote.