Annan: "I would expect to go to Syria soon"

Joint U.N.-Arab League envoy to Syria Kofi Annan said late on Wednesday he hoped to be in Damascus "fairly soon" with a "clear" message that the killing in Syria must stop. Annan said after a meeting with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday evening "Every move is sensitive and highly political, but we are working it out and I would expect to go to Syria fairly soon." During the talks Ban Ki-moon warned that the situation in Syria is getting increasingly "tragic" and that the national community is urged to be in a mission to halt the killings in Syria. Syrian government as well should stop using violence against their people, Ban added. "We seek a cessation of violence that sets the stage for a peaceful solution - a solution that offers all the Syrian people, regardless of religion or ethnicity or political affiliation, a future of security, dignity and freedom," said Ban. Secretary-General noted to his request to Annan to go on a visit to Cairo after New York on Friday to meet with the Arab league Secretary General Nabil El Araby and to meet with Arab League chiefs. He said this visit would come before Annan would head to other Middle East countries, of which Damascus one of them, to call on all sides to move in a bid to help Annan's mission. Ban urged all Syrian authorities to show cooperation with Annan's assignment, expressing his disappointment for not giving permission to the humanitarian aid chief Valerie Amos to enter Syria, despite the clear need and the repeated commitment by the Syrian government to welcome her. He also reminded the Syrian authorities of their commitments towards their people according to the international humanitarian laws and human rights regulations. For his part, Annan said he is planning to meet with Syria's U.N. Ambassador Bashar Ja'afari. He further confirmed "The message is clear that the killing and violence must stop." "Humanitarian agencies must be given access to do their work ... (and) "there's a need for dialogue between all actors in Syria.", he said. Annan told reporters "It is extremely important that we all accept there should be one process of mediation -- the one that the UN and the Arab League have asked me to lead."