Syrian FM says his country is observing Annan cease-fire plan

(18 Apr 2012) 1. Wide of Syrian Foreign Minister''s vehicle parked outside Syrian Embassy
2. Close-up of Syrian flag on vehicle
3. Portrait of Syrian President Assad on wall
4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Walid Moallem, Syrian Foreign Minister:
"The Chinese and the Syrian positions are very close together. Both countries supported Annan''s mission, his six-point plan, and I explained to the Chinese colleague the importance of the United Nations (UN) observer to report about the ceasefire plan."
5. Paramilitary guard outside embassy
6. Delegates getting into vehicles
7. Wide of Moallem''s vehicle pulling away from embassy
8. Wide of Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Liu Weimin, walking in ++MUTE++
9. SOUNDBITE: (Mandarin) Liu Weimin, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman:
"China hopes the Syrian government will continue to carry out the six-point plan drawn up by UN special envoy, Kofi Annan, actively cooperate with his mediation efforts, and continue with their commitment to a ceasefire and withdrawal. We hope Syria can comply with the UN resolution of sending a monitoring group to Syria."
10. Wide of briefing room
11. Wide of Liu at podium
STORYLINE:
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem said on Wednesday his country was observing the cease-fire plan laid out by special envoy Kofi Annan, despite the regime''s continued assaults on rebel-held areas.
Moallem was speaking at a meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Yang Jiechi, in Beijing.
Moallem said the Syrian government would honour and implement its commitment to withdraw the army from cities and would cooperate with United Nations observers arriving in the country.
Speaking after the meeting, he said, "The Chinese and the Syrian position are very close together, both countries supported Annan''s mission, his six point plan, and I explained to the Chinese colleague the importance of the United Nations observer to report about the ceasefire plan."
Since a truce formally took effect last Thursday, Syria has violated key provisions.
Tanks, troops and widely feared plainclothes security agents have continued to patrol the streets to deter anti-regime protests, while the regime resumed its assault on Homs, Syria''s third largest city, over the weekend, after only a brief lull.
Moallem''s visit is the latest show of Chinese support for Damascus, despite Beijing''s tentative engagement with Syria''s opposition.
China, along with fellow United Nations Security Council member Russia, has shielded Syrian President Bashar Assad''s regime from UN sanctions over its deadly crackdown on a popular uprising, although it has supported Annan''s plan aimed at ending the violence and beginning talks on Syria''s political future.
Meanwhile, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Liu Weimin hoped Syria would comply with UN plan to send a monitoring team to areas of unrest.
"China hopes the Syrian government will continue to carry out the six-point plan drawn up by UN special envoy, Kofi Annan, actively cooperate with his mediation efforts, and continue with their commitment to a ceasefire and withdrawal," Liu said.
Liu said Vice Premier Li Keqiang would visit Russia later this month, with Syria likely to be on the agenda.

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