By Nabil Al Mulhem
Damascus
UN secretary general Kofi Annan did not convey any message from Israel to Syria during his overnight visit to the country, according to UN spokesman Fred Eckhard Friday.
Eckhard said in an exclusive statement to Albawaba.com that the UN chief’s visit, to conclude Friday, aimed at “bringing closer the views of each party regarding demarcation [of the Lebanon-Israeli borders.]”
The spokesman confirmed that “the UN secretary general has sensed a growing feeling of cooperation and support from Damascus,” and now he believes that “all problems are approachable now.”
The UN top man met Bashar Assad in his capacity “as the future leader of the country,” Eckhard told reporters Thursday.
Eckhard added to Albawaba.com that “Dr. Assad asked the secretary general many questions and listened attentively to him.”
Damascus is the final leg in Annan’s tour that has taken him to Iran, Lebanon and Amman.
Annan also met with foreign minister Farouq Shara, seeking support for his plans to maintain peace in south Lebanon, including the deployment of an enlarged UNIFIL contingent to the border, said the paper.
Eckhrad told reporters that Israel has promised to remove all violations in the border area with Lebanon, and that Annan hopes that this could be done before he leaves the region.
The UN chief was scheduled to visit the UN troops in the Quneitra area, liberated from Israel in 1973, but a change to the schedule has occurred, with no reasons given -- Albawaba.com
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