Iran, UN-AL envoy urge resolving Syrian issue in peaceful way

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (R) meets with the joint special representative of the United Nations and the Arab League (AL) to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi (L) in Tehran, Oct 14, 2012. [Photo/Xinhua]

TEHRAN - Iranian Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi and the UN-Arab League (AL) joint special envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi called on Sunday for resolving the Syrian issue in a peaceful way.

Talking at a joint press conference with Brahimi, Salehi said Iran is optimistic that the envoy's experience in resolving the world issues and the assistance of regional states and other influential countries could help find a peaceful resolution to Syrian issue.

Iran emphasizes that the Syrian people should enjoy freedom of elections and the establishment of a parliament and a constitution based on the vote of people, said the foreign minister.

The Syrian government has repeatedly announced its readiness to respond to his people's demands, he said.

"Mr. Brahimi and we share the point that, prior to any measure (to be implemented in Syria), violence and killings should be stopped," Salehi said, adding that "We should, hand-in-hand, help stop the confrontations and bloodshed" in the Arab state.

Iran is fully prepared to cooperate with Brahimi to settle the issue in Syria, he added.

For his part, Brahimi said the UN and the AL are cognizant about the importance and sensitivity of the Syrian crisis and emphasize an urgent solution to the current situation in the country.

The UN calls for stopping the violence in Syria and asks the opposition groups to respond positively to this initiative, Brahimi said.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon also calls for stopping the flow of arms to all the parties involved in the Syrian conflict and wants all the countries, which enjoy good relations with the sides, to help stop bloodshed in the crisis-ridden country, said Brahimi.

Brahimi, who arrived in the Iranian capital of Tehran Sunday, will hold talks with other Iranian high-ranking officials, including Saeed Jalili, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, on Syria.

He has visited Saudi Arabia and Turkey recently and is expected to talk with Iraqi officials on Syria in Baghdad on Monday.

Last month, Salehi expressed Tehran's readiness to assist Brahimi in his mission to restore peace in Syria.

The joint special representative of the United Nations and the Arab League (AL) to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi (L) and Iranian Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi attend a joint press conference in Tehran, Iran, on Oct 14, 2012. [Photo/Xinhua]