China regrets Kofi Annan's resignation: FM

UNITED NATIONS - Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan is stepping down as the UN-Arab League mediator in the 17-month-old Syria conflict at the end of the month, U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon said in a statement on Thursday.

UN-Arab League mediator Kofi Annan addresses a news conference at the United Nations in Geneva August 2, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]

"Mr. Annan has informed me, and the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Mr. Nabil Elaraby, of his intention not to renew his mandate when it expires on 31 August 2012," Ban said in a statement, adding that he and Elaraby were in discussions on appointing a successor to Annan.

"Kofi Annan deserves our profound admiration for the selfless way in which he has put his formidable skills and prestige to this most difficult and potentially thankless of assignments," Ban said.

The UN-Arab League Special Envoy Kofi Annan on Thursday said he was disappointed over the lack of progress in the Syrian peace process and that he would step down after his current mandate expires on August 31.

At a press conference held in Geneva, Annan, who took the job as Special Envoy for Syria about five months ago, said he had informed the UN and the Arab League earlier in the day his intention to not to continue for a second term.

Annan said without united international pressure, it is impossible for him and anyone else to compel the Syrian government and the Syrian opposition to take the steps necessary to begin the political process.

"The increasing militarization on the ground and the clear lack of unity in the Security Council have fundamentally changed the circumstances for the effective exercise of my role," Annan said, adding that he was frustrated at the "figure-pointing" and "name-calling" in the Security Council.

Annan also blamed the Syrian government for its "continued refusal" of the six-point peace plan and held the oppositions responsible for the escalation of military campaign.

"As an envoy, I can't want peace more than the protagonists, more than the Security Council, more than the international community for that matter," he said.

China expressed regret and understanding over Kofi Annan's decision to resign as UN-Arab League Special Envoy for the Syrian issue, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman said Thursday.

"We understand the difficulties Mr. Annan has encountered in negotiation work and we respect his decision," spokesman Hong Lei said, adding that China appreciates the active and constructive role Annan has played in pushing forward the political process of the Syrian issue.

Hong said China is committed to the peaceful, fair and appropriate resolution of the Syrian issue, and that the international community should stick to the political settlement of the issue.

"China is open to any proposal that can help politically solve the Syrian issue, and China supports the United Nations to continue to play an important role in achieving the resolution," Hong said.