1 Jul 2012 15:55

Annan: negotiating process in Syria will begin after Assad steps down, appoints envoy

GENEVA. July 1 (Interfax) - The negotiating process to settle the conflict in Syria will begin when Bashar al-Assad steps down from the post of president and appoints a representative, UN/Arab League Envoy to Syria Kofi Annan said at a press conference following the Geneva conference on Syria.

At one of our meetings we agreed that when the time comes for me to ask him to leave the post and appoint a representative to continue the process and when he is prepared for that - that will be one of the first steps and then the process will begin, and we hope that the opposition will also appoint its own representative, and then the ball can be sent into the game, Annan said.