EU asks Russia to work together for Syria peace

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ST. PETERSBURG, Russia, June 4 (www.tingvoa.com) -- The European Union (EU) and Russia should work together to find common approaches to the Syrian crisis, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy said here on Monday.

Admitting that the EU and Russia might have some diverging¹ assessments² on the crisis, Van Rompuy stressed that both sides fully³ agree with the peace plan tabled by UN/Arab League envoy⁴ Kofi Annan.

We fully agree that the Annan plan as a whole provides the best opportunity to break the cycle of violence in Syria, avoiding a civil war, and in finding a peaceful lasting⁵ solution, Van Rompuy told a press conference after the 29th Russia-EU summit.

He also urged the Syrian government to immediately cease the violence and provide its full support to the UN Supervision⁶ Mission in the country.

Russian President Vladimir Putin made no comments on Syria at the same press conference.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Sunday that unfolding events in Syria demonstrated that there is no alternative to Annan's peace plan, vowing⁷ that Moscow will maintain contacts with Syrian authorities and the opposition⁸ to facilitate a substantive⁹ political dialogue.

During the Russia-EU summit on Monday, the two sides also exchanged views on bilateral¹⁰ relations, visa-free travel, energy cooperation and hot international affairs.