Arab League envoy Kofi Annan is to return to Syria “soon” for talks on boosting his floundering peace plan for the conflict-stricken country, his spokesman said Friday. Diplomats said Annan would go to Damascus early next week. Annan's spokesman, Ahmad Fawzi, said only that the special envoy will travel to Syria “soon” to continue efforts to find a peaceful solution to the crisis. “We have almost finalized the date,” Fawzi said, without giving further details for security reasons. Annan is to brief the UN Security Council Wednesday his efforts to end the conflict. Fawzi said one of Annan's deputies, Jean-Marie Guehenno, returned from Syria Thursday after a six-day visit. During his visit Guehenno, a former UN peacekeeping chief, met representatives from all parties but did not meet President Bashar Al-Assad, the spokesman said. Annan went to Damascus on March 10-11 to meet Assad who later agreed a six-point peace plan. Annan and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon have said repeatedly that while the presence of UN observers has reduced the violence, no part of the plan has been completely met by the government or opposition. Ban, who said this week that the Syria crisis is now at a “pivotal moment”, will be in Turkey Wednesday and Thursday for talks with Prime Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Tens of thousands of Syrian refugees are now in Turkey, which has taken a strong line against Assad. Ban will also visit Saudi Arabia. He is scheduled to meet Saudi leaders including King Abdullah in Jeddah on June 2 and will co-chair an advisory board meeting of the newly established UN counter-terrorism center the following day.
