Larsen arrives in Damascus

The UN announced that the special envoy for the UN secretary general in charge of implementing UN Security Council resolution 1559 Terry Rod Larsen met in Damascus on Sunday with the Syrian deputy foreign minister Walid al-Mu'allim.

The UN officer Najib Freji said that Larsen met with al-Mu'allim and that he is carrying a message from Annan over UN resolution 1559, issued by the UN secretary general concerning Lebanon. Freji added that Larsen will be meeting today in Damascus with the Syrian president Bashar al-Assad and the foreign minister Farouk al-Shara.

Upon his arrival in Damascus airport on Saturday Larsen said " for the first time as a personal envoy for the UN secretary general I carry a message to President al-Assad concerning resolution 1559." He added " I am looking forward for meetings with the Syrian officials and constructive talks with the Syrian side before I head for Lebanon to meet with the Lebanese officials. "