He is due to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov tonight, and President Vladimir Putin, tomorrow.

 

Annan’s visit is taking place amid the discussion at the UN Security Council of two draft resolutions on Syria. The Russian draft provides for an extension of the UN monitor mission mandate by three months, while according to the western countries’ draft, the mandate should be prolonged by 45 days.

 

The western draft also contains a threat of sanctions to be slapped on Damascus, which Russia and China are opposed to. 

 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and the UN and Arab League special envoy Kofi Annan are due to meet in Moscow today to take up prospects for a Syrian crisis settlement.

 

Experts feel the parties will first and foremost concentrate on the situation at the UN Security Council as regards the issue.

 

Russia has submitted a draft resolution providing for an extension of the UN monitor mission mandate in Syria for another three months.

 

The current mandate expires this coming Saturday, July 21st . But the western countries have submitted their own draft suggesting that the monitors’ mandate be limited by 45 days. The western draft also features threats to slap sanctions on Damascus.

 

Meanwhile, the situation in Syria remains very tense.