Putin regrets Annan’s resignation

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he regrets Kofi Annan’s resignation from the post of the UN and Arab League special envoy on Syria, but said he hopes the international community will keep trying to settle the situation in Syria, RIA Novosti reported.

“It is a great pity,” Putin said when asked to comment on Annan’s decision to quit the post.

Putin, who was on a one-day visit to London for talks with British Prime Minister David Cameron, told journalists: “Kofi Annan is a very worthy man, a brilliant diplomat and a very honest person, so I regret [the resignation] very much. But I hope the international community continues its efforts to stop the violence.”

Putin called the situation in Syria “a tragedy.”