Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed in a phone call with the UN envoy to Syria, Kofi Annan, the prospects of convening an international conference on Syria and the necessity of the participation of the main regional powers to ensure its success.

In a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that the conference aims at helping halt the violence in Syria and launching a political process through which the Syrians alone decide the future of their country.

The statement added that Lavrov and Annan stressed need for continuing efforts to implement Annan's plan and find ways to settle the crisis in Syria.

Lavrov voiced support for the UN supervision mission in Syria as an essential factor to achieve stability, calling on all sides to ensure the safety of the observers and to closely cooperate with them.

For his part, Annan stressed the importance of taking a coordinated international stance to settle the crisis in Syria.