ROSEMARY CHURCH, WORLD NEWS: The secretary-general of the United Nations is visiting Syria and has met with its presumptive president, Bashar al-Assad. CNN's Rula Amin reports of Kofi Annan's trip and his apparent agenda.</s>KOFI ANNAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voiceover): In Damascus, Kofi Annan met with Bashar al-Assad for an hour and a half; the focus of their discussions, southern Lebanon. UN officials say the meeting was extremely warm and friendly, and that they were impressed with Assad and the questions he asked. Assad renewed Syria's support for the UN role in Lebanon. He also voiced support for Lebanon's demand that Israel withdraw from all Lebanese land. Damascus is the last stop on the UN secretary-general's Mideast tour. UN officials say Syria's support for the UN role in Lebanon is crucial if UN troops are to carry out their duties. Syria's support is also critical if the Lebanese government is to extend its authority to the south of the country. Lebanon says it will not send its troops to the south until Israel has withdrawn from all of its land. Kofi Annan was hoping that by the time he leaves the region, Israel will have addressed what Lebanon says are Israeli violations on Lebanese soil. UN officials say, throughout his tour, Annan thanked all those who contributed to make the Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon a peaceful one, including Syria. Annan also stressed the need for the cooperation and support to continue. Rula Amin, CNN, Damascus.
Kofi Annan Meets with Presumptive New Syrian Leader