EU High Representative Catherine Ashton spoke by phone Monday night with Kofi Annan, the UN-League of Arab States Special Envoy for Syria. Ashton\'s spokesman Michael Mann said in a statement Tuesday that they discussed the situation in Syria and \"the High Representative wished Mr Annan success in his important mission under very difficult circumstances, and reaffirmed the EU\'s full support for his challenging task.\" Annan informed the EU foreign policy chief of his plans to visit the region in the next few days. \"The High Representative stressed that the whole international community should back and rally behind the Special Envoy to lead diplomatic efforts,\" added the statement.