Russia on Thursday called on the West to facilitate the UN-Arab League envoy to Syria Kofi Annan’s mission, and not to undermine it through ultimatums and threats.

International Envoy Kofi Annan’s spokesman expected Thursday that the Syrian government and the so-called opposition will fully implement a ceasefire agreement by April 12.

"What we expect on April 10 is that the Syrian government will have completed its withdrawal from populated centers ... and then we begin a 48-hour period during which there will be a complete cessation of all forms of violence by all parties," AFP quoted Ahmad Fawzi as saying.

So the clock starts ticking on the 10th on both sides to cease all forms of violence," he added before a group of reporters, indicating that “the Syrian regime has told Annan that it has begun withdrawing troops from some parts of the country.”

“We are in the process of verification," he further stated.

In parallel, AFP reported that “an advance team dispatched by Annan to pave the way for peacekeepers is expected to arrive in Damascus today.”

“They will begin discussing with the Syrian authorities the modalities of the eventual deployment of this UN supervision and monitoring mission," Fawzi explained.

For its part, Russia called on the West earlier Thursday to facilitate Annan's mission, and not to undermine it through ultimatums and threats.

"Russia proceeds from a deep conviction that any steps around Syria should be aimed at facilitating the success of UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan's mission", Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

"The Syrian government has accepted his proposals, has begun implementing them, and it is very important right now not to undermine this process through ultimatums and threats and unfortunately there are those who'd like to do that”, the Russian FM told reporters during a visit to the ex-Soviet Central Asian nation of Kyrgyzstan.

"Russia can back the UN Security Council document on Syria if it facilitates the implementation of Kofi Annan's plan”.

"When we debate the document at the Security Council we will proceed from the principle 'do no harm' ", he said in the capital Bishkek.

"If we manage to work out a consensus which would be aimed at facilitating Kofi Annan's efforts and not using the Security Council for threats and ultimatums that could provoke tensions... if this happens when we vote then it would not be bad".

"But we will see, this does not depend only on us", Lavrov added.

The implementation of Annan's plan is to be in April 10. The plan calls on all sides in Syria to halt violence and to work on an inclusive political process, as well as a daily two-hour humanitarian ceasefire and access to all areas affected by the fighting in the country.