SOCHI (Bocharov Ruchei). July 24 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has called on the Syrian government and the armed opposition to begin talks on mutually acceptable compromises.
"The Syrian government and the so-called armed opposition should launch a negotiating process and organize it in such a way as to enable them to agree upon mutually acceptable compromises for the country's future," Putin told reporters after talks with Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti.
He believes that Syria's future should be decided through negotiations and compromises, and not through a military defeat or military victory of either of the sides.
"Both the government and the armed opposition must stop violence and begin talks on their country's future," Putin said.