MOSCOW. Feb 25 (Interfax) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has urged the Syrian authorities not to give in to provocations of peace settlement opponents.
"The number of supporters of the realistic course is growing. Forces wishing to fight till the end realize that; they are trying to smother positive trends in the ranks of the opposition and to prevent steps towards the dialogue," Lavrov said before the Moscow meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Mualem on Monday.
"The need for the Syrian authorities' consistent promotion of the dialogue and rejection of provocations grows manifold under these circumstances," Lavrov said.