MOSCOW. Feb 26 (Interfax) - Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem assured his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, during negotiations in Moscow on Monday that his government is open to talks with the opposition.
"Muallem reaffirmed the readiness of the Syrian government for dialogue with various opposition structures in order to end violence, establish peace in Syria, and end the suffering of the Syrian people as soon as possible," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement posted on its website, www.mid.ru, on Monday.
"He thanked Russia for its position in support of the sovereignty and unity of Syria, its efforts to help overcome the crisis in a peaceful way, and its humanitarian relief," the statement said.
Lavrov said Russia was going to "build up humanitarian assistance to the stricken population of Syria," it said.
"Lavrov stressed that there is no alternative to dialogue between the Syrian government and opposition as stipulated in the final communique of June 20, 2012, of the Geneva meeting of the Action Group for Syria in order to end bloodshed as soon as possible and have the domestic conflict settled by the Syrians themselves without foreign interference," the statement said.
"It was pointed out that this would make it possible to normalize the situation and carry through reforms that would enable all strata and segments of Syrian society to live in peace and security in a free and democratic country," it said.