MOSCOW. Dec 14 (Interfax) - Moscow is taking into consideration a dialogue with the moderate Syrian opposition in the course of the operation that the Russian Aerospace Forces are conducting in Syria, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said.
"Moderate forces that have not been seen to maintain ties with terrorists and extremists can be partners in a dialogue, and the Russian Aerospace Forces take this dialogue into consideration in conducting their operation there," Peskov told journalists.
Russia is maintaining a dialogue and contact with some Syrian opposition members, Peskov said, when asked what President Vladimir Putin implied when he said at an expanded session of the Russian Defense Ministry board, that Russia was helping the Free Syrian Army.
Putin said earlier on Friday that the Russian military was facilitating cohesion between the Syrian government forces and the Free Syrian Army, which is conducting offensive operations.
"A number of units with a total strength exceeding 5,000 people, and regular troops, are on the offensive against terrorists in the governorates of Homs, Hama and Aleppo. In addition, we are providing them, as well as the Syrian army, with air support, and we are also helping them with weapons, ammunition and materiel. On the whole, the Russian military group's actions deserve praise," Putin said.