Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called on Syrians to hold dialogue, as the opposition said that Moscow refused to shift its position on the Syrian crisis.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called on Syrians to hold dialogue, as the opposition said that Moscow refused to shift its position on the Syrian crisis.

Lavrov meeting Syrian opposition

Meeting the Istanbul Council delegation visiting Moscow, Lavrov said, "We want to understand the prospects of uniting opposition factions on the basis of dialogue with the Syrian Government according to the plan of UN Envoy to Syria Kofi Annan."

"Supporting Annan's plan emphasizes Russia's commitment to the necessity of ending violence with all its forms and from all sides as soon as possible, as well as moving to a dialogue in which the Syrian Government and all opposition factions take part," Lavrov added.

For its part, the opposition Syria National Council (SNC) said following the meeting it had failed to persuade Moscow to accept the idea that President Bashar al-Assad should cede power.

"We confirm, in the name of the Syrian opposition, that there cannot be talk of a solution until Assad quits power," SNC chief Abdel Basset Sayda told reporters after the meeting at the Russian foreign ministry.
"Russia has a different position on this issue," he added.

Burhan Ghalioun, SNC executive committee member and its former chief who held similar talks in Moscow last year, added that there was no sign of any change in the Russian position.
"We have not seen a development in the Russian position. I was here one year ago and the position has not changed," he told reporters.

‘OUTSIDE INTERVENTION’

SNC chief Abdel Basset Sayda

The Syrian National Council has repeatedly said it had “no patience” with the idea of a political transition that would include members of the current regime.

Sayda said the “best solution” would be outside intervention approved by the UN Security Council in which Russia would take part.
"Political negotiations and consultations only give Assad more time for a military solution to suppress the revolution," he said.

Meanwhile, SNC member Munzer Makhos said the opposition now understood the Russian position better after the talks.
"But Moscow has not changed its position. Moscow believes that Assad is still supported by the majority of the Syrian people," he said.