Russian initiative 'serious step' to solve Syrian crisis

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad (R) meets Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov in Damascus December 10, 2014 in this picture released by Syria's national news agency SANA. [Photo/Agencies]

DAMASCUS -- Russia's recent efforts to hold a dialogue bringing together representatives of the Syrian government and opposition parties have been deemed positive towards figuring out a political solution to the country's long-running conflict, according to Syrian politicians.

"The Russian initiative or ideas that have been put forward recently are good for discussions and even for implementation and thus Syria hasn't closed the door before them," Sharif Shehadeh, a Syrian legislator, told Xinhua on Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, the state news agency SANA cited official Russian media as stating that a four-day meeting is scheduled to be held between representatives of the Syrian government and opposition parties in Moscow by the end of January.

Earlier this month, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told ITAR-TASS that the opportunities to resume dialogue on the crisis in Syria were being improved, expressing optimism to launch a dialogue between the Syrians.

"I think that we must welcome any initiative that could eventually serve the interest of the Syrian people and help uproot terrorism," Shehadeh said, noting that such dialogue would expose the real intentions of the opposition.

However, he lashed out at the western-backed opposition parties in exile, who emerged single-minded on changing the regime in Syria as a prelude to any solution to the crisis.

The Syrian government regards the stubbornness of the exiled opposition as the major hindrance to reach a political solution in previous internationally-backed conferences and meetings, namely the Geneva meetings which were held earlier this year.

Meanwhile, Anas Joudeh, deputy head of the oppositional Building Syria State Party, told Xinhua that the Russian initiative reflects the seriousness of Moscow towards reaching a political solution to the Syrian crisis.