Russian FM urges constructive efforts to settle Syria crisis

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday urged the international community to make constructive efforts to promote the political progress in the conflict-torn Syria.
"We welcomes any constructive efforts on international and regional level which would lead to the settlement of the conflict in Syria," Lavrov said to participants in the second round of intra-Syrian consultations in Moscow aimed at building up trust between the Syrian government and the opposition.
Representatives of the Assad regime and the opposition began their talks here from Monday with expectations that concrete agreement would be reached.
Earlier in the day, Lavrov expressed his regret that not all representatives of the Syrian opposition have come to Moscow for the dialogue.
"However polite their refusal has been, its essence remains the same," he said in an online statement.
"Russia will continue to promote peace in Syria, and we have been and will always be a friend to the Syrian people," the Russian top diplomat said as a show of Moscow's support.
However, he stressed that Russia is not seeking to "monopolize" international efforts to find political solution to the Syria crisis and called on all Russia's partners to facilitate the settlement "with no hidden geopolitical agenda and double standards."
"The settlement must be based on Syria's interests and the Geneva communique," he said.
The first round of intra-Syrian talks was held in Moscow on Jan. 26 to 29, which ended with the "Moscow Principles," calling for preserving Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity, ensuring security for all segments of the country and opposing any kind of external intervention.