Russia has positively assessed the launching of national dialogue between the Syrian government and opposition as an initial step towards a final settlement to the current Syrian crisis. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that both sides sat at the negotiating table in spite of major differences, hailing UN-Arab Envoy for Syria Lakhdar Brahimi's efforts in this regard. Negotiations between the Syrian government and opposition factions handled several practical matters, including a solution to the humanitarian situation in Syria, it said, expecting that such a move would lead to the discussion of the country's future. However, it urged foreign parties to continue pushing Syrian negotiators to crystallize a compromise to their country's problems.