Russia highly appreciates the efforts exerted by Saudi Arabia to meet its commitment to the International Syria Support Group to hold a meeting of the Syrian opposition in Riyadh, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement Thursday.

Despite the strenuous efforts exerted by Saudi Arabia, it failed to gather all Syrian opposition groups in the Riyahd meeting, a matter which had a ripple impact on the meeting, read the statement.

Most of Syrian opposition groups which boycotted the meeting said they would not sit on a table with terrorists and extremists, the statement said, stressing Russia's insistence on excluding terrorists from the Syrian political process.

All international players agreed that it is only the Syrians who have the right to decide their nation's fate, added the statement.

Last week, Syrian opposition groups convened in the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh to pursue peace talks.

Saudi Arabia was seeking to unite the Syrian opposition before potential talks with the government of President Bashar al Assad.

It is the first time most of the main rebel groups have been involved in peace moves since the conflict began about four years ago.

Sources: MENA