MOSCOW, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Russia supports an independent and undivided Syria, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday, urging Damascus not to give in to provocation from peace settlement opponents.
"Russia is in favor of an independent and undivided Syria where all people live in peace, stability and democracy," Lavrov told reporters before his talks with visiting Syrian counterpart Walid al-Mualem.
Lavrov warned that Syria could be destroyed unless the Syrians find a way to resolve the domestic conflict without external interference.
"Syrians possess the power to resolve their own issues without external interference," he said, stressing that the situation in Syria was at a critical point, with the escalation of the conflict threatening the disintegration of the Syrian state.
The foreign minister added that Russia's position on Syria stems from its concern for the Syrian people, and not the fate of President Bashar al-Assad, although Moscow is concerned that the Syrian president's forced departure would aggravate the conflict.
More and more political forces favor political settlement of the Syrian crisis. "There are sensible forces that are becoming increasingly aware of the need for an early start of negotiations and a political settlement," Lavrov said.
Russia on Friday accused the United States of double standards on the 23-month Syrian conflict which, according to the United Nations, has left more than 70,000 people dead.
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