Russia to assist in political settlement of Syrian conflict despite obstacles: FM

MOSCOW, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Moscow is ready to assist in finding a political solution to the Syrian conflict, despite obstacles created by some sponsors of the Syrian opposition, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said here on Monday.

"There are lots of those who attempt to prevent (the conclusion of violence), including the outside sponsors of the so-called hard- line opposition," Lavrov told reporters before meeting Haytham Manna, coordinator of the National Coordination Committee (NCC) of Syria.

"We are convinced that the efforts to unite patriotic opposition on the platform of readiness for a dialogue ... contribute a lot to the process we want to conceive," said Lavrov, as quoted by a report posted on the Foreign Ministry's website.

The Russian diplomat said the Syrian government has also offered its proposals for a possible dialogue.

"Russia would like to facilitate the unification of these two processes," he said, stressing that Syria's political problems must be settled by the Syrians.

Lavrov called NCC "an influential force of the Syrian opposition" and supported its intentions for a political solution to the conflict, according to the report.

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