The international community should give the Syrian authorities time for reforms, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said on Thursday.
"The Syrian authorities have already made a few steps toward implementing the declared reform, and need more time to continue," Lukashevich said.
He said Moscow still thought it should be up to the Syrians themselves to resolve the crisis situation, without any external interference, within the law, and without violence against civilians in search of national accord on the basis of a broad dialogue.
Lukashevich said the situation in Syria remains tense and the authorities' attempts to pursue reforms have proved useless so far in stopping the violence.
Unrest in Syria began in mid-March and has swept the northwestern and western parts of the country and the area near the capital Damascus.
At least 1,200 people have been killed in protests, according to the opposition and human rights champions. The Syrian authorities have put the blame on gunmen relying on the support from outside the country.
MOSCOW, June 9 (RIA Novosti)
