Syrian Authorities Ready to Meet With Opposition in Moscow: Damascus

MOSCOW, December 27 (Sputnik) — Syrian authorities are ready to meet with the opposition for reconciliation talks in Moscow, the Syrian Foreign Ministry said Saturday.

Syrian officials are ready to meet for talks in Moscow with representatives of the opposition, the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported, citing a statement by the country's foreign ministry.

The ministry underlined that the Syrian government had always been ready to engage in dialogue with those who respect the country's sovereignty and believe in the independence of its decisions.

In October, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called for resumption of reconciliation talks on Syria. Moscow later offered to host talks between the Syrian government and its opposition, noting, however, that the Moscow talks will not replace the Geneva reconciliation process and are aimed at paving the way for broader dialogue and producing a practical solution to end the violence.

Earlier this week, Majd Niazi, Secretary General of the Syria Homeland Party (Souria Al Watan) said that reconciliation talks between Syrian government and opposition representatives could begin in Moscow on January 22 or 26.

The Syrian civil war began in 2011 following an anti-government uprising. Syria's Armed Forces are currently fighting a number of insurgent groups, including Islamic State jihadists.