Diplomatic Resolve to Syrian Crisis Possible, Russia Should Help - Italian FM

YEREVAN (Sputnik) — It is possible to resolve the Syrian crisis through diplomatic means, and Russia, along with other states, should facilitate this process, Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni said on Tuesday.

"We do not question the responsibility of Bashar Assad for the existing situation, but we do not doubt that there is a possibility of a diplomatic solution to the problem. Russia and other countries should find diplomatic ways to resolve the humanitarian crisis, particularly in the east of Aleppo," Gentiloni said at a joint press conference with Armenian counterpart Eduard Nalbandian.

Over recent months, Aleppo has been a major battleground in Syria, engaging government forces, jihadists, and numerous opposition groups. Militant-held eastern Aleppo is encircled by government forces and the fighting has affected thousands of civilians still trapped in the city.

Syria has been in a state of civil war since 2011, with government forces fighting the Syrian opposition groups striving to overthrow President Assad. In parallel, Damascus has to counter numerous extremist groups, in particular, the Islamic State (ISIL or Daesh), terrorist group outlawed in Russia.

Russia supports the current Syrian leader as the only legitimate authority, while the United States and the European Union, who has many of its states in the major US-led anti-terrorist coalition, is in favor of Assad's overthrow.

The US-led coalition has been conducting airstrikes on terrorists' positions in Syria without either UN Security Council approval, or Damascus' consent. In turn, Russia is behind a separate aerial campaign in Syria, which was started in September 2015 following a request from Assad.