Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 25 /. Trend A.Taghiyeva /
The Syrian authorities are ready for talks with the armed opposition, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said at a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, Al Arabiya TV channel reported on Monday.
In turn, Lavrov said that Russia's position on Syria is not due to the support of any personalities, but is dictated by concern for the fate of Syria, RIA Novosti said.
Anti-government protests have continued in Syria for more than a year and half. According to the UN, the total number of victims of the conflict in Syria exceeds 70,000. More than 230,000 have become refugees with around three million in need of humanitarian assistance. Syrian authorities say they oppose the well-armed militants.