Syria FM hints at talks with armed rebels

Syria’s foreign minister has said his government is ready to hold talks with all parties, including armed rebels who want dialogue to end the conflict.

Walid al-Muallem made the comments on Monday in Moscow ahead of talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.

“We are ready for dialogue with all who want dialogue, including those who are carrying arms,” Muallem said, in an apparent reference to the rebels battling the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

“We still believe in a peaceful solution to the Syrian problem,” said Muallem, pointing to the creation of a government coalition that would negotiate with both the “external and internal opposition”.

Al Jazeera’s Charlie Angela, reporting from Moscow, said that the minister’s comments were “encouraging” because they came before the talks began.

“Here in Moscow, it is going to be seen as quite an achievement, especially after the disappointment that the Syria’s opposition [leader] Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib rejected an invitation for talks,” she said.

Syria ‘crossroads’

Lavrov said alongside Muallem that there was no alternative to a political solution to the two-year conflict agreed through talks.

“There is no acceptable alternative to a political solution achieved through agreeing positions of the government and the opposition,” said Lavrov.

“We are for Syria to be independent, united, and for all Syrian citizens, regardless of their religion, to live freely in peace and democracy.

“The Syrian people should decide their fate without external intervention,” said Lavrov.

Lavrov added that the situation in Syria was “at the crossroads” but expressed optimism that a negotiated solution could be found.

“There are those who have embarked on a course of further bloodshed that risks the collapse of the state and society,” Lavrov said.

“But there are also sensible forces who are increasingly aware of the necessity to begin the talks as soon as possible to reach a political settlement.

“The number of supporters of such a realistic line is growing,” said Lavrov.

Positive signs

Lavrov had said last week there were positive signs from both sides that they were willing to talk peace but called on the regime of Assad to turn oft-stated words about its readiness for dialogue into deeds.

The the United Nations estimates 70,000 people have been killed since the conflict began in March 2011.

Fighting has intensified in the last days as both sides press for the military advantage.

Russia has also been working on agreeing a trip to Moscow, possibly in early March, by opposition leader al-Khatib.

But the rebels have now pulled out of talks with foreign powers in protest at the international community’s inability to halt the bloodshed.