Russia: FM Lavrov tells Syrian opposition “everyone has an interest” in peaceful settlement

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with Khaled Khoja, a top Syrian opposition leader, in Moscow on Thursday to find consensus on a political settlement. Lavrov stated that "everyone has an interest to put a barrier in the way of terrorism" and in finding a political settlement in Syria as soon as possible. Khoja, who was attending the meeting in his role as the President of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, said he was in Moscow to "explain the position of the National Coalition on the transitional period in the country". The Russian Foreign Minister affirmed that Moscow was keen to talk to "all political forces in Syria" so that a course of action can be coordinated.