MOSCOW, February 10. /TASS/. Dialogue between the Syrian government and the Syrian Kurds is developing and constructive progress is seen here, with four rounds of talks held last year, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with the Izvestia daily on Friday.
"The Russian side is making efforts on promoting mutual understanding between the government of the Syrian Arab Republic and the Syrian Kurds in the interests of preserving a united Syria," Lavrov said.
Four rounds of these contacts were held with Russia’s mediation in June-December 2016, during which the Syrian government delegation held a direct or mediated dialogue with representatives of the Syrian Kurds, including with the leadership of self-defense militias, he said.
Moscow believes that this intra-Syrian dialogue is useful. "We note a serious potential for reaching agreements and this is confirmed by a significant number of common points in positions of the sides and constructive developments that we have seen of late," he added.
Russia’s top diplomat stressed that the Kurdish issue is "crucial for preserving the Syrian statehood and prospects of the all-encompassing stabilization in the Middle East."
"Our solid involvement in the region’s affairs, based on the interests of restoring stability there and eradicating the hotbed of international terrorism, envisages continuing efforts on assisting the searches for a necessary compromise that would allow all ethnic and religious groups of Syrian people to live in peace and accord and feel comfortable in a united country," Lavrov said.