MOSCOW, December 16. /TASS/. The idea of holding intra-Syrian contacts in Moscow at the end of January 2015 remains on the agenda and Russia hopes it will be implemented, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said in reply to a question from TASS.

“We have put forward the idea. It is on the table. We are working with opposition groups in Syria. It is to be hoped the idea will be implemented soon,” Gatilov said.

He added that the UN and LAS special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, would go ahead with his efforts.

“We support what he has been doing: his efforts and his idea of ‘local truces.’ It is correct. It may be a good starting point for the beginning of the process of stabilization in the country and for launching the negotiations,” Gatilov said.