The Syrian Opposition should be encouraged to participate in Government work to help a dialogue that can lead to new elections being held in the country, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin said on Friday.
Speaking to Russia’s top economic forum, Putin said that creating a new Government that will have the trust of most of Syria’s population is key to ending the five-year conflict. He said that this goal can only be achieved through drafting a new constitution and holding new elections.
Putin said that Syrian President Bashar Assad, who visited Moscow last year, has pledged to help achieve that.
“There is nothing more democratic than elections,” Putin said.