Syrian President Bashar Assad expressed hope for a peaceful settlement of the country's political crisis during talks with Russian lawmakers.





MOSCOW (Sputnik) � Syrian President Bashar Assad said during�a meeting with�Russian lawmakers that he is positive on�the possibility of�a peaceful settlement of�the political crisis in�the country within�the framework of�the Geneva dialogue, Russian lawmaker Sergei Gavrilov told journalists Tuesday.
�Syrian President Bashar Assad positively assesses the possibility of�a peaceful settlement of�the situation in�Syria within�the framework of�the Geneva dialogue.�


The meeting addressed Russian support in�Syria's counterterrorist campaign, humanitarian deliveries to�the population and the Arab republic's economic revival, he added.


he meeting took place one day ahead of�parliamentary elections scheduled to�take place in�Damascus and several other Syrian cities. Gavrilov stressed that the upcoming vote would confirm the continuity of�legitimate Syrian leadership and contribute to�talks between�government and opposition delegates expected to�resume on�Wednesday in�Geneva.

The Russian lawmaker said Assad noted Russian President Vladimir Putin's popularity in�Syria.

In March, Assad said that Damascus would lean primarily on�Russia, China and Iran in�rebuilding the country after�five years of�destruction.

Syria has been mired in�civil war since�March 2011, with�government forces loyal to�Assad fighting numerous opposition factions and extremist groups such as�internationally banned Daesh and the Nusra Front.

The previous round�of Syrian talks in�Geneva finished on�March 24. The round�saw all delegations submit their settlement proposals to�Syrian Envoy for�Syria Staffan de Mistura, who then produced a final paper with�points of�convergence between�the parties.

The peace talks followed a Russian-US-brokered ceasefire deal reached on�February 27.

By Sputnik