DAMASCUS, SANA_ National Conference for Rescuing Syria kicked off in Damascus on Sunday with the participation of more than 20 opposition parties, currents and groups.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Russian Ambassador in Damascus Azamat Kulmukhametov stressed the need for finding a peaceful solution to the crisis in Syria by the Syrians themselves away from any foreign intervention which includes the halt of funding, arming and harboring the armed groups with foreign mercenaries in their ranks.

He added that the main issue for now is to put an immediate end to violence in Syria from all sides and shift to the peaceful and political solution through serious national dialogue without pre-set conditions, stressing that this "is the sole way out of the current crisis whose continuation bodes no good either for Syria or for the region as a whole."

The Russian Ambassador said that Russia's efforts aimed at achieving these goals in coordination with all parties concerned including the Syrian government which Russia maintained a constant contact with it as well as the Western countries and some regional parties regarding decisions to reach a political solution to the crisis.

He added that his country's efforts focused on urging and influencing on the armed groups to end violence and head to find political solution to the crisis in Syria.

The Russian Ambassador stressed that Kofi Annan's plan and Geneva Statement should constitute the basis for finding peaceful solutions to the crisis in Syria, expressing Russia's support to the efforts of the new UN envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi.

He stressed Russia's readiness to continue dealing with all parties of the Syrian opposition basing on the aforementioned principles and it paid great attention to unite all opposition parties inside Syria and abroad according a joint ground that provides for rejecting violence and foreign intervention, in addition to supporting the launch of a comprehensive national dialogue that serves the interest of all Syrians.

The Russian ambassador hailed the Syrian- Russian cooperation and friendship relations over decades.

The conference was organized by the oppositional National Coordination Body (NCB).

R. Raslan/ Ghossoun