You're reading: Moscow urges broad national dialogue in Syria

Moscow, September 5 (Interfax) - Deputy Russian Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and Syrian ambassador to Russia Riad Haddad met on Monday to discuss the situation in Syria, the Russian Foreign Ministry reports on its web site.

"Bogdanov reiterated Russia’s position that outside interference in Syrian affairs is inadmissible and emphasized the need for a complete end to any violence in that country, for the speedy implementation of political and socio-economic reforms announced by the Syrian government and for broad national dialogue involving the opposition," the report says.

Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced that Russia opposed unilateral sanctions against Syria, including the EU embargo on Syrian oil.

"We have always said that nothing good will come of unilateral sanctions. This destroys a partnership approach to any crisis. We oppose unilateral sanctions. Actually, sanctions rarely decide anything," Lavrov said.