Syria's road to peace long and complex: Russian FM

Syria might not swiftly find comprehensive solutions to all the problems it faces, but the process must start as soon as possible, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday.

"No one has the illusions that solutions of all problems could be found during a few days," Lavrov said during a meeting between Syrian government and opposition figures here.

The process of Syria's settlement will be "long and complex" and will demand additional efforts to form a truly representative format of dialogue, Lavrov said.

The four-day "Moscow platform," which opened on Monday, was said to be consultative and aimed at paving the way to future meetings between the two sides.

Lavrov said the task of all Syrian sides to find ways and start dialogue requires significant efforts, particularly concessions and compromises.

And that is the only way to save Syria, he said.

Lavrov stressed that problems in Syria can only be solved through political ways and only by Syrian people themselves.

After two rounds of talks in Geneva and Montreux failed to resolve the Syrian crisis, Moscow proposed in December to sponsor another round of negotiations between the Syrian government and the opposition. Endi