Syrian minister underscores reconciliation's significance in solving Syrian crisis

Syria's National Reconciliation Minister Ali Haidar said on Monday that his government is working on a solution to the long-running conflict, noting that the Syrian leadership is not waiting for anyone to bring about the needed solution to resolve the simmering conflict.

"We will not wait the solution from anyone and this is the basis of the Syrian policy, which has become known for all," Haidar told a gathering of leaders of national reconciliation committees in the capital Damascus.

The minister repeated his government line that the solution for the nearly four-year-old conflict starts with countering terrorism and achieving reconciliation with Syrian rebels across the country.

"First, we focus on countering terrorism. We are also working on the national reconciliation and the national dialogue, which have been the basic elements of the Syrian policy," he said, adding that "national reconciliation is the cornerstone and the link that connects countering terrorism with the national dialogue."

The remarks came just days after representatives of the Syrian government and political opposition figures wrapped up consultative talks in Moscow regarding a political solution to Syria, without achieving a breakthrough.

The Syrian government has for long said that fighting the foreign-backed extremist group is the number one element in achieving a political solution coupled with attempts to achieve what the government likes to call "national reconciliation" with Syrian rebel groups, which are desirous to solve the conflict politically. Endit