LUXEMBOURG (Sputnik) — The European Council underlined the urgency for the moderate Syrian opposition and associated armed groups to unite in order to present a political alternative to the Syrian people.
"The EU will sustain its support to the moderate opposition, including the SOC, and recalls that it is a vital element in fighting extremism and has a key role to play in the political transition," the statement reads.
Unlike the West, Moscow maintains that Syrian President Bashar Assad is the legitimate authority in the country but has said it is prepared to work with the opposition to counter the Islamic State terrorists.