Russia, US, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Iran Should Agree to Settle Syria Crisis

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said that five key countries that participate in the Syrian reconciliation - Russia, the United States, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Iran - have to find compromise.

UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) — Russia, the United States, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Iran should come to compromise in order to resolve the Syrian crisis, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon stated on Monday.

"Five countries in particular hold the key [to Syrian resolution] — Russia, the United States, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Turkey. As long as one side won't compromise with the other it is futile to expect change on the ground," Ban Ki-moon said at the UN General Assembly.

Syria has been in a state of civil war since 2011, with government forces fighting against opposition forces and numerous extremist militant groups.

A US-led coalition against the Islamic State, comprised of 62 nations, has been engaged in military actions in Syria since August 2014.

Russia has repeatedly criticized the US-led coalition for conducting airstrikes against IS positions in Syria without seeking the approval of the UN Security Council or Damascus.

Moscow has also stated that there is no alternative to a political solution to the Syrian crisis and has urged the parties to the conflict to engage in direct dialogue.

On Sunday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov confirmed that Russia was engaged in coordination efforts with Iraq, Syria, and Iran to more effectively combat IS forces in the Middle East.