MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russia has repeatedly stated that Syria's territorial integrity was a critically important issue for the majority of states taking part in the process to settle the Syrian crisis.
"Our stance is simple: we will support anything the Syrians agree upon, and this is also the stance of the [UN] Security Council. But when we are asked the question 'Would you support the federalization?' we say that if they [Syrians] agree on it, we will support everything that will be concerted," the Russian top diplomat said.
"[The Syrians] should themselves strive to find an agreement. In order to do so, there is a [corresponding] framework set by the UN Security Council, there is an experience of co-existence of the Syrian ethnic, political and religious groups," Lavrov concluded.
In February, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Moscow would support the establishment of a federal republic in Syria if the Syrians themselves agreed on it.
