Political dialogue key to solving crisis: Syria FM

DAMASCUS, Syria - Any UN resolution on the Syrian crisis should support ongoing political dialogue among the local people, a senior government official said, stressing that Damascus is doing what it can to facilitate the process.

Referring to the UN Security Council debates on Syria in New York, Jihad Makdissi, spokesman for the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the aim of any such move should be to help Syrians.

"Yes, we do have a crisis. But overcoming the crisis definitely (should) not (be done) by pressuring Syria and dictating Syria what to do," he told China Daily in an exclusive interview. "It (should be done) by engaging and encouraging the opposition to come and talk, because the way out is to have political dialogue and resolution."