Syrian President Bashar Assad called for a Syrian dialogue "based on the wishes of all Syrians", adding that the real problem in the country lies between developments on the political axis and reflections on the ground.       

During his meeting with international envoy Akhdar Ibrahimi in Damascus on Saturday, Assad said that efforts are ongoing on the political level, stressing that Syria is committed to cooperate with "honest efforts to solve the crisis as long as they remain impartial and independent".      

For his part, the new envoy tasked with ending Syria's crisis, said that the country's conflict is a threat to the Syrian people, the region and the world.        

"We will try our best to make progress and to help the Syrian people", he said, adding that his contacts will include the states that have interests and are influential in Syria.       

The U.N.-Arab League envoy spoke to reporters in the Syrian capital Saturday following his first meeting with President Bashar Assad. It is Ibrahimi's first visit to the country since taking up a job he himself has called "nearly impossible."


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