CRI听力:Russia Calls for presidential elections in Syria

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says the Kremlin wants Syria to prepare for parliamentary and presidential elections, as Moscow intensifies air strikes against IS militants in Syria.

"Even with continuing anti-Assad rhetoric, democratization rhetoric, I think the correct understanding of the situation is developing, and this gives us hope to push forward the political process in the near future by using outside players and to bring all Syrians to the negotiating table," said Lavrov.

Lavrov said this issue has been discussed with the country's president Bashar al-Assad, who paid a surprise visit to Moscow this week.

He also said Russia's air force, which has been bombing Islamist militants in Syria since Sept. 30, would be ready to help the Western-backed Free Syrian Army if it knew where they were.

"I repeat, American refusal to coordinate their anti-terrorist campaign with us is a big mistake. We are seriously prepared for such a coordination. Though we are denied information on the whereabouts of terrorists according to American sources, where patriotic opposition is located - we are ready to give air support to patriotic opposition as well, including the so-called Free Syrian Army, but we need to get in contact with the people who will have the authority to represent certain armed groups that are fighting against terrorism among other things."

Lavrov gave the interview on the eve of a meeting in Vienna where a political solution to Syria's civil war was discussed.

US Secretary of State John Kerry said after that meeting he expected new talks on Syria to begin as soon as next week.