Russian President Vladimir Putin Thursday said Russia\'s position on the crisis in Syria is grounded on the basic principles of the international law, reason and the logic of peace.

In an annual message addressed to the Russian Parliament on the 20th anniversary of the Russian constitution, Putin noted that Russia has been able through cooperation with its partners to keep war away from Syria and take things to the direction of seeking a peaceful solution to the crisis.

He said there have been attempts over the past years to impose the so-called "the most advanced model of development" on the various countries like those of the Middle East and North Africa, adding that this "tragic\' situation has been formed in Syria.

"In this Syrian direction, we were in front of a fateful choice of either using force or taking collective decisions," said the Russian President, adding that Russia has decided to take rational choices that every responsible state should take away from interference in the countries internal affairs.

He stressed that Moscow, by contributing to warding off military intervention in Syria, has not prejudiced its interests or world peace, but rather it has so far been able to avoid foreign military intervention in the Syrian affairs and the spread of conflict outside the region.

Putin highlighted that solving the crisis in Syria and the Iranian nuclear file stresses on not resorting to the use of force as this means does not help in solving the international issues.

Lavrov: The Syrians alone should solve their issue not any other country

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed hope that the intended international conference due to be held on Syria will lead to bringing peace and come out with a solution to the crisis in the country.

"We hope Geneva 2 conference will bring out peace and lead to settling the crisis in Syria and halting the violence so as to create the necessary conditions for the citizens to return to their homes and for Syria to be a civil and democratic state that ensures decent life for its citizens," Lavrov told the reporters on Thursday.

He affirmed that the Syrian people are the ones who must solve their issue "and not Russia, the US, Europe or the Gulf states".

Lavrov expressed concern about the distunity of the "Syrian opposition", stressing the importance that all spectra of the "opposition" be represented in the Geneva 2 conference.