The message was conveyed in a phone conversation between Lavrov and his Syrian counterpart, Walid al-Moallem, according to the statement, which was posted on the ministry's website.

Lavrov was quoted as telling al-Moallem that Moscow still holds its "principled position against raising the Syrian topic in the U.N. Security Council."

Al-Moallem informed Lavrov about the pragmatic steps taken by the Syrian leadership to implement domestic political reforms and to restore civil harmony, the statement added.

On Tuesday, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad told Russian President Dmitry Medvedev over phone that he would do everything possible to ensure peace and boost reforms in his country.

Earlier this month, Medvedev said that Russia would not support a U.N. Security Council resolution on Syria if it were to be similar to the one on Libya. However, Medvedev did not say whether Russia would veto such a resolution should it be proposed.