BEIRUT: Head of the Syrian National Council Burhan Ghalioun said the opposition will hold talks with Syrian authorities in Moscow only if Russia accepts the departure of President Bashar Assad.

Ghalioun has also stated his organization's unwillingness to negotiate with Syrian authorities themselves until Assad leaves power.

Russia had said Monday that Syrian authorities have agreed to a Russian offer to hold informal talks in Moscow with opposition representatives to resolve the crisis in the country.

Ghalioun has signaled the SNC's willingness to enter into such talks, but is holding fast to the caveat that Assad first surrender power.

“Assad’s fall is a condition to launch negotiations to begin the transition to a democratic government,” Ghalioun said in remarks published Tuesday by the daily An-Nahar.

“If the Russian government agrees to our terms – Assad’s departure –then there would be no problem with holding prospective talks,” he stressed.

But he warned that there would be “no negotiations without Assad’s exit.”

Regarding ongoing debate on Syria at the U.N. Security Council, Ghalioun said he was hoping for a successful outcome.

“We urge Russians to take a realistic stand and change their position [on the Syrian uprising] ... if they insist that Assad should remain in power, it would be unrealistic because it prevents kick-starting any negotiations," he said.

Ghalioun also said that the opposition has assured Moscow that its naval base in Tartus and its strategic interests in Syria are “safe.”