BEIRUT: Syrian President Bashar Assad has expressed optimism that a political solution can be reached to end the nearly two-year-old crisis in Syria, Lebanese Democratic Party leader Talal Arslan said in remarks published Tuesday.

Assad “stressed that there is progress in the political process and that he is hopeful and optimistic despite all the circumstances,” Arslan told the local As-Safir newspaper.

He said that during a meeting with Assad over the weekend, the embattled Syrian leader also reiterated that dialogue was the only way to resolve the conflict in Syria.

Arslan said Assad had also voiced satisfaction with the political climate in Syria.

“President Assad said he was pleased with the course of events on the ground and also at the political level,” the MP added.

He quoted Assad as saying that the Syrian army was in control of the majority of regions in the Arab country.

The United Nations says that nearly 70,000 people have been killed in the war between Assad’s regime and the opposition.