Syrian President Bashar al-Assad stressed Saturday that his country is ready to make any honest effort a success to solve the recent domestic unrest, state-run SANA news agency reported.

Assad made the remarks during his meeting with Kofi Annan, the joint special envoy of the UN and Arab League (AL) for Syria, who arrived in the Syrian capital of Damascus earlier in the day to mediate the year-long crisis.

The embattled Syrian leader told Annan that "any political dialogue can't succeed as long as there are armed groups, which foment anarchy and destabilize the country through targeting civilians, military personnel and smashing public and private properties," according to SANA.

For his part, Annan stressed his "commitment to work in a just, evenhanded and independent way," and his "rejection of any foreign interference in Syrian affairs, as well as his belief in peaceful solution."

Annan also expressed hopes to work with the Syrian government to launch a diplomatic dialogue to restore stability to Syria and achieve the Syrian people's aspirations.

A day earlier, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that Annan 's priority is to immediately halt all fighting by government forces and opposition fighters -- if not simultaneously, then first by government troops and followed by the opposition.

On Thursday, Annan made it clear in Cairo that "ultimately the solution lies in a political settlement," adding that "I believe any further militarization would make the situation worse."

However, the opposition abroad dismissed Annan's calls, insisting that only military aid could be conducive in ending the Syrian crisis.

Last month, the United Nations and the Arab League jointly appointed former UN head Kofi Annan as a special envoy to handle the year-long crisis in Syria, and Syria extended welcome to Annan 's visit last Monday.