Real political will from all sides are needed in order to end theSyrian crisis, now in its 18th month, a senior adviser to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said.

In an exclusive interview with Xinhua, Bouthaina Shaaban, Assad's special envoy and political and media adviser, said the reason a ceasefire didn't happen despite UN-Arab Leaguejoint envoy Kofi Annan's persistent efforts was the lack of real political will, especially on the Western countries' side.

"He (Annan) said we need real political will from all sides in order to succeed. And he was right," she said.

"The Western forces led by the U.S. say that we support the six-point plan of Kofi Annan, but in reality they support or they allow other countries also to support the armed groups with weapons and money," Shaaban said.

The 59-year-old former Syrian Minister of Expatriates criticised Western countries, which in reality acted "exactly against the plan," as they instigated violence or supported the rebels with money and armaments, although all sides stopping violence was a precondition for further political dialogue to end Syria's lingering civil war.

"Hence, there is a contradiction in this. This is what Kofi Annan said, if you know his statement. He said I couldn't do anything because the international community couldn't agree."

"The Western countries said they support the plan as they said they support the Geneva Communique, but in reality they act exactly against the plan," said Shaaban, who has been the subject of sanctions by the U.S., along with other Syrian officials, since last August.

To achieve solidarity in the international community over the Syrian issue, according to Shaaban, would depend on whether the West was ready to sit around the table withRussiaand China, the two countries that "supported in word and in action the Kofi Annan plan."

Meanwhile, Shaaban said she believed many countries, including the U.S. and Britain, were aware of the many terrorist and extremist groups in Syria which posed a big threat not only to Syria but to the region as well.

"We as Syria's government are ready to engage in any dialogue. But it is the opposition who would not (be) ready and who all the time announce that they will not engage in a dialogue with the Syria government," Shaaban said.

"We believe that the Western powers by supporting the armed groups, they are giving a signal to the opposition not to sit at the table."

"And if there is a political will on the Western countries' side, then everybody will sit around the table and it will be easy to find a roadmap to get out of the Syria crisis," Shaaban said.

On Thursday, Shaaban met Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi for talks, in which Yang urged both the Syrian government and the opposition to coordinate with international mediation efforts to end the crisis quickly.

Shaaban pledged the Syrian government was ready to work with relevant parties to seek ways for a ceasefire, and begin an inclusive dialogue with the opposition to promote a Syria-led political process and restore security and stability in the country.