( CNN ) -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said Saturday he is committed to resolving the crisis in his country as long as peace efforts are conducted in `` neutrality and independence , '' state media reported . He addressed the conflict during a meeting in Damascus with Lakhdar Brahimi , the new international envoy to Syria . `` The success of the political work is linked to pressing the countries which fund and train the terrorists , confiscate weapons into Syria to stop such acts , '' the president said , according to SANA . Brahimi , who recently replaced Kofi Annan as the U.N. and Arab League point man for the conflict , highlighted the need for both sides to find a resolution and reiterated that the Syrian people are his first priority . `` I believe that the president is more aware than me of the scope and seriousness of this crisis , '' Brahimi said after his meeting with al-Assad . U.N. envoy Angelina Jolie visits Syria refugees in Iraq . For now , Brahimi said he has no plan for bringing an end to the Syrian conflict . `` We , however , will set the plan that we will follow after listening to all internal , regional and international parties , hoping that such a plan will manage to open channels towards ending the crisis , and will be also accompanied by a clear strategy , '' he said . Brahimi plans to open an office in Damascus , and al-Assad told him the government will enable him to carry out his duties . The initial talks came on a day when at least 164 people were killed across Syria , according to the opposition Local Coordination Committees . It blamed Syrian security forces for the deaths . Brahimi also held `` candid and comprehensive '' talks with Foreign Minister Walid Moallem , the United Nations said in a statement . `` Mr. Brahimi emphasized that , as he said before , he would spare no effort to help find a solution to the crisis , '' the statement read . `` His only masters in this endeavor were the Syrian people , whose welfare and security were his prime concern . '' Brahimi , a former Algerian foreign minister and U.N. envoy to Afghanistan , plans to meet opposition figures and other groups during his visit . Brahimi was named to the post after Annan resigned in August , blasting the Syrian government for not implementing a cease-fire he negotiated in April and complaining about the `` escalating military campaign '' of the opposition . Zawahiri messages underline al Qaeda 's focus on Syria .
NEW : An opposition group says at least 164 people were killed Saturday . The death toll is expected to rise as more bodies are recovered from the rubble of collapsed buildings in Port-au-Prince and elsewhere across Haiti, a government official said Sunday. He met with the president and held `` candid '' talks with Syria 's foreign minister .