Iranian, Syrian Deputy FMs discuss Upcoming Meeting in Astana
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Jaberi Ansari and his Syrian counterpart, Faisal Mekdad, held talks on the latest arrangements made for the upcoming peace talks of the Arab country in the Kazakh capital of Astana.
In a telephone conversation on Saturday, Jaberi Ansari and Mekdad also exchanged views about the trilateral talks held in Moscow between the deputy foreign ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkey.
The two diplomats also highlighted continued consultations between Tehran and Damascus to help resolve the prolonged Syrian crisis through holding the Syrian-Syrian peace talks in Astana.
Jaberi Ansari arrived in Tehran on Saturday morning after his recent visits to Brussels, Geneva and Moscow.
He held a meeting with Secretary General of European External Action Service (EEAS) Helga Schmid in Brussels and participated a trilateral meeting with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and his Turkish counterpart.
Diplomatic efforts to end fighting in Syria have gained momentum in recent weeks with the announcement of a ceasefire in the Arab country on January 1.
The truce, which has been negotiated between Russia, Iran, Turkey, the Damascus government and the Syrian opposition, excludes terrorist groups such as Daesh (ISIL) and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham.
It will be followed by a new round of peace talks between the Syrian government and the opposition in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Syria has been gripped by civil war since March 2011 with various terrorist groups, including Daesh, currently controlling parts of it.
