Iranian, Russian Teams at Astana Syria Talks Discuss Final Document
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Iranian and Russian diplomatic delegations that are in Kazakhstan to attend a new round of Syria peace negotiations held their second meeting in two days to discuss how a final communiqué of the forthcoming negotiations would be drafted.
The unofficial bilateral talks between Iranian and Russian diplomats at Astana’s Marriott Hotel on Sunday morning followed another two-hour session on Saturday which was focused on the final document of the peace negotiations, slated for January 23 and 24.
Heads of the delegations traveling to Astana for the talks, including those from Iran, Russia, and Turkey, have been invited to a luncheon by Kazakhstan’s foreign minister on Sunday.
Head of Iran’s delegation in the talks, Hossein Jaberi Ansari, has announced that Tehran will pursue a four-point plan that it had put forward earlier, entailing preservation of Syria’s territorial integrity.
The proposal includes plans to safeguard Syria’s territorial integrity and national sovereignty and put all issues to the vote of the Syrian people, he noted, saying Iran will pursue the same plan in the Astana talks.
Hosted by the Kazakh government and overseen by Russia, Iran and Turkey, the upcoming talks will see the Syrian government and the armed opposition groups discuss a way out of the crisis that has plagued the Arab country for six years.
Syria has been gripped by civil war since March 2011 with various terrorist groups, including Daesh (ISIL), currently controlling parts of it.
Diplomatic efforts to end fighting in Syria have gained momentum in recent weeks with the announcement of a ceasefire in the Arab country earlier this month.
The truce, which has been negotiated between Russia, Iran, Turkey, the Damascus government and the Syrian opposition, excludes terrorist groups such as Daesh and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham.
