Syria Peace Talks Start in Astana
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Peace talks gathering the Syrian government and opposition groups began Monday in the Kazakh capital, Astana, although rebels said they would not negotiate face-to-face with the government in the talks' first session.
Representatives of the Syria government and opposition groups sat at the same round table as Kazakh Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov delivered an opening speech.
The face-to-face talks are the first time armed rebel groups have negotiated with President Bashar Assad's government since the conflict erupted in 2011.
The talks have been welcomed by all parties in the war, but the two sides have arrived in Kazakhstan with apparently divergent ideas on their aim, and officials have cast doubt on whether they will in fact sit down at the same table.
Just before the talks were set to begin, opposition spokesman Yehya al-Aridi told AFP that the opposition will "participate in the talks but the first negotiating session will likely be in separate rooms."
Kazakh deputy foreign minister Roman Vasilenko told reporters Monday morning that the format was still under discussion.
Rebel groups have said the meeting will focus on bolstering a frail nationwide cease-fire brokered last month by opposition ally Turkey and government backer Russia.
But Assad has insisted that rebels lay down their arms in exchange for an amnesty deal, and called for a "comprehensive" political solution to the foreign-sponsored conflict.
Organized by Turkey, Russia and Iran, the talks come a month after the government recaptured rebel areas of Aleppo, scoring its biggest victory since the war began.
