Iran to Stick to 4-Point Peace Plan for Syria in Astana Talks: Diplomat
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Head of Iran’s delegation in a forthcoming round of negotiations in Kazakhstan for ensuring a lasting peace in Syria said Tehran will pursue a four-point plan that it had put forward earlier, entailing preservation of Syria’s territorial integrity.
Speaking to IRIB in Almaty on Saturday, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Jaberi Ansari said Iran will press ahead with the four-point plan for peace in Syria, which it had proposed more than two years ago.
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, slated for January 23 and 24.
Jaberi Ansari also rejected any decision on the fate of the Syrian nation by foreign players, stressing, “Our duty is to facilitate Syrian-Syrian talks and make preparations for referring to the public vote of the Syrian nation.”
He made it clear that Iran will only try to help the political settlement of crisis in Syria and contribute to serious negotiations between the Syrian parties.
The Astana meeting aims to stabilize the ceasefire in place in Syria and open the door for serious negotiations between the Damascus government and the opposition groups, the Iranian diplomat added.
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.