Astana Talks Aim to Consolidate Syrian Ceasefire: Iranian Spokesman
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi said the ongoing negotiations in Astana, Kazakhstan, about the Syrian crisis are aimed at consolidating the recently-established ceasefire in the Arab country.
The Astana meeting is the outcome of joint efforts made by Iran, Turkey and Russia whose main objective was facilitating talks between the Syrian government and the opposition groups in the Arab country, Qassemi said in his press briefing in Tehran on Monday.
The three countries have made efforts to organize the talks and participate in them as observers, he said, adding that the UN representative chairs the meeting.
Consolidating the ceasefire in Syria is the top priority of the talks today and tomorrow, the Iranian spokesman noted.
The peace talks between the Syrian government and opposition groups began Monday in the Kazakh capital 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.