Iranian, Russian, Turkish experts to meet in Astana ahead of Syria talks

Tuesday’s consultations precede international negotiations on the situation in that country that will begin on May 3. Astana is hosting this forum for the fourth time.

Russia’s delegation led by Presidential Envoy for the Syrian Settlement Alexander Lavrentiev , the Iranian, Turkish, possibly, the US (at the ambassadorial level) and the Jordanian delegations will be working in Kazakhstan’s capital on May 3. UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura will arrive in Astana in the evening on May 2. Representatives of Damascus led by Syria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Bashar Jaafari, have already arrived in Astana, while the participation of the armed opposition has not been confirmed yet.

On Tuesday, the parties are expected to hold preliminary consultations. In particular, a meeting between the Russian and UN delegations will be held.

According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, of key importance will be the issues related to further consolidation of the ceasefire, implementation of confidence-building measures, delivery of humanitarian cargo and creation of favorable conditions for the political process. "The ceasefire between government forces and armed opposition is also crucial to effectively counter the terrorist threat in Syria," Lavrov said.

Russia, Iran and Turkey have set up a joint group to monitor compliance with the ceasefire. Mechanisms for responsibility for violating the ceasefire, the working group on the exchange of detained individuals between the parties to the conflict need to be agreed further.

Political issues, above all, setting up a constitutional commission to draft Syria’s new constitution, will be discussed as well. The opposition has so far refused to discuss this provision continuing to insist that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad should step down.



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