The 19th International Meeting on Syria in the Astana Platform started in the capital of Kazakhstan on Today.
The discussions are attended by delegations from Russia, Turkey, Iran, the regime of Bashar al-Assad and the Syrian opposition. Representatives of the UN, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq act as observers.
At the talks, the Russian delegation is headed by Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation Alexander Lavrentyev, the Iranian delegation is headed by Ali Askar Gadzhi, Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs on political issues.
From the Syrian regime, the Assad regime’s deputy foreign minister Ayman Susan takes part in the negotiations, from the opposition – Ahmet Tuma.
The Turkish delegation headed by Seljuk Unal, Head of the Syrian Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, held the first meeting with the UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir O. Pedersen.
During the two-day talks, the parties will discuss the progress of the political process in Syria, including humanitarian and socio-economic processes, confidence-building measures such as the release of hostages and the search for missing persons, the creation of favorable conditions for the return of refugees, as well as mobilizing the efforts of the international community for the reconstruction of Syria in the light of the requirements of UN Security Council Resolution 2642.
