Direct Syrian talks yet to be agreed in Astana
Parties to the Syrian peace talks in Astana have yet to agree on face-to-face meetings between the delegations of the Damascus government and rebel groups, Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko said on Monday.
According to Reuters, speaking just hours ahead of the negotiations, Vassilenko said the matter of direct meetings was still being discussed.
And also, Iran, Russia and Turkey started tripartite meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Sunday to hold consultations and coordinate their stances prior to the Syria peace talks.
The meeting follows the second meeting of the Iranian and Turkish delegations.
Seven delegations, including those of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Russia and Turkey, will attend two-day talks for diplomatic settlement of the Syria crisis.
Kazakh foreign ministry announced that two delegates representing the Syrian government and the opposition as well as the UN Special Envoy, Staffan de Mistura, will attend that round of talks.
The US ambassador will be present in the meeting.
The two-day talks will be held behind closed doors in the absence of reporters.
Iranian delegation, led by Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab-African Affairs, Hossein Jaberi Ansari, will be present in the session.
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