Russia describes 1st day of Astana talks on Syria as 'successful'

The talks between the representatives of the Syrian government and opposition groups in Astana resumed early on Tuesday with the participation of Russia, Iran and Turkey, which are countries-guarantors of the Syrian truce, the Russian news service of Sputnik has reported.

Meanwhile, Lavrentiev, speaking to reporters, said, 'We believe it was rather successful… We were able to hold… an international meeting on Syria in Astana. I think this event is quite significant because it was opened not only in the presence of the three countries-guarantors of the agreement, signed on December 29 last year, but also in the presence of representative of the UN Secretary-General [Staffan] de Mistura and US Ambassador to Kazakhstan, as well as in the presence of the delegations of Syrian government and Syrian armed opposition.'

According to IRNA, the International Meeting on Settlement, which has been underway in the Kazakh capital since Monday aims to achieve truce in Syria, effectively fight against terrorism and hold intra-Syria dialogue between the government of that country and the opposition groups in order to prepare the ground for a political solution to the crisis there.

Iran, Russia and Turkey are the initiators of the Dec 30 ceasefire in Syria as well as those who planned for the Astana talks.