The Russian President’s Special Envoy to Syria, Alexander Lavrentiev said during a press conference at the conclusion of the 20th International meeting on Syria in Astana format that the meetings were very successful and they dealt with a large number of issues
He pointed out that this meeting is the last to be hosted by Kazakhstan, as the next meeting will be held in the second half of this year in a place to be specified later.
He said that the Astana format has confirmed its effectiveness, thanking Kazakhstan for hosting the meetings for more than 6 years.
Lavrentiev stressed the necessity of continuous work to enhance stability in Syria, and the countries that put pressure on the Syrian people should abandon this behavior.
He indicated that Syria’s return to the Arab League is very important as it helps consolidate stability in the region. He added that the sanctions imposed by the West on Syria must be lifted to meet the humanitarian needs of its people.
Lavrentiev said that Russia seeks to restore relations between Syria and Turkey, and today’s meeting is very important, as work continues to draw up a road map for that.
Lavrentiev concluded by saying that it is necessary to support reconstruction efforts in Syria to create conditions for the return of refugees to their homes.
Raghda Sawas