Putin Discusses with Russian Security Council’s Permanent Members Preparations for Astana Talks

Moscow Hopes Astana Talks to Improve Situation in Syria

MOSCOW-Vladimir Putin held a meeting with permanent members of the Security Council.

The participants discussed preparations for the inter-Syrian talks in Astana, including Vladimir Putin’s recent telephone conversations with President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

They also touched on current socio-economic issues in Russia.

Russia Interested in broadest representation at Astana talks

The Kremlin has refused to comment on the possibility of US involvement in the upcoming talks on the crisis in Syria to be held in Kazakhstan’s capital Astana but noted the need to make sure that the largest possible number of parties is represented at them.

 “I cannot say anything on that score at the moment,” Russian Presidential Spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said on Friday in comments on reports that Russia and Turkey had agreed to invite the United States to join the talks on Syria.

 “Of course, we are all interested in the broadest representation of the parties related to the prospects of a political settlement in Syria. However, I cannot answer your question (on US involvement) specifically at the moment,” the Kremlin spokesman stressed.

Toner: We Haven’t Received official Invitation to Participate in Astana Talks

Spokesman of the US State Secretary Mark Toner announced today that his country hasn’t yet received any official invitation to take part in the Astana talks on Syria scheduled to be held on January 23, 2017. But, he stressed that contacts are being made between the U.S., Russia and Turkey on the implementation of this initiative.

Toner urged the coming US administration led by Donald Trump to keep working as to find a solution to the crisis in Syria.  

Moscow Hopes Astana Talks to Improve Situation in Syria

Meantime, Russia expects important decisions on consolidating the cessation of hostilities in Syria and improving the humanitarian situation to be made at the talks between the Syrian government and the “opposition” in the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana, Director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Middle East and North Africa Department, Sergey Vershinin, said on Friday following meeting with Special Envoy of the Chinese Government on Syrian Issue, Xie Xiaoyan.

“When the talks in Astana begin, we can expect very important decisions, which will help consolidate the cessation of hostilities, reduce the level of violence in the country and improve the humanitarian situation,” he said.

“That will create conditions for the broader political process and a broad political dialogue between the Syrians so that they can determine their future,” Vershinin added.

“The situation in Syria is going through a very important and sensitive stage,” Vershinin said after the meeting. “Today’s consultations made it possible for us to exchange views on further steps to implement the cessation of hostilities and relaunch the political process in Syria.”

“I briefed our Chinese friends in detail on Russia’s efforts to arrange the meeting in Astana, which will be an important step in our efforts to consolidate the ceasefire and support the relaunching of the political process in Geneva,” Vershinin added.

Xie Xiaoyan too described the talks in Moscow as very useful. “We had a very useful discussion today, we discussed the whole range of issues. China and Russia should have an opportunity to discuss and coordinate their efforts on Syria,” he said.

H.M