Saudi, Qatari Regimes’ Participation in Astana Talks Can be Discussed only When They Stop Supporting Terrorism

TEHRAN, (ST)- The issue of the participation of the Saudi and Qatari regimes in the Astana talks on Syria can be discussed only when they stop their support for terrorism, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Faysal al-Mikdad said in a statement to al-Mayadeen TV on Wednesday.

“The United States should prove the honesty of its intensions in dealing with proposed solutions to the crisis in Syria by pressuring Turkey to close its borders with Syria, preventing support for terrorism and punishing the parties that fund terrorism, particularly the Saudi and Qatari regimes,” al-Mikdad said.

 He added “all who want to work sincerely to solve the crisis in Syria and who respect its sovereignty and cooperate with Damascus in the fight against terrorism can participate in the talks.”

He pointed out that the parties supporting, arming and financing terrorists have no role in the talks.

The Astana talks on Syria are scheduled to be held on January 23 aiming to help pushing the process of attaining political settlement in Syria forward.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced yesterday that Astana talks aim at enhancing the cessation of hostilities agreement in Syria and that invitations for the talks focus on key influential parties on ground whatever they are called.

Hamda Mustafa