To Attend Astana meeting or Not Is not the Armed Groups’ Decision, It’s Their Masters’: Al-Jaafari
ASTANA, (ST)-Head of the delegation of the Syrian Arab Republic to Astana third meeting on Syria Bashar Al-Jaafari on Tuesday said “we are keen on making Astana process a success in order to lead the talks to the safe shore where our higher national interest lies whether the armed groups attended the meeting or not.”
“This is the stance of most participants in Astana process,” he told reporters on the sideline of the meeting which started today in the Kazakh capital without the participation of the armed groups delegation.
“We held serious and exploratory talks with the Russian delegation on the agenda of the Astana meeting III. We made political assessment to the entire situation inside Syria and the region in addition to the international stances on the crisis in Syria,” al-Jaafari said, pointing out that viewpoints were identical on many issues.
“We will meet again at 7 in the evening to start deep discussions on Astana meeting’s agenda,” he added.
“The issue of separating the opposition groups from terrorists will be the top topic of the agenda of Astana III talks,” al-Jaafari said, adding we haven’t discussed with Russia the signing of any document in Astana.”
Al-Jaafari clarified that the delegation came to Astana to meet two guarantors: Russia and Iran, saying: “principally, we didn’t came to met the armed groups delegation…we came to meet two guarantors: Russia and Iran.”
He stressed that “the issue of the armed groups’ participation doesn’t concerns us directly,” clarifying that the non participation of the armed groups serves the viewpoint of the Syrian government and uncovers the political weakness of these armed groups which originally have no independent decision or opinion.”
“To attend or not, is not the decision of the armed groups, rather it’s their masters’ decision, so this issue is political that has to do with the three guarantors. When one of the guarantors doesn’t implement its pledges, I here mean Turkey, then this guarantor should be asked about the participation of these armed groups,” al-Jaafari explained.
Astana third meeting on the crisis in Syria kicked off earlier on Tuesday in the Kazakh capital.
The delegation of the Syrian Arab republic led by al-Jaafri held a consultative meeting with the Russian delegation led by Alexander Lavrentiev, the Russian President’s special representative.
The Turkish side is hindering the success of Astana
In the evening, the Syrian and Russian delegations to the third round of Astana talks held a meeting to continue their preliminary consultations.
Following the meeting, head of the Syrian Arab Republic delegation Bashar Al-Jaafari announced in a statement that the delegation discussed with the side all preparations to ensure the success Astana process in order to guarantee that it will produce positive results that match the huge effort put in by Russia, Iran, and the Syrian government, asserting that the Syrian Arab Republic delegation is working in a positive manner to ensure the success of the third round of Astana meetings.
“The Turkish side is hindering the success of Astana, and we are aware that the armed groups’ refusal to come works in that direction and is of course upon the instruction of their Turkish operator. Despite that, political work entails much responsibility, therefore we are involved in a positive manner with the Russian and Iranian sides and will continue unofficial talks tomorrow,” he said, adding that work is proceeding at an intensive rate.
Al-Jaafari holds talks with Iranian delegation
In the same context, al-Jaafari added that the delegation held a meeting with the Iranian delegation where talks dealt with all issues related to the preparations to make the 3rd round of Astana talks a success.
“We exchanged opinions with the Iranian delegation like those held with the Russian delegation as both represent two guarantor and ally countries to the Syrian Arab republic, and it is very necessary to exchange opinions to have a joint ground and evaluation in Astana… and there is a common reading by the three delegations that will push Astana track forwards,” al-Jaafari said following the meeting.
The plenary session of the international meeting on Syria is scheduled for March 15.
Hamda Mustafa