US, Jordan, UN Receive Official Invitations for Next Astana Meeting

TEHRAN – Kazakhstan expects the US, Jordan and the UN to confirm their participation in the international meeting on Syria, Kazakh Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov told reporters on Friday.

A high-level meeting on settling the situation in Syria would be held in Astana on July 4-5.

 “The United States, Jordan and the United Nations have received official invitations for the next Astana meeting due on July 4-5,” he said, according to Tasnim news Agency.

“We are waiting for their confirmation and also expect them to provide information about members of their delegations,” the Kazakh top diplomat added.

Abdrakhmanov pointed out that Kazakhstan invited the guarantor countries (Russia, Iran and Turkey), as well as observers, while the participation of the Syrian government and the armed Syrian opposition was ensured by the guarantors of the ceasefire.

“The guarantor countries usually ensure the participation of the Syrian government and a delegation of the armed Syrian opposition, which represents the groups that have joined the ceasefire,” Abdrakhmanov elaborated, TASS news agency reported.

The Kazakh Foreign Ministry said earlier that a high-level meeting on settling the situation in Syria would be held in Astana on July 4-5. The guarantor countries – Russia, Iran and Turkey – are expected to consider documents concerning various aspects of the Syrian de-escalation zones, as well as discuss steps which need to be taken to ensure unhindered humanitarian access and restore infrastructure facilities.