Astana says Syria talks participants to discuss sanctions for ceasefire violations

ASTANA- Participants in the next Astana meeting on Syria will discuss ceasefire monitoring and sanctions for ceasefire violations, Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov told reporters on Tuesday.

“In particular, a mechanism for recording ceasefire violations as well as sanctions against those who violate the ceasefire will be discussed,” he said. Abdrakhmanov added that “Turkey will soon provide information about its delegation members” while the Kazakh Foreign Ministry “expects Turkey also to provide information about the delegation of the Syrian armed opposition.”,  Tass reported.

 According to the Kazakh top diplomat, five United Nations officials will also take part in the meeting. “As far as I know, five United Nations officials will participate,” Abdrakhmanov said. However, in his words, there was no information on the US participation yet.

Abdrakhmanov added that “the delegations of Russia and the Syrian government have already arrived, the delegations of Iran and Jordan are expected to arrive soon.”

On February 6, Kazakhstan’s capital of Astana hosted the first meeting of the joint operational group for monitoring the Syrian ceasefire established by Russia, Turkey and Iran. Representatives of the United Nations and Jordan also took part in the meeting. The group was set up following the Astana international meeting on settling the Syrian crisis held on January 23-24. The next meeting of the joint group is scheduled for February 15-16.

M.Wassouf