Putin, Erdogan Discuss Situation in Aleppo, Intra-Syrian Talks in Kazakhstan

MOSCOW- Russian and Turkish Presidents, Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, discussed the crisis in Syria, focusing on the situation in Aleppo, the Kremlin press service said on Sunday after their telephone conversation, Itar Tass reported.

The two sides discussed issues of relating to “talks between the Syrian government and the so-called moderate opposition in the Kazakh Capital Astana,”  according to Kremlin press service.

 Earlier, Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev said in telephone conversations with Putin and Erdogan that his country is ready to host talks between Syria’s parties.

Kazakhstan “supports international efforts towards peace settlement of the cisis in Syria,” the press service of the Kazakh leader quoted him as saying.

Bogdanov: Russia to continue to help Damascus in operation near Palmyra

Russian president’s envoy for the Middle East and African countries and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov told TASS on Sunday that Russia will continue to help Damascus in the anti-terrorist operation near Palmyra,

“We will help,” he stressed. “The task is to exterminate Jabhat al-Nusra and Islamic State (both outlawed in Russia as terrorist organizations) seats of terrorism.”

He noted that “coordination in a broader format, including with the U.S.-led coalition is important” on such issues.

Resumption of intra-Syrian talks is realistic task

Resumption of talks between the Syrian government and the “opposition” is quite a realistic task, said Bogdanov.

“I think it is quite real,” he said, adding that  Russia has already said that contacts are maintained “with an eye of possible organization of such intra-Syrian talks in Astana.”

“Let us wait relevant invitations from Kazakhstan,” he stressed.

Astana has already hosted meetings between opposition parties, so, Kazakhstan has certain experience. Astana may play a good role in this process, according to Bogdanov.

H.M