Russian and Kazakh Presidents Discuss Preparations for Holding Next Round of Astana Talks on Syria
NUR-SULTAN, (ST)-President Vladimir Putin and his Kazakh counterpart Kassym-Jomart Tokayev have discussed preparations for holding the next round of talks on Settlement in Syria within the Astana format.
The Kazakh Minister of Foreign Affair Mukhtar Tleuberdi said in a statement in the Kazakh capital Nur Sultan that Tokayev and Putin affirmed- during their meeting on the sidelines of Valdi Discussion Club in Sochi- the importance of the continuity of Astana process to find a political solution in Syria, pointing out that a new round of talks is scheduled to be held in October, but no specified date was fixed.
Last Thursday, the Kazakh foreign minister said that preparations are underway for holding the 14th round of Astana talks in October, while the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin said during a Security Council session last Monday that the talks will be held soon.
Astana meetings on Syria were launched early in 2017. Thirteen rounds of talks have so far been held within the Astana format-one of them was held in the Russian city of Sochi. The talks during the 13 rounds affirmed commitment to preserving Syria’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity and to continuously fighting terrorist groups in Syria until terrorism is completely eliminated.
Hamda Mustafa