Alwaght- The 5th round of Astana talks on Syria concluded with stress on the integrity and stability of the Syrian territories.
The statement mentioned that the joint work group was assigned to determine the de-escalation zones, adding that the next negotiation round will be held during the last week of August in the Kazakh capital.
Meanwhile, in a press statement, the head of the Syrian government delegation Dr. Bashar al-Jaafari lamented that the Turkish attitude was a negative one during this round of talks, adding that the Turkish side practiced the policy of blackmail.
He added that the agenda during this Astana meeting was to finalize the details of the agreement on de-escalation zones, but the Turkish delegation hindered that.
For his part, Kazakh Minister of Foreign Affairs Kairat Abdrakhmanov said in his speech during the session “We are convinced that dialogue is the only possible solution to the crisis in Syria.”
The joint statement of the guarantor states of the cessation of hostilities agreement stressed on the stability and territorial integrity of Syria and that the political solution is the only solution to the crisis in Syria.
The statement noted that the Joint Working Group will be charged with completing all conditions for defining the de-escalation zones in Syria, consolidating the cessation of hostilities regime in Syria and strengthening confidence among all parties.
It pointed out that the upcoming Astana meeting will be held in the last week of August in the Kazakh capital.
Earlier on the day, the delegation of the Syrian government held a meeting with the UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura on the second day of the fifth round of Astana talks.
On Tuesday, the delegation held two consultative meetings with the Russian delegation, headed by Director of the Middle East and North Africa Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry Sergei Vershinin, and two similar meetings with the Iranian delegation, headed by Assistant Foreign Minister Hossein Jaberi Ansari.
Also yesterday, the guarantor countries of the cessation of hostilities in Syria (Russia, Iran and Turkey) held two sessions of talks at the level of technical experts on the frontiers and maps of the de-escalation zones in Syria.
The first round of the Astana talks, organized by guarantor states took place on January 23-24 and brought together representatives from the Damascus government and opposition groups.
The conflict in Syria started in March 2011, with the government of President Bashar al Assad blaming some Western states and their regional allies of backing Takfiri terrorists wreaking havoc in the country.
