Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov declared this morning that Moscow has observed positive signs in the Syria peace conference, emphasizing that a meeting in the Kazakh capital Astana, which is scheduled to take place next week, was an important step towards establishing a framework for talks that are taking place in Geneva.
“It is reassuring that there are positive signs in Syria crisis. At least everyone now agrees that a political-diplomatic reconciliation through all-national dialogue based on U.N. resolution has no alternatives.” / “As you know an inter-Syrian meeting between the Syrian government delegation and armed opposition will take place next week in Astana. We view this meeting as an important input into work on parameters of integral political reconciliation in the Syrian Arab Republic which will continue at larger events in Geneva in the beginning of February,” said Lavrov.
The Astana talks, which were brokered by Russia, Turkey and Iran, are expected to see both the Syrian government and rebel groups negotiate a foundation for a political process that would further bolster a nation-wide cessation of hostilities, enforced under the auspices of Moscow and Ankara, and is also expected to provide a platform for the United Nations brokered negotiations in Geneva, that are scheduled to take place on the 2nd of February.