June 20 marks the beginning of a new round of negotiations on Syria in Astana format, taking place in the capital of Kazakhstan, media reports. A previous round had been held in the same city in November 2022. The country's Foreign Ministry has reported that delegations from guarantor countries - Russia, Turkiye, and Iran - and representatives from the Syrian government and opposition will participate in the talks. Observers from the United Nations, Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq are also expected to attend.
The agenda will cover various topics, including changes in the regional situation surrounding Syria, efforts to address the situation on the ground, measures to combat terrorism, and confidence-building initiatives such as the release of hostages and the search for missing persons. The talks will also address the humanitarian situation in Syria, mobilizing the international community to assist in post-conflict reconstruction and creating conditions for Syrian refugees to return to their homeland.
On the first day, June 20, quadripartite consultations between the Deputy Foreign Ministers of Iran, Russia, Syria, and Turkiye are taking place to discuss the progress of the 'road map' project aimed at normalizing Syrian-Turkish relations. Bilateral and trilateral consultations among the countries participating in the Astana process are also planned.
During a speech at the UN Security Council, Iran's permanent ambassador to the United Nations expressed support for the enhancement of diplomatic relationships between Syria and the rest of the world, particularly with Arab countries, to ensure Syria's prosperity and security. Amir Saeid Iravani welcomed the recent Damascus government's efforts to improve ties with Arab neighbors and emphasized the importance of consolidating these relationships to enable the safe and sustainable return of refugees and internally displaced persons. He also commended the Turkish-Syrian negotiations as part of the Astana talks and reiterated Iran's commitment to working towards long-term and sustainable normalization in Syria. Finally, Iravani stressed the significance of facilitating the safe return of Syrian refugees to their homeland and meeting their humanitarian needs.
The second day will see further consultations, a plenary session, and a press conference. Additionally, a working group on the release of detainees/hostages, transfer of bodies of the deceased, and search for missing persons will convene, with representatives from the guarantor countries, the United Nations, and the International Committee of the Red Cross in attendance.
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