Russia, Iran and Turkey are planning to approach Kazakhstan with a proposal to convene a meeting in the Astana format before the end of the year, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov told TASS.
"There is an understanding among the three guarantor countries to approach Kazakhstan with a proposal for such a meeting before the end of the year," he said.
Earlier on Monday, Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Kanat Tumysh told TASS that the states participating in the Astana process on the Syrian settlement have not yet approached the Kazakh side to hold another meeting in such a format.
In an interview with TASS on the sidelines of the Russia-Africa forum, Bogdanov stated that Kazakhstan has agreed to continue hosting meetings in the Astana format on Syria.
On June 20-21, Astana hosted the latest international meeting on Syria in the Astana format. The negotiations were attended by delegations from the guarantor countries - Russia, Turkey and Iran, as well as representatives of the Syrian government and the Syrian opposition. Observers from the UN, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq also participated. Talks on Syria in the Kazakh capital first began in January 2017.
Following the 20th meeting of the Astana format, which concluded on June 21, Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Kanat Tumysh stated that it would be the last one. However, on June 22, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry announced that the Kazakh authorities are prepared to resume holding talks on Syria in the Astana format in the capital, as a goodwill gesture upon the collective request of the parties.
GSV "Russia - Islamic world"
Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry
Based on materials from TASS