The Astana-format meeting on Syria, involving foreign ministers from Iran, Russia, and Turkey, is expected to take place on December 6 in Doha. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov confirmed this during an interview with journalist Tucker Carlson.
Lavrov described the Astana format as a “valuable framework” for addressing the ongoing crisis in Syria. Expressing deep concern over recent developments in Aleppo and its surrounding areas, he shared details of recent discussions with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi. The ministers have agreed to meet on the sidelines of an international conference in Doha this week, with the meeting likely scheduled for Friday.
A key agenda item for the meeting is a return to the full implementation of the Idlib agreements, as the de-escalation zone in Idlib has become a hotspot for terrorist activities, including recent advances toward Aleppo. Lavrov emphasized the importance of addressing these violations to stabilize the situation.
Lavrov also highlighted the need for Turkey to ensure the separation of terrorist groups, such as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra, banned in Russia), from non-terrorist opposition forces that cooperate with Turkey. He acknowledged that this separation, outlined in agreements from 2019 and 2020, remains incomplete.
Another critical issue is reopening the M5 highway, which connects Damascus and Aleppo. Lavrov noted that the route has been overtaken by terrorist forces, further complicating efforts to restore stability in northern Syria.
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Based on materials from TASS