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UN special envoy will attend Astana talks on Syria: Russia

Tuesday, 20 June 2023 6:44 AM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 20 June 2023 7:08 AM ]

A view from session of 19th round of Astana talks on Syria with participation of delegations from guarantor countries of Turkey, Iran and Russia in Astana, Kazakhstan on November 22, 2022. (Photo by Anadolu Agency)

UN special envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen will take part in the upcoming round of talks on the Syrian conflict in the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana, according to a Russian official.

Mikhail Bogdanov, the Russian special presidential envoy for the Middle East and Africa and deputy foreign minister, said on Tuesday that in addition to Pederson, representatives from the observer countries that are Syria’s neighbors — Iraq, Lebanon, and Jordan — will also participate in the meeting.

“As usual, representatives of observer countries will participate [in the talks]. These include Syria’s neighboring countries of Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan,” Bogdanov said.

“Our colleagues from UN bodies are also here, namely Mr. Geir Pedersen.”

The 20th round of the Astana format talks, which is slated on June 20-21, will be attended by deputy foreign ministers of Turkey, Russia, and Iran, the three guarantor states, as well as representatives of the Syrian government and anti-Damascus militant groups.

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Iran, Russia, and Turkey set up the Astana peace process in January 2017 intending to put an end to the Syria conflict through the involvement of Syria’s warring sides.

The three countries have so far held 19 rounds of talks. The last summit was held in the Kazakh capital on November 22-23, 2022.

Since March 2011, Syria has been gripped by a campaign of militancy and destruction sponsored by the US and its allies.

Iran and Russia have been supporting the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during the war while Turkey has been siding with armed militants.

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