Press TV- Kazakhstan says delegations from Iran, Russia and Turkey are arriving in Astana for a third round of talks to put an end tothe conflict in Syria.
Kazakh Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov said on Mondaythat delegationshad already started arrivingdespite a request from Syrian militantsto delay the meeting.
The third round of Astana talks is due to take place onMarch 14-15, with Iran, Russia and Turkey trying toshore up a ceasefire between the warring sides that was brokered inDecember.
On Monday, Tehran-based media said the Iranian team had departed for Astana, headed by Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Jaber Ansari.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="555"]
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Jaber Ansari speaks to the media following the second session of Syria talks at the Rixos President Hotel in Astana, February 16, 2017. (Photo by AFP)[/caption]The first round of the Astana talks took place on January 23-24. The second round was held on February 15-16.
Last week, the militants called for the postponement of the process, saying they had to first make sure about Damascus and its allies adherence to theceasefire.
Read more:
- Iran, Russia, Turkey talk Syria in Astana
- 'Syria talks in Astana helped revive UN-led process'
- Astana talks on Syria held behind closed doors
The Astana talks got off the ground after the negotiators successfully mediated an all-Syria ceasefire. The agreement was onthe extension of a previous one bringing about a cessation of hostilities in the northwestern Syrian city of Aleppo.
