Sputnik - The talks on the Syrian reconciliation that were held in the Kazakhstan�s capital of Astana ended on Wednesday with the Syrian opposition refusing to take part in the negotiations.





MOSCOW (Sputnik) � On Wednesday, head of�Russia's delegation to�the talks Alexander Lavrentyev said that the Syrian armed opposition could arrive in�the Kazakh capital of�Astana on�Thursday.
"Despite the absence of�the Syrian armed opposition delegation at�the talks in�Astana, we hope that it will change its position. And according to�incoming information, it intends to�come to�Astana tomorrow morning. Let us hope," Lavrentyev said.


However, later in�the day, the Free Syrian Army (FSA) said that it would not take part in�Astana talks.
"Nobody from�the FSA will travel to�Astana," Ahmed Berri, the chief of�staff of�FSA, told the Al Arabiya television channel.


Bashar Jaafari, head of�the Syrian government�s delegation, said that there would be no extension of�the talks. He also accused Turkey of�being responsible for�the opposition�s demarche.
"As you noted the third round�of Astana and the concluding meeting ended without�the delegation of�the armed terrorist groups. Turkey as�the guarantor state is responsible for�impeding Astana process," Jaafari told reporters.


The head of�Russia delegation expressed his regrets that the opposition had failed to�participate in�the talks.

"We are very sorry that the armed Syrian opposition was not present at�the current consultations, because if it were here, a number of�issues including in�the interests of�the population living the territories that this armed opposition controls could have been resolved in�a positive key," Lavrentyev said, adding that talks with�the Syrian armed opposition should continue as�the problems can be resolved only by�means of�mutual dialogue.

He also said that there were forces that wanted to�disrupt the Syrian reconciliation process.

"We must also take into�account that there are forces that want not only to�disrupt the course of�the Astana process, as�well as�the negotiations process in�Geneva, but�also want to�disrupt the possibility of�holding any peace talks, including on�political settlement," Lavrentyev said.

According to�the head of�the Russian delegation, participants of�Astana talks confirmed that, despite�the existing ceasefire violations in�Syria, the level of�violence in�the country has declined.
"The meeting participants confirmed that, despite�the existing violations of�the regime of�cessation of�hostilities, the level of�violence in�the zones of�the regime has significantly decreased," Lavrentyev told reporters.


He also said that the Russian delegation had held a bilateral meeting with�the US delegation to�coordinate the two countries' visions on�Syrian settlement.

Lavrentyev pointed out�that Turkey and Iran had provided detailed information on�the important issue of�separating terrorists from�the moderate opposition in�Syria.
"At present we have received fairly detailed information from�both the Turkish and Iranian sides. There is superimposing of�maps, in�other words those places designated as�zones controlled specifically by [Islamic State] and Jabhat Nusra," Lavrentyev said, referring to�two terrorist organizations banned in�Russia.


He also expressed hope that the Syrian armed opposition would help in�providing information on�maps locating terrorist positions.

Lavrentyev also added that the next meeting in�Astana would be held on�May 3-4.
"It will be preceded by�a meeting of�experts in�Tehran on�April 18-19, during�which it is planned to�finalize the documents in�such a way that they can be approved during�the next meeting in�Astana," the Russian delegation�s head said.


Jaafari said that the Syrian delegation had discussed with�Russia the document on�demining Palmyra liberated from�the Islamic State terrorists.

"We did not discuss any documents except�for one, which regards the demining of�the historical city of�Palmyra. The delegation of�Syria presented its own view and vision on�that document. The Russian side did accept it, and on�that basis we will have further steps, the Russian side will discuss that document with�other countries, including with�guarantor states. That is the only document that we discussed with�our friends from�Russia," Jaafari said.

Later in�the day, Jaafari said that the delegation had held an additional meeting to�discuss constitutional changes.

"Several minutes after�the final meeting, we held an additional meeting with�the Russian delegation. We heard a proposal related to�the constitution. We had some thoughts on�the issue, we handed them over�to the Russian side. We asked them to�discuss this topic. The issue is still under�discussion of�Russian and Syrian sides," Jaafari said.

Russia, Turkey and Iran, as�three ceasefire guarantor states, adopted a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to�the Syrian peace process.
"The three countries� underlined the importance of�the essential role of�the Astana meetings In terms of�complementing and facilitating the Geneva process, welcomed the resumption of�the Geneva talks and� based on�the interlinkage between�the Geneva and Astana processes they expressed their support for�the continuation of�the talks in�Geneva on�March 23, 2017" the joint statement said adding that the parties to�the talks discussed the ways to�reduce violence and strengthen the ceasefire regime.


The civil war in�Syria has been lasting for�six years with�the government troops fighting against�numerous opposition factions and terrorist organizations, such as�Daesh, outlawed in�Russia.

The nationwide Syrian ceasefire regime was introduced on�December 30, 2016. Terrorist organizations are not part of�the ceasefire.