13th international high-level Syria talks kick off in Nur-Sultan

AKIPRESS.COM - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan has recently reported that all Astana process members confirmed their participation in the Syrian talks, which will be held in Kazakhstan's capital on August 1-2, Sputnik Kazakhstan reports.
The Syrian peace process will be attended by both sides of the conflict in Syria - the governmental delegation, which is headed by Permanent Representative of the Syrian Arab Republic to the United Nations Bashar Jaafari and the armed opposition led by Ahmad al-Touma.
Among guarantor states, the delegation of Russia will be led by President's Special Envoy to Syria Alexander Lavrentiev. Turkey will be represented by First Deputy Foreign Minister Sedat Onal. The Iranian delegation will be headed by Senior Assistant Foreign Minister of Iran on Political Issues Ali Asghar Haji.
The UN Secretary-General's Syria envoy, Geir Pedersen, will not participate in the talks due to health problems. The delegation will be led by his assistant.
The delegations of Iraq and Lebanon will attend the event as observes for the first time.
Representatives of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees are expected to participate in the talks as well.
The first day of talks will be held under closed doors.
Major results of the 2-day talks will be reported in a joint statement of the Astana peace process member states.