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Kazakhstan has reportedly made a surprise decision to no longer hold talks on the Syrian peace process in its capital, Astana,
The decision became public after the 20th meeting of the Astana format, which included Russia, Turkey and Iran, on June 21. The meeting discussed the situation on the ground, a roadmap to rebuild Turkey-Syria ties, Israeli attacks and a host of other issues.
Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Kanat Tumysh unexpectedly called for the conclusion of trilateral talks after the meeting, saying their goal had been achieved.
“Syria’s gradual emergence from isolation in the region could be regarded as a sign that the Astana process has completed its task,” he told reporters, according to Reuters. “Taking into account Syria’s return into the Arab (nations) family, we propose officially declaring the 20th meeting under the Astana process the final one.”
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov confirmed to TASS that the decision to no longer hold meetings on Syria in Astana was made at the initiative of the Kazakh side.
Commenting on Kazakhstan’s move, Russia’s special presidential representative for the Syrian settlement, Alexander Lavrentyev, said it came as a surprise to Russia.
“Frankly speaking, the news came as a surprise to us today – about the initiative by the Foreign Ministry of Kazakhstan to be done with the Astana platform; they seem to expect us to pick another venue for holding these meetings,” Lavrentyev said.
Later, the senior Russian diplomat said that the Astana format on Syria proved to be effective and will remain operational.
“The current Astana format will remain operational. It has proved its viability, while the international community’s so-called efforts to resolve the Syria issue stalled,” he pointed out at a press conference following the 20th International Meeting on Syria in the Astana Format.
Lavrentyev emphasized that the Astana format was “only formally associated with a place because the Kazakh leadership had agreed to host international meetings involving a group of three guarantee nations, observers from a number of countries – namely Syria’s neighbors, including Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan – as well as officials from international organizations, primarily the United Nations secretary general’s Special Envoy for Syria Mr. Geir Pedersen.”
Lavrentyev also stressed that Russia appreciated Kazakhstan’s hospitality as the country kept hosting the group’s meetings for six and a half years. He noted that 18 of the 20 meetings took place in Astana, while two were held in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi.
Under a joint statement adopted by Russia, Iran and Turkey following their 20th Astana format meeting on Syria, the three countries called for more humanitarian aid to Syria, voiced their support for the constitutional committee, condemned Israeli attacks on the country and noted the importance of normalization between Ankara and Damascus.
The countries also agreed to meet again in the latter half of 2023. Lavrentyev later said that the venue for further Astana format meetings will be determined by the foreign ministries of the participating countries.
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