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Date set for expert-level meeting on Syria

25 April 2017 11:22 (UTC+04:00)
Date set for expert-level meeting on Syria

By Kamila Aliyeva

Iran, Russia, and Turkey - the three countries that initiated a ceasefire plan to resolve a bloody crisis in Syria- will hold another meeting at the level of experts to coordinate efforts for preparations to the fourth round of diplomatic negotiations in Astana for peace in Syria.

The meeting at the expert level will be held in Astana on May 2, Deputy Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Mukhtar Tleuberdi told reporters on April 25, RIA Novosti reported.

"Yes, everything will be in Astana," he said, answering the question where the next expert-level meeting will take place.

The 4th round of the Astana talks scheduled for May 3- 4.

Previous meeting of the expert group of countries-guarantors of armistice in Syria - Russia, Iran and Turkey - with the participation of the UN as observer was held in Tehran on April 18-19. There the sides discussed draft documents on a ceasefire regime in Syria, as well as the exchange of prisoners and abductees between the Damascus government and the rebels.

Diplomatic efforts to end fighting in Syria have gained additional impulse in recent months with the announcement of a ceasefire in the Arab country in early January.

Earlier this year, Astana hosted three rounds of high-level talks to end the military confrontation in Syria as part of that has become known as the Astana process. It brought together representatives of the three guarantor states, as well as the Syrian government and armed opposition, along with representatives of the UN, the United States and Jordan.

Syria has been gripped by civil war since March 2011 with various terrorist groups, including Daesh (also known as ISIS or ISIL), controlling parts of it.

According to a report by the Syrian Center for Policy Research, the conflict has claimed the lives of over 470,000 people, injured 1.9 million others, and displaced nearly half of the country’s pre-war population of about 23 million within or beyond its borders.

On April 4, the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces claimed that 80 people were killed and 200 injured in a suspected chemical attack in Khan Sheikhoun, putting the blame on the Syrian government. Damascus vehemently rejected the accusations and said militants and their allies were responsible.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the Syrian Air Force hit a warehouse where militants stored chemical weapons, which were sent to Iraq. The Russian Foreign Ministry reminded that the Syrian government doesn't possess chemical weapons since mid-2014. Chemical weapons have been taken out of the country.

In response to the Khan Sheikhoun incident the United States launched 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at the Syrian military airfield in Ash Sha’irat, located about 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the city of Homs. Russia described the attack as an aggression against a sovereign state.

This attack was seen as an undermining factor for all international efforts aimed at finding political solution to the Syrian conflict.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz

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