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RIA Novosti
The official representative of Russian foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova said that the talks on Syria, which will start in Astana on January 23, the Ministerial level is not provided. Her words on Thursday, January 19, leads TASS.
“With specific regard to players, while we have in mind the expert level,” the diplomat said, adding that the meeting lasting several days.
Specific information on the composition of the participants in the negotiations yet. However, earlier on January 19 it became known that the UN Secretary General, antónio Guterres, asked his special envoy Staffan de Mistura to personally lead the group of representatives of the world organization, which will go to Astana. This is due to the “complexity and importance of the issues to be raised” and the “high level of representation of the initiators of the meeting convocation”.
17 Jan Russia for talks in the capital of Kazakhstan invited the American side. “We hope that the new administration [USA] will be able to accept this invitation, will be represented by their experts at any level which it believes to be possible”, — said Russian foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Iran on the initiative of Moscow reacted negatively.
On 29 December the President of Russia Vladimir Putin has informed on the achievement of agreements on a ceasefire in Syria and the willingness of the government of the Arab Republic and representatives of the armed opposition to start negotiations. As the site for the meeting was chosen in Astana.