20 Dec 2017 19:16

Syrian opposition hopes for discussion of detainees in Astana

MOSCOW. Dec 20 (Interfax) - The issue of detainees should be the priority at the eighth round of negotiations on Syria in Astana, Yahya al-Aridi, spokeman for the opposition's Syrian Negotiation Commission, said.

"We got promises that the detainees issue is to be given priority. And we are waiting for a breakthrough in that. If it doesn't happen, that means there is no keeping of promises," al-Aridi told Interfax.

"Astana has goals, it is the de-escalation, which should be observed, and it is not being observed and the breacher is known. It is the regime, the Iranian militias, and sometimes the Russians themselves, the guarantors," he said.