Russian delegation joins consultations at 7th Astana round, negotiations with Iran underway
ASTANA. Oct 30 (Interfax) - The Russian delegation to the seventh round of the Syria de-escalation talks in Astana is holding negotiations with Iran, an Interfax correspondent reported.
"The Russian delegation has begun a meeting with Iran. The Russian delegation will meet with every party to the Astana process during the day," a representative of a delegation participating in the negotiations said.
The Iranian delegation to the 7th Astana round has already met with representatives of the Syrian government in the capital of Kazakhstan, the Interfax correspondent reported.
The Iranian delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Jaberi Ansari and Syrian Ambassador to the United Nations Bashar al-Jaafari met at an Astana hotel.
The seventh round of the Syria de-escalation talks began in Astana on Monday.
The round will seek to further the Syria ceasefire and stabilization in the stage of transition to the political settlement of the crisis.
The negotiating parties are expected to approve regulations on a working group, which will promote the release of hostages and captives, the transfer of bodies, and the search for missing persons.
The sides will also address the fight against international terrorism and adopt a joint statement on humanitarian demining in Syria.
All parties to the Astana process have arrived for the negotiations.
The Russian delegation is led by Special Presidential Representative for Syria Alexander Lavrentyev; the Turkish delegation is led by Deputy Foreign Minister Sedat Onal, and the Iranian delegation is led by Deputy Foreign Minister Jaberi Ansari. In addition to the guarantor countries, i.e. Russia, Turkey, and Iran, the round will involve delegations of the Syrian government and the opposition, as well as observers from the United Nations, the United States, and Jordan.