Founding of ceasefire task force main result of Astana-2 - Lavrov
MOSCOW. Feb 20 (Interfax) - Creation of a joint group to monitor the observance of a ceasefire in Syria was the main result of the intra-Syrian talks recently held in Astana, while Russia is responding calmly to uncompromising statements made in Astana, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
"The main result of the latest meeting in Astana has been the joint group founded by Russia, Turkey, and Iran at the expert level to practically monitor how the ceasefire is observed, what violations could possibly take place and what the reaction to these violations should be," Lavrov said at a news briefing in Moscow on Monday.
The participants in the Astana meetings adopted a document that contains a detailed procedure regarding the operation of the joint group, including participation of UN experts, the use of the crisis center earlier created at the UN, the possibility to invite, if necessary, representatives of the Syrian government and the armed opposition, as well as possible engagement in this process of experts from countries other than Russia, Turkey, and Iran, Lavrov said.
However, Lavrov agreed that some statements aired during the Astana talks were quite uncompromising.
"But before starting serious negotiating work, parties usually try to raise the stake so as to try then to get a result that is more beneficial, [starting] from elevated positions. We have a calm attitude toward this. In any case, things must come to a compromise. We will be encouraging all participants in the talks precisely to show good will and make agreements," Lavrov said.