Syrian opposition to meet in Astana next week - Kazakh Foreign Ministry
ASTANA. May 21 (Interfax) - Syrian opposition groups are expected to hold their negotiations in Kazakhstan's capital Astana next week, Kazakh Foreign Minister Yerlan Idrisov has said.
"Talks of the Syrian opposition are expected to take place in Astana next week," Idrisov said in remarks posted on the Twitter account of the Kazakh Foreign Ministry on Thursday.
The ministry confirmed earlier that it had received a request from certain representatives of the Syrian opposition asking Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev to allow them to meet in Astana.
In its reply, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry reaffirmed Astana's fundamental support for national and international efforts aimed at restoring peace and stability in Syria.
Idrisov also said that Kazakhstan was ready to consider the possibility of establishing a platform for the opposing sides' dialogue and wished to invite the authors of this initiative to Astana to hold their first unofficial exchange of opinions behind closed doors.