Kazakh Foreign Ministry proposes to announce 20th round of Syria talks as last one in Astana format

ASTANA. June 21 (Interfax) - Kazakhstan has proposed that the current round of Syria talks be announced as the last one in the Astana format, Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Kanat Tumysh said.

"Syria's gradual withdrawal from regional isolation could be interpreted as a sign that the Astana process has honorably accomplished its mission. Given Syria's return to the Arab family, we propose that the 20th round of Syria talks be declared the last one in the Astana process," Tumysh said at a plenary meeting on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, a joint statement of Iran, Russia and Turkey, adopted at the end of the meeting in Astana, says that the sides have agreed to hold the 21st international meeting on Syria in the second half of 2023. The statement does not say where the new round might be held.