Update-Kazakh Foreign Ministry: 5th round of Astana talks on Syria to be held on July 4-5 as scheduled

Astana, SANA -Head of the Press office at the Kazakh Foreign Ministry Anwar Jaynakov said that delegation of the Syrian Arab republic, headed by Syria’s permanent representative to the UN Bashar al-Jaafari,  arrived in Astana.

Earlier, Kazakh Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov said on Monday that the fifth round of Astana talks on the crisis in Syria will be held on July 4-5 as scheduled.

The delegation of the Syrian Arab Republic government confirmed its participation and will arrive today, Abdrakhmanov told reporters on Monday, adding that representatives of the “armed opposition” also confirmed their participation.

Abdrakhmanov pointed out that observer delegations, including a US delegation headed by Acting US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Stuart Jones and a Jordanian delegation, will arrive in Astana soon to participate in the meeting.

The Kazakh diplomat added that representatives of the UN have arrived, while UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura is expected to arrive later.

The Kazakh capital of Astana hosted four meetings on Syria, and the Russian de-escalation zones memorandum was signed at the last meeting held in May.

H. Zain/ Hazem Sabbagh