The 15th international meeting in the Astana format regarding Syria commenced this morning at the Russian resort of Sochi by the Black Sea, with the participation of a delegation from the Syrian Arab Republic headed by Dr. Ayman Sousan, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates.
Delegations from the guarantor countries of the Astana process are participating, including the Russian delegation led by the special envoy of the Russian President to Syria, Alexander Lavrentiyev, the delegation from the Islamic Republic of Iran headed by the senior assistant to the Iranian Foreign Minister for political affairs, Ali Asghar Khaji, and a Turkish delegation. Representatives from countries holding observer status in the Astana process, including Iraq, Lebanon, and Jordan, are also participating, along with the United Nations, represented by the special envoy of the UN Secretary-General to Syria, Geir Pedersen, as well as a representative from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which is hosting the Astana process, and representatives from what is referred to as the "Syrian armed opposition."
The United States declined to respond to an invitation extended by Russia to participate as an observer in the Astana format talks on the situation in Syria. The Russian President's special envoy for the Syrian settlement, Alexander Lavrentiyev, stated in remarks made today that an invitation was sent to the United States to participate in the Astana talks, but the American side refused.
The first day of the two-day meeting began with closed bilateral and multilateral discussions among the various delegations, while the concluding general session of the meeting will be held tomorrow.
