The Al-Mayadeen channel reported that the draft final statement of the Sochi conference indicates that the guarantor states of the Astana process express concern over the humanitarian situation in Syria and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the channel, "the guarantor states of the Astana process reaffirm their determination to combat terrorism and the necessity to maintain calm in the de-escalation zone in Idlib." The draft also considers that the ongoing attacks on Syria are a violation of international law.
The international meeting, the fifteenth in the Astana format regarding Syria, began yesterday at the Sochi resort on the Black Sea, with the participation of a delegation from the Syrian Arab Republic and delegations from the guarantor states of the Astana process, which include the Russian delegation, the Iranian delegation, and the Turkish delegation.
Representatives from countries with observer status in the Astana process, such as Iraq, Lebanon, and Jordan, as well as the United Nations, led by the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen, and a representative from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, which hosted the Astana process, are also participating. Additionally, representatives of what is known as the "armed Syrian opposition" are present. The United States had refused to accept an invitation from Russia to participate as an observer in the Astana format talks concerning the situation in Syria.
