Syrian opposition agrees to participate in Astana talks

By Azernews

By Kamila Aliyeva

The Syrian armed opposition was invited to the talks on Syria in Astana and none of its groupings spoke out against participation, a member of the delegation of armed groups, Fateh Hassoun, told RIA Novosti on April 30.

"We have received an official proposal, and there are arguments in favor of participation in [the] Astana [talks]. We have not heard a demand not to go [to Astana] from any leaders of the [armed] groups. Vise versa they consider new Russia's proposal as something that could improve the situation on the ground. There are no strong voices opposing attending [the talks]," Hassoun said.

Hassoun stressed that the people of Russia and Syria have a strong connection "since the start of forming of the Syrian Arab Republic."

He also expressed a hope that Russia will act not as a side of the talks but as a guarantor of the process.

The forthcoming meeting on Syria is scheduled for May 3-4 in Astana. Expert-level meeting will take place on May 2.

The nationwide Syrian ceasefire regime was introduced on December 30, 2016, with Russia, Iran and Turkey serving as its guarantors. The UN Security Council passed a resolution in December supporting the effort.

Earlier this year, Astana hosted three rounds of high-level talks to end the military confrontation in Syria , which become known as the Astana process. It brought together representatives of the three guarantor states, as well as the Syrian government and armed opposition, along with representatives of the UN, the United States and Jordan. 

Syria has been gripped by civil war since March 2011 with various terrorist groups, including Daesh (also known as ISIS or ISIL), controlling parts of it.

According to a report by the Syrian Center for Policy Research, the conflict has claimed the lives of over 470,000 people, injured 1.9 million others, and displaced nearly half of the country’s pre-war population of about 23 million within or beyond its borders.

On April 4, the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces claimed that 80 people were killed and 200 injured in a suspected chemical attack in Khan Sheikhoun, putting the blame on the Syrian government. Damascus vehemently rejected the accusations and said militants and their allies were responsible.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the Syrian Air Force hit a warehouse where militants stored chemical weapons, which were sent to Iraq. The Russian Foreign Ministry reminded that the Syrian government doesn't possess chemical weapons since mid-2014. Chemical weapons have been taken out of the country.

In response to the Khan Sheikhoun incident the United States launched 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at the Syrian military airfield in Ash Sha’irat, located about 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the city of Homs. Russia described the attack as an aggression against a sovereign state.

This attack was seen as an undermining factor for all international efforts aimed at finding political solution to the Syrian conflict.