Iran:

US to Play No Role in Astana Talks on Syria

Rasa - Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani underlined his country's active role in the upcoming Syrian peace talks in Kazakhstan, noting that Washington will play no role in the meeting.

News ID: 426641

Date: 18 January 2017 - 21:09

RNA - "Given Iran's opposition to the US partnership in Astana conference, no joint invitation has been extended to the US by the three countries (Iran, Russia and Turkey) who initiated the meeting," Shamkhani said on Wednesday.

He said that given the US record of non-commitment and inefficiency in establishment of ceasefire and holding talks between the two sides of the war in Syria there is no reason for Washington's partnership in managing and leading the current political initiatives for resolution of the Syrian crisis "and the country's role in the Astana conference is completely rejected".

Shamkhani, meantime, said Kazakhstan as the host of the meeting may invite the US as an observer state.

He underscored his country's active presence in Astana talks, and said only those militant groups which have signed the ceasefire agreement with the government and announced commitment to the Syrian-Syrian talks have been invited to the Astana meeting along with the UN representative.

His remarks came after Iranian President Hassan Rouhani underlined the necessity for continued ceasefire in Syria, saying that the peace talks to resolve the crisis in the war-hit country should be pursued seriously.

"First, we should endeavor to maintain the ceasefire and don’t allow the fire of war to flare again," President Rouhani said in a press conference in Tehran on Tuesday.

He underscored the need for holding real and serious talks in Astana to resolve the crisis in Syria, and said the new round of Syria talks in Kazakhstan is different because the previous rounds of negotiations gathered only expatriate Syrian dissidents, but now representatives of the Syrian government and the militant groups which have accepted the ceasefire are due to participate in the Astana talks.

Stressing Iran, Russia and Turkey's intensified efforts on the threshold of Astana talks, President Rouhani said, "No one is allowed to decide for the Syrian people on who, how and which government should rule Syria in future, and an atmosphere of peace and stability as well as the conditions for holding elections should be prepared."

"Every one should accept whatever the Syrian people vote for," he emphasized.

Negotiations to reach a resolution to the six-year war in Syria are due to begin in Kazakhstan's capital Astana later this month between the Syrian government and opposition.

Following last month's Syria cease-fire deal, the Astana meeting comes as part of ongoing efforts by Iran, Russia and Turkey to promote a political solution in war-torn Syria.

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