Kazakhstan proposes ending Syria peace talks

However, Russia expressed the possibility of continuing the meetings in a different location.

Diplomats from the three countries convened in Astana to address various issues, including the situation on the ground in Syria, the roadmap for rebuilding Türkiye-Syria relations, Israeli attacks, and other relevant matters.

Kazakhstan has been hosting these talks since 2017, yielding mixed results. Notably, one significant outcome from previous negotiations was the establishment of de-escalation zones in Syrian territories, overseen by different countries.

Surprising the negotiating parties, Kanat Tumysh, Deputy Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan, called for the conclusion of the trilateral talks, stating that their objective had been achieved.

 “Syria's gradual emergence from isolation in the region could be regarded as a sign that the Astana process has completed its task. Taking into account Syria's return into the Arab nations' family, we propose officially declaring the 20th meeting under the Astana process the final one,” Tumysh told reporters.

However, the three negotiating parties issued a joint statement after the talks, affirming that the next meeting would be held later this year. Russian negotiator Alexander Lavrentyev clarified that they could not consider the Astana process over.

Lavrentyev stated: “If the Kazakh side has decided that they need to be moved to a different location, we will discuss that and pick one.” He suggested that Russia, Türkiye, and Iran could potentially take turns hosting future meetings.

The proposal from Kazakhstan to end the Syria peace talks and Russia's suggestion of shifting the location underscores the ongoing dynamics and complexities of the negotiation process. The future of the talks remains uncertain as the parties continue to evaluate alternative options and maintain their commitment to finding a resolution to the Syrian conflict. (ILKHA)