Tripartite meeting on Syria kicks off in Tehran

Representatives from Iran, Russia and Turkey here on Tuesday started a meeting to set the agenda of imminent Syrian peace talks in Astana, media report said.

During the two-day meeting, the participants will exchange views about the ongoing ceasefire and the establishment of de-escalation zones in Syria, Xinhua reported.

The upcoming Astana talks will be held with the participation of representatives from Iran, Russia and Turkey and delegations from the Syrian government, Syrian opposition forces, and observers from the UN in the end of August.

Russia, Turkey and Iran on July 6 agreed to form a joint working group on establishing de-escalation zones in Syria during the talks in Astana.

The three countries signed a memorandum of understanding on creating four de-escalation zones in Syria, aiming to ease tensions for at least six months in Syria where the war is in the seventh year.

According to the memorandum, the government and opposition forces will halt fighting in four zones, including Idlib and Homs province, the eastern Ghouta countryside of Damascus, and areas in the Daraa and Qunaitera provinces.

--IANS

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