Negotiations on Syria begin in Astana

An intra-Syrian meeting has begun in Astana, in which the delegations of Russia, Turkey, Iran and the UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura take part. This was reported by Interfax with reference to a source close to the delegation of one of the countries. The meeting will take place on January 23 and 24.

On the agenda is the issue of strengthening the ceasefire regime and the organization of consultations in Geneva on February 8.

At the same time, it is not known whether the negotiations between representatives of Damascus and the armed opposition are direct. Free Syrian Army spokesman Osama Abu Zeid told EFE that talks between the Damascus delegation and the Syrian opposition in the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana, would be indirect.

At the end of December, Reuters, citing anonymous sources, announced the intention of Russia, Turkey and Iran to agree on a project for dividing Syria into unofficial zones of influence - regional autonomies should appear in Syria within the framework of a federal structure controlled by current President Bashar al-Assad.