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Conflict in Syria

Russia’s chief negotiator positively assesses first day of Sochi talks on Syria

On the first day of the meeting, the Russian delegation met with United Nations Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura

SOCHI, July 30. /TASS/. Talks on Syria in the so-called Astana format that are currently underway in Russia’s Sochi are held in a constructive atmosphere, Russian president’s special envoy for Syria, Alexander Lavrentyev, said on Monday.

"They (talks) are being held in a routine, working, constructive atmosphere," Lavrentyev, who leads the Russian delegation, said after the first day of talks.

Read also

Russia seeks agreement with West on common principles of work on Syrian refugees

However he refrained from disclosing details of the talks, saying the results will be announced when the talks are over.

A two-day high-level international meeting on Syria began in Russia’s Black Sea resort city of Sochi on Monday. It is co-chaired by the three Syrian ceasefire guarantor nations, namely Russian, Iran and Turkey. The meeting centers round the establishment of a Syrian constitutional committee, the situation in the de-escalation zones and the return of refugees, as well as humanitarian aspects, such as the exchange of prisoners and detained persons between the parties to the conflict.

On the first day of the meeting, the Russian delegation met with United Nations Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura, with representatives of the Syrian and Iranian governments.

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Syrian conflict

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