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Iraq, Lebanon show interest in contributing to Astana format - Russian diplomat

These countries showed interest in better knowing and understanding what is happening in Astana, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin noted

MUNICH, February 17. /TASS/. Iraq and Lebanon have shown interest in providing their assistance for the so-called Astana format (Russia, Turkey, Iran) on Syria, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin told TASS on Sunday.

"During our preliminary contacts these countries showed interest in better knowing and understanding what is happening in Astana and if needed to provide assistance to these processes on which we have been working in Astana," Vershinin said.

"We are only at the first stage of considering the issue [on observers]," the diplomat said. "As you know, in Sochi a decision was made that the foreign ministers should deal with this issue, namely considering the candidates and the criteria for these countries to join the Astana format."

The diplomat noted that now the observers are the United Nations and Jordan. "This would be only natural if such countries as Iraq and Lebanon, which border on Syria and are interested in long-term settlement there, were among these candidates," he stressed.

The Astana peace process on Syria was set up in early 2017 by Russia, Iran and Turkey. The first meeting of the Astana trio was held in Sochi on November 22, 2017.

Tags

Foreign policy Syria Iran Iraq Turkey Lebanon Jordan

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