On Friday, the guarantor states of the Astana process (Russia, Iran Turkey) failed to reach create a consensus on any issues placed on the agenda at the 13th round of talks, amid Russian-Iranian disputes surrounding the Golan Heights.
The talks in the Kazakh capital of Nur-Sultan took place in the presence of representatives from Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan, and in the absence of the UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen.
Diplomatic sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the meeting “failed to reach the results that the guarantor states had hoped for.”
The three states postponed announcing the creation of a committee, which will be tasked with drafting a constitution for post-war Syria.
Instead, they agreed that the committee would be announced at the Russia-Iran-Turkey summit expected next month.
The three countries also disagreed on the implementation of the Sochi agreement reached on Sept. 17, 2018, between Turkey and Russia, and the withdrawal of fighters from the demilitarized zone in northwest Syria.
Also, a lengthy debate took place between the Russian and the Iranian delegations on the Golan, until the two states agreed on general terms, including,’“respecting and adhering to the goals and principles of the UN Charter and the international resolutions, that reject the occupation of the Syrian Golan, mainly Resolution 497.”
In return, the guarantor states said they oppose the autonomous regions set up by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces and the Kurdish People’s Protection Units in northern Syria, saying they threaten the security of neighboring countries, in reference to Turkey.
This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
