UK backs Syria peace talks in Astana

The British government has said that it supports the Syrian peace talks set to be held in the Kazakhstani capital Astana next week, Anadolu news agency reported yesterday.

“We support this process because it provides an opportunity to get back to talking about a political solution to the conflict,” a UK government spokesperson told Anadolu during a weekly press conference.

She said: “These talks have obviously come about following [a ceasefire backed by] Russia and Turkey, and some of those talks are about cessation of hostilities [under] the UN Security Council resolution that we firmly supported.”

The spokesperson added: “We have said throughout that ultimately [dialogue is] the way to really bring peace and stability to Syria…We will continue to support that process.”

Negotiations between the Syrian regime of President Bashar Al-Assad and opposition negotiators to reach a political solution to the almost six-year war in Syria are due to begin on 23 January, days after US President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

Following last month’s Syria ceasefire deal brokered by Turkey and Russia, the Astana meeting comes as part of ongoing efforts by the two countries to promote a political solution in war-torn Syria.