Syria’s HNC opposition group supports peace talks in Astana

Syria’s main opposition group, the High Negotiations Committee (HNC), has expressed its support for an upcoming round of peace talks between terrorists and the Syrian government in the Kazakh capital of Astana.

According to Press TV, the HNC said in a statement on Saturday that it would back the participation of militants in planned peace talks brokered by Russia and Turkey, which will be held later this month.

“Concerning the forthcoming meeting in Astana, the [High Negotiations] Committee stresses its support to the military delegation” the HNC statement said after a two-day meeting in Riyadh, expressing hope that the talks would "establish a phase of confidence” in peace talks between the government and the opposition.

The HNC, which is backed by Saudi Arabia and a number of other countries in the Middle East and the West, has previously attended the UN-backed talks with Damascus representatives in Geneva.

The group said talks in Astana could pave the way for the resumption of UN-backed negotiations in the Swiss city of Geneva next month. Its statement said the HNC “appreciates efforts” to make the talks fruitful.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Saturday that Ankara and Moscow have decided to invite Washington in the January 23 talks in Astana.

Cavusoglu said, however, that Turkey was still opposed to the participation of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in the negotiations. 

SS