UN special envoy will attend Astana talks on Syria: Russia

UN special envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen will take part in the upcoming round of talks on the Syrian conflict in the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana, according to a Russian official.

Mikhail Bogdanov, the Russian special presidential envoy for the Middle East and Africa and deputy foreign minister, said on Tuesday that in addition to Pederson, representatives from the observer countries that are Syria’s neighbors — Iraq, Lebanon, and Jordan — will also participate in the meeting.

“As usual, representatives of observer countries will participate [in the talks]. These include Syria’s neighboring countries of Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan,” Bogdanov said.

“Our colleagues from UN bodies are also here, namely Mr. Geir Pedersen.”

The 20th round of the Astana format talks, which is slated on June 20-21, will be attended by deputy Foreign Ministers of Turkey, Russia, and Iran, the three guarantor states, as well as representatives of the Syrian government and anti-Damascus militant groups.

SS