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‘Dealing with enemies to save Syria’: Astana process paves way for Geneva talks ‘Dealing with enemies to save Syria’: Astana process paves way for Geneva talks
(35 minutes later)
Russia, Iran and Turkey have announced they will establish a trilateral mechanism to support the ceasefire in Syria. In a joint statement issued at the end of talks in Astana, they said the Syrian opposition should take part in Geneva peace talks on the issue. The talks on the Syrian peace process concluded in Kazakhstan on Tuesday, with the three guarantor countries – Russia, Turkey and Iran – issuing a joint statement establishing trilateral support for the Syrian ceasefire and paving the way for the Geneva talks due February 8.
  Russia, Iran and Turkey have announced they will establish a trilateral mechanism to support the ceasefire in Syria. In a joint statement issued at the end of talks in the Kazakh capital, Astana, they said the Syrian opposition had agreed to take part in peace talks on the issue set for Geneva, Switzerland.
The delegations of Iran, Russia and Turkey support the start of negotiations between the government of Syria and armed opposition in Astana, January 23-24, 2017, said a joint statement on Tuesday.  “The delegations of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Turkey …support launching the talks between the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic and the armed opposition in Astana on January 23-24, 2017,” said a joint statement on Tuesday.
Moscow, Tehran and Ankara agreed that the Syrian crisis can be only resolved via a political process and that there can be no military solution. Moscow, Tehran and Ankara “express their conviction that there is no military solution to the Syrian conflict and that it can only be solved though a political process.”
The sides also agreed to a joint fight against militants from Islamic State, which alongside Al Nusra front has not been included in the negotiations. The trio also suggested separating the terrorists from Syrian armed opposition groups. They also welcomed the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2254 on the Syrian crisis, which was adopted in December 2015. The sides also agreed to jointly fight terrorists from Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL), which alongside Jabhat Fateh al-Sham (formerly Al-Nusra Front) was not included in the negotiations. The trio suggested separating terrorists from Syrian armed opposition groups, and welcomed the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2254 on the Syrian crisis, which was adopted in December 2015.
The countries said that they support the willingness of the armed opposition groups to take part in the next round of talks, which are scheduled for February 8 in Geneva. Russia, Iran and Turkey said that they support the willingness of the armed opposition groups to take part in the next round of talks, which are scheduled for February 8 in Geneva.
Syrian Ambassador to the UN Bashar Jaafari told reporters it was extremely painful for the Damascus delegation to sit in the same room as Syrians linked to other agendas. He added that it was not the first time they had sat together, and that they had to do it for the sake of the Syrian people. ‘Extremely painful’ to be in same room as Syrian armed rebels who committed terrorist acts – Damascus rep
Syrian Ambassador to the UN Bashar Jaafari told reporters it was “extremely painful” for the Damascus delegation to sit in the same room as Syrian armed groups “who committed terrorist acts.” He added that it was not the first time they had met, and that the government had to take the step for the sake of the Syrian people.
Jaafari said that he viewed the role of Turkey in the Syrian ceasefire as negative, but had to agree to cooperate to facilitate the peace process. “In politics sometimes we have to deal with enemies to save your country, and this is what we do,” he said.
Jaafari called the negotiations “a success” and expressed support for the joint statement earlier issued by Moscow, Tehran and Ankara.Jaafari called the negotiations “a success” and expressed support for the joint statement earlier issued by Moscow, Tehran and Ankara.
"Finally we have a consensual paper [the joint statement] agreed upon by everybody," he said."Finally we have a consensual paper [the joint statement] agreed upon by everybody," he said.
Mohammed Alloush, leader of the Jaysh al-Islam alliance, who is heading the delegation of the Syrian armed opposition at the Astana talks, said the rebels support a political solution based on UN auspices, while demanding the resignation of Syrian President Bashar Assad. Alloush added that the Syrian opposition will not engage in any talks with Iran and will not accept any statement by Tehran on Syria’s future.He said that he had given a proposal to Russia on the ceasefire, and expects an answer within a week. Answering a reporter’s question, he said that the Syrian government would continue its operation in the Wadi Barada area in the Damascus Countryside Province, as long as the people in the capital remain deprived of water.
Peace talks on Syria kicked off in Astana on Monday with frosty exchanges between the principal negotiators – the Syrian government’s UN envoy, Bashar Jaafari, and a delegation from the rebels headed by Mohammed Alloush of the Jaysh al-Islam (‘Army of Islam’) Islamist militant group. Water from the pumping station at Ain al-Fijah in the Wadi Barada area was cut by the Damascus Water Authority in late December, after it said militants had contaminated the source, the Barada River, with diesel fuel. As a result, more than 5 million people have been without water for over two weeks.
The two-day event was held at the Rixos hotel in Astana, with the hosting Kazakh government providing additional security.   Syrian armed opposition supports ceasefire, demands Assad step down 
The talks were given the green light after three countries – Russia, Turkey, and Iran – brokered a partial ceasefire between the Syrian government and some opposition groups last month, which managed to significantly reduce hostilities in Syria. Both the government and rebels regularly complain of violations, however. Mohammed Alloush, leader of the Jaysh al-Islam militants, who headed the delegation of the Syrian armed opposition at the Astana talks, said the rebels support a political solution based on UN auspices, while demanding the resignation of Syrian President Bashar Assad.
The ceasefire does not include terrorist groups such as Al Nusra Front or Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL), which is currently engaged in a massive offensive against government forces in the Deir ez-Zor province. Alloush added, however, that the Syrian opposition would not engage in any talks with Iran and would not accept any statement by Tehran on Syria’s future. He said that he had given a proposal to Russia on the ceasefire, and expects an answer within a week.
Neither Al-Nusra nor Islamic State was invited to the conference. The Kurdish YPG militia, which was not invited to the negotiations either, said on Monday that it will “not be bound” by any decisions taken in Astana.  ‘Probably first time armed groups sat in the same room with govt since Syria conflict began’ – Mistura on Astana process
Staffan de Mistura, the UN and Arab League Envoy to Syria, told reporters that the UN commends Russia, Iran and Turkey for deciding to establish a mechanism to monitor the ceasefire in Syria.He underlined the uniqueness of the talks, saying that it was “probably the first time” since the start of the civil war that Syrian armed opposition groups had sat in the same room as the government.
“It has required political courage from them to sit in the same room and listen to their respective demands,” he said.
The envoy said he hopes that the political process will continue in Geneva. The only way for peace to come to Syria is through a political solution brought about through intra-Syrian negotiations under the aegis of the UN, he concluded.
“We cannot allow another ceasefire to dissolve because of a lack of a political process. Now is the time for the international community in all its dimensions to come together and support one integrated political negotiating process, as provided for in [UN Security Council Resolution] SCR 2254.”