This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/24/syria-talks-astana-russia-turkey-iran-ceasefire

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Sponsors of Syria talks in Astana strike deal to protect fragile ceasefire Sponsors of Syria talks in Astana strike deal to protect fragile ceasefire
(35 minutes later)
Tortuous efforts to install a credible international body to entrench and broaden the patchwork ceasefire in Syria have partially succeeded on the second and final day of talks in Kazakhstan.Tortuous efforts to install a credible international body to entrench and broaden the patchwork ceasefire in Syria have partially succeeded on the second and final day of talks in Kazakhstan.
Discussions ended with agreement among the three sponsors of the talks – Russia, Turkey and Iran – to set up a trilateral commission to monitor and enforce the ceasefire that came into effect last month. Under the agreement, the three countries will act together to monitor the ceasefire, and take steps to urge those responsible for breaches to desist. Discussions ended with agreement among the three sponsors of the talks – Russia, Turkey and Iran – to set up a trilateral commission to monitor and enforce the ceasefirethat came into effect last month. Under the agreement, the three countries will act together to monitor the ceasefire, and take steps to urge those responsible for breaches to desist.
It is understood that neither the Syrian government nor the Syrian opposition present at the talks in Astana signed the final document. The negotiations were the first time the Syrian rebel fighters have been brought to the table since the civil war began more than five years ago. Neither the Syrian government nor the Syrian opposition present at the talks in Astana endorsed the final document.
On the first day of the talks, the Syrian opposition had objected to Iran being involved at all in monitoring the ceasefire, arguing that its militia and Lebanese Hezbollah were largely responsible for most of the ceasefire breaches. The Iranians had objected to a call in the draft communique for foreign militia to leave Syria. The opposition objects to Iran being involved in monitoring the ceasefire, arguing that its militia and Lebanese Hezbollah were largely responsible for most of the ceasefire breaches across Syria. The Iranians had objected to a call in the draft communique for foreign militia to leave the country.
However, weakened in the the wake of its crushing defeat in east Aleppo, the opposition was urged by Turkey not to block the trilateral commission. Turkey insists the commission could prove to be a viable Russian-backed way of forcing the Syrian government and Iranians to stop the breaches. However, Turkey urged the opposition, weakened aftera crushing defeat in east Aleppo, not to block the trilateral commission. Turkey insists the commission could prove to be a viable Russian-backed way of forcing the Syrian government and Iranians to stop the breaches.
“There will be no signing,” said Yahya al-Aridi, an opposition spokesman. “The guarantor countries, that is, Russia, Turkey and maybe Iran, will just release a document.”“There will be no signing,” said Yahya al-Aridi, an opposition spokesman. “The guarantor countries, that is, Russia, Turkey and maybe Iran, will just release a document.”
Iran accused Turkey of stonewalling, and continuing to support terrorists by providing arms and keeping its borders open for jihadis. Iran accused Turkey of stonewalling and continuing to support terrorists by providing arms and keeping its borders open for jihadis.
If the deal manages to cement the ceasefire in the coming days it could boost confidence before wider talks on Syria’s political future held in Geneva under UN auspices on 8 February. If the deal manages to cement the ceasefire in the coming days it could bolster confidence before wider talks on Syria’s political future held in Geneva under UN auspices on 8 February.
Russia has insisted that the Astana talks are designed to complement and not destroy the UN process. British ministers, not present at the talks, have wished them well, but fear the talks signify a wider Russian effort to pull a settlement away from the UN to regional players. The negotiations were the first time the Syrian rebel fighters had been brought to the table since the civil war began more than five years ago.
Moscow, which is determined that the summit signals its successful return to the main Middle East diplomatic stage, put pressure on Iran to offer concessions on the draft communique. Iran, now regarded as the closest external ally of Bashar al-Assad, was wary of a reference in to UN resolution 2118 on the distribution of humanitarian aid and to resolution 2254, which would open the door to a political transition in Syria. Nevertheless, the joint statement urges the international community to support a political process. Russia has always insisted that the Astana talks are designed to complement and not destroy the UN process. British ministers, not present at the talks, have wished them well, but fear the talks signify a wider Russian effort to pull a settlement away from the UN to regional players.
Iran opposes any deal that would see Assad placed under pressure to stand aside, or to agree that he steps aside within a fixed period. Moscow, which is determined that the summit signals its successful return to the main Middle East diplomatic stage, put pressure on Iran to offer concessions on the draft communique. Iran, now regarded as the closest external ally of the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, was wary of a reference to UN resolution 2118 on the distribution of humanitarian aid and to resolution 2254, which would open the door to a political transition in Syria. Nevertheless, the joint statement urges the international community to support a political process.
Theresa May, the UK prime minister, will visit Ankara on Saturday where she will be updated on the talks by Turkish President Recep Erdogan. Iran opposes any deal that would result in Assad being under pressure to stand aside, or to agree that he steps aside within a fixed period.
Much of the discussion in Astana took place through the sponsoring delegations and the UN special envoy, Staffan de Mistura. The UK prime minister, Theresa May, will visit Ankara on Saturday where the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, will update her on the talks.
De Mistura had been pressing the idea of the trilateral commission, saying: “The chances of success will be greater if the parties here are able to agree on a mechanism to oversee and implement nationwide ceasefire. We didn’t have it in the past, that’s the reason why often we failed.” Previous ceasefire monitoring between the US and Russia in Syria failed partly due to a lack of trust, and partly due to disagreements about the factions that should be excluded from the ceasefire. Much of the discussion in Astana took place through the sponsoring delegations and the UN envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura.
The outcome of the Astana talks is also significant since there now seems an acceptance in the Syrian opposition that Russia, in co-operation with Turkey is seeking a peace deal in Syria in the wake of the fall of Aleppo. The Syrian opposition does not make the same assessment of the role of Iran. De Mistura had been pressing the idea of the trilateral commission, saying: “The chances of success will be greater if the parties here are able to agree on a mechanism to oversee and implement nationwide ceasefire. We didn’t have it in the past, that’s the reason why often we failed.” Previous ceasefire monitoring between the US and Russia in Syria failed partly because of a lack of trust and partly because of disagreements about the factions that should be excluded from the ceasefire.
Syria’s rebels at Astana largely from northern Syria are facing battles on the ground with Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, the former al-Nusra Front that was until July 2016 linked to al-Qaida. After months of tension and occasional clashes, the confrontation has escalated with JFS surrounding the headquarters of the large rebel faction Jaish al-Mujahideen in Idlib province. The outcome of the Astana talks is also significant since there now seems an acceptance in the Syrian opposition that Russia, in cooperation with Turkey, is seeking a peace deal in Syria after the fall of Aleppo. The Syrian opposition does not make the same assessment of the role of Iran.
Other large factions, such as Ahrar al-Sham, Faylaq al-Sham and Suqour al-Sham, then mobilised to push back JFS. Syria’s rebels at Astana, largely from northern Syria, are facing battles on the ground with Jabhat Fateh al-Sham (JFS), the former al-Nusra Front, which was until July 2016 linked to al-Qaida. After months of tension and occasional clashes, the confrontation has escalated, with JFS surrounding the headquarters of the large rebel faction Jaish al-Mujahideen in Idlib province.
Other large factions, such as Ahrar al-Sham, Faylaq al-Sham and Suqour al-Sham, then mobilised to push JFS back.