Syria's Assad Hopes for 'Reconciliation' Deals from Astana Talks
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said he believed Russian-backed peace talks in Kazakhstan aimed to produce local "reconciliation" agreements with rebel groups whereby they would give up their weapons and receive a government pardon.
Assad said in an interview with a Japanese TV station that it was unclear if the talks in Astana scheduled for next week would yield a political dialogue, "because it is not clear who will participate". He hoped the conference would be a platform to discuss "everything" with rebel groups.
Russia, Iran and Turkey set the new diplomatic process in motion after Russian air force helped the Syrian government and allied forces to defeat militants in the eastern areas of the city of Aleppo last month, the opposition's biggest defeat of the war.
"So far, we believe that Astana will be about talks with terrorist groups over a ceasefire" that would allow them to reach reconciliation deals, Assad said in the interview, excerpts of which were published on Twitter by the presidency, Reuters reported.
Russia has played a leading role in organizing the Astana talks with help from Iran and Turkey, which backs the opposition but has switched its priorities to fighting Kurdish groups and Daesh.
